chased leaders to 15th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
mid-division in touch, chased leaders 14th, driven after 3 out, never on terms, weakened last, tailed off
mid-division when pulled up before 5th
held up mid-division, steady headway after 3 out, went 2nd when not fluent last, led approaching elbow, soon ridden and no extra, headed inside final 75 yards, not quicken
chased leaders to 13th (valentines), reminders before next, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
behind, headway on outside 13th (valentines), chased leaders 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on into 4th before elbow, no impression with leaders
never better than mid-division, behind and struggling 7th, tailed off 11th (foinavon), pulled up before 14th
mid-division, lost place 10th (bechers), weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
in touch, lost place 10th (bechers), behind when mistake 12th (canal turn), pulled up before 2 out
held up behind, headway into mid-division when switched outside 9th, tracked leaders 15th, effort before last, soon ridden, weakened flat
behind, some headway 3 out, blundered next, never threatened leaders, weakened before last, tailed off
tracked leaders on inside, lost place after 3 out, 8th and beaten when blundered next, weakened last, tailed off
in touch, lost place 10th (bechers), no danger after, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, struggling 14th, blundered and unseated rider next
towards rear, headway into mid-division 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
always towards rear, mistake 12th (canal turn), weakened after 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
always behind, lost touch when pulled up before 7th
in touch, chased leader 13th (valentines) to before 15th where blundered, ridden to chase front pair after last, kept on same pace, never on terms
led to 2nd, headed after 3 out, lost place next, soon ridden, no extra flat
mid-division, headway when blundered and unseated rider 10th (bechers)
always behind, pulled up before 2 out
sprawled on landing 1st, never better than mid-division, behind from 5th, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 9th, driven to chase winner 2 out to before last, soon ridden, weakened flat
led to 2nd, tracked leader, lost place 13th (valentines), disputed 5th when blundered and unseated rider next
tracked leaders, went 2nd 15th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching elbow, soon rallied, stayed on well to regain lead inside final 75 yards
in touch, blundered and lost place 6th, pulled up approaching next
behind, struggling 7th, lost touch and pulled up after 10th (bechers)
Only one winner of this in the last 15 years has been younger than 10 but the younger brigade hold a strong hand this time. Burning Ambition started favourite for last year’s hunter chase at the Cheltenham Festival and Derek O’Connor takes over the reins on the recent Down Royal winner. Road To Rome led for a long way over a longer trip at Cheltenham last month and could give a bold sight again. Top Wood and Ucello Conti both stayed on late in that contest but Asockastar finished tailed off and a number of these failed to complete including Balnaslow, the winner of this last year. Bear's Affair and Greensalt were second and third respectively 12 months ago and the latter looks to have been laid out for another bid so goes on the short-list but 2017 winner Dineur is looking a light of former days. Kruzhlinin has been prolific between the flags but was only third in a hunter chase at Down Royal in December. SIR JACK YEATS was going really well last year until over-jumping at the Canal Turn and losing many lengths. He’s had a very light campaign this season but easily won a modest contest at Fakenham last month and should be cherry-ripe now.
Asockastar (IRE) 66-1 (12-0) Tracked leader to 10th, chased leaders, outpaced in 5th 4 out, weakened after next, 8th of 24, dist behind Hazel Hill (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
Balnaslow (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) Always behind, struggling 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
Bear's Affair (IRE) 5-4jfav (11-11) A.p; led 14-15 & last til hdd cl home, 2nd of 4, nk behind Optimised (11-7) at Bangor-PTP 3m gs in Feb.
Burning Ambition (IRE) 10-11fav (11-7) Settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, progress entering straight, disputed 3 out, soon led, asserted 2 out, ridden and reduced advantage run-in, kept on, won at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Mar beating Sidetracked (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Champagne West (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Led until 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 5, dist behind Seefood (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f (3) gf in Feb.
Coastal Tiep (FR) 66-1 (12-0) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
Crazy Jack (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) (cp) prom; led 12 til hdd 2 out; wknd, 5th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Garde Ville (11-7) at Bangor-PTP 3m in Mar.
