hit and unseated rider 2nd
prominent, left 2nd when mistake 5th, lost 2nd after 4 out, weakened between last 2
held up, badly hampered, unseated rider 8th
behind, some headway after 3 out, blundered last, never near leaders
chased leaders, led 4 out, headed and driven along 3 out, left in lead last, driven out
took keen hold, held up, in mid-division when brought down 8th
led until 1st, led 4th until fell 5th
held up, some headway when jumped slowly 9th, no progress after, blundered 2 out
chase leaders, not fluent 2nd, losing place when jumped left and mistake 8th, no impression after, mistake last
mid-division, badly hampered 5th, driven along when bumped 7th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 9th
keenn, led 1st to 4th, left in lead 5th, headed 4 out, weakened after 3 out
behind, soon pushed along, headway approaching 10th, mistake 3 out, staying on and disputing 3rd when blundered last, kept on well flat
help up, headway approaching 7th, 2nd after 4 out, led 3 out, ahead when mistake last, not recover
Spring Margot has struggled to continue winning ways this year but David Easterby's gelding has shown improved form with each start and it will be disappointing if he is not good enough to take this contest with the main threats looking to be China Chase and Gone Missing. The last mentioned, a winning pointer, when last seen in March was nothing out of the ordinary when last seen under rules and may be best watched. Touch Of Flame was not disgraced in a better race than this at Cheltenham last time and has more solid claims than River Dante, who has disappointed since landing a hunter chase at Newton Abbot last year. Saorsie gave little sign of encouragement on his latest start and of more interest may be recent point-to-point winner China Chase, who looks to be going the right way. Spring Margot should be too classy for these though and he gets the vote.
Spring Margot (FR) 15-8 (12-7) Prominent, switched outside 9th, ridden effort 2 out, kept on under pressure approaching last, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Imps Way (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
River Dante (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Led 2nd, headed and bumped 4th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 6th of 10, 22l behind Royal Hector (12-4) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gf.
China Chase (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) (cp) held up; led 14 til hdd app 2 out; led last; r.o wl, won at Maisemore Park 3m ptp gf beating Springbrook Girl (11-12) by 5l, 4 ran.
Gone Missing 4-5fav (12-0) Held up & bhnd; hdwy 12; went 2nd 4 out; led app nxt; sn clr; easy, won at Bishops Court 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Cattle Class (12-0) by 8l, 8 ran.
Mister Rushby 14-1 (12-0) Sn led; hdd 10; poor 3rd 15, 3rd of 10, 30l behind Euro Bleu (12-0) at Ashorne 3m ptp gd.
Mountgarry (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Always in rear, tailed off 8th, 7th of 10, 30l behind Royal Hector (12-4) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gf.
Saorsie 50-1 (11-7) In rear, ridden 9th, short-lived effort 13th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Vinnie Boy (12-2) at Towcester 3m hts chs (3) sft, 11 ran.
Touch Of Flame 6-1 (11-11) Raced keenly, held up, mistake 10th, challenged 3 out until edged right before last, edged right again and weakened flat, 4th of 9, 11l behind Cannon Bridge (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (4) gd.