Dineur (FR) 8-1 (12-6) Towards rear, chased clear leaders 4th, 3rd when pecked on landing and unseated rider 5th, at Fakenham 3m (5) gs in Mar.
Gallery Exhibition (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) (tt) led to 4 & aft 8 til hdd 14; outpcd 3 out; rallied app last; kpt on, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Salvatore (12-0) at Kingston Blount 3m gd in Mar.
Greensalt (IRE) 13-8 (11-7) (tt) held up last to 14; lft 2nd nxt; led 2 out til hdd & no ex final 100yds, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Path To Freedom (11-7) at Duncombe Park 3m gd in Feb.
Just Cause (IRE) 100-1 (12-0) Chased leaders to 5 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
Kruzhlinin (GER) 2-5 (12-2) Tr ldr in 2nd, 2l dwn 1/2way, mstk 4out, wo appr str & qcknd 4l clr bef 2out, sn in command, easily, won at Tinahely 3m gs in Feb beating Venitien De Mai (12-2) by 10l, 3 ran.
Mr Mercurial (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Held up and behind, headway on inside chasing leaders approaching 12th, 3rd after 4 out, left in well held 2nd and hampered before 2 out, mistake last, lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 13, 24l behind Le Reve (12-5) at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Mar.
Mr Mix (FR) 2-5fav (12-0) Made all; rdn out, won at Charing 3m gd in Feb beating Generous Ransom (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Never Complain (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) In tch til wknd 3 out, last of 3, 26l behind Broken Eagle (12-4) at Higham 3m gd in Jan.
Numbercruncher (IRE) 20-1 (12-6) Chased winner, hit 4th, lost 2nd before not fluent 9th (water), behind from 10th, mistake 12th, left remote 4th 4 out, mistake 3 out, 4th of 6, dist behind Arthur's Secret (12-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f (4) gs in Mar.
Pass The Hat 20-1 (12-2) Prominent, led 10th, headed next, led again last, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 2m 5f (5) hvy in Mar beating Road To Riches (11-12) by 9l, 6 ran.
Road To Riches (IRE) 2-7fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 8th, drew clear 5 out, very easily (2 fences omitted), won at Carlisle 3m (5) hvy in Mar beating Settledoutofcourt (12-2) by 14l, 4 ran.
Road To Rome (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Led, driven before 2 out, ridden between last 2, headed before last, soon no extra, lost 2nd flat, weakened into 4th closing stages, 4th of 24, 15 1/2l behind Hazel Hill (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
Seefood (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, led 4 out, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m 7f (3) gf in Feb beating The Last But One (12-2) by 7l, 5 ran.
Shantou Magic (IRE) Evensfav (10-13) Trckd ldrs til wknd qckly 14; t.o & pu 3 out, at Friars Haugh 3m in Mar.
Shimla Dawn (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Made all, clear 3 out, mistake next, stayed on strongly, won at Musselburgh 3m (5) gd in Feb beating Killer Crow (11-12) by 15l, 6 ran.
Sir Jack Yeats (IRE) 5-4fav (12-6) Disputed lead until led 6th, clear 4 out, comfortable, won at Fakenham 3m (5) gs in Mar beating Silvergrove (11-12) by 30l, 7 ran.
Starkie 7-1 (11-7) (tt) trckd ldrs; led aft 3 out; drvn out, won at Hackwood Park 2m 4f gd in May beating Broken Eagle (11-7) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Top Wood (FR) 33-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 14th (water), effort before 2 out, ridden and unable to quicken between last 2, 4th and held last, stayed on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 24, 11l behind Hazel Hill (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
Ucello Conti (FR) 4-1 (12-0) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never threatened leaders, 5th of 24, 23 1/2l behind Hazel Hill (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gs in Mar.
Wonderful Charm (FR) 10-11fav (12-4) Held up in touch, went 2nd before 4 out, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, readily, won at Doncaster 3m 2f (6) gd in Feb beating Boa Island (12-4) by dist, 5 ran.
