held up, hit 6th, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 9th, soon driven, weakened after next
held up in rear, reminders after 7th, behind from next
mid-division, headway 6th, driven after 10th, no impression before 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, not much room on inside and lost place after 10th, behind after
raced keenly, held up in touch, driven and weakened after 10th
prominent, mistake 8th, led 9th, ridden and headed after 10th, weakened before 3 out
always in rear
held up mid-division, headway approaching 9th, not much room and lost place on inside after 10th, stayed on from 2 out, no impression on leaders
chased leaders, lost place 4th, headway 7th, weakened approaching last
prominent, led after 10th, headed before 3 out, weakened flat
mid-division, headway approaching 10th, stayed on same pace approaching last
held up, trying to close when mistake 9th, lost place, headway after 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, challenged last,soon led, driven out
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, lost action and pulled up before 9th
raced keenly, held up mid-division, moved closer 9th, led approaching 3 out, 5 lengths clear when hit 2 out, joined last, soon headed, stayed on flat, no extra near finish
in touch, lost place after 7th, well behind from next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
held up in touch, driven before 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, headway after 1th, struggling after 3 out
held up, mistake 10th, never dangerous
in rear, hit 8th, always behind
According To Pete is the pick with Backbord, Auroras Encore and Don't Push It the dangers. Malcolm Jefferson's charge ran a stormer in the Pertemps Final and while he hasn't won for a couple of years, the trainer has reportedly been very pleased with his preparations and a bold bid can be anticipated. Backbord was well fancied ahead of his Cheltenham appearance. Ignoring that run makes him a factor on this one. Auroras Encore has an incremental 4lb penalty for his victory on Thursday. The bookies won't be offering 50/1 today. Don't Push It looks potentially well treated off his hurdling mark of 135 and is likely to be a popular order with McCoy aboard. Fresh Winter has shown form on soft so is discounted despite a likeable profile. Reel Charmer won well at Newcastle the other day and might be overlooked by many due to his unfashionable connections. Tagula Blue has been disappointing this term but a switch to this track is interesting and he should go well at generous odds. Coq Hardi has ran well here in the past and is one to note in the market. A trappy affair but According To Pete can finally find the answers this afternoon.
Grand Bleu (IRE) (10-4) Prominent until outpaced from approaching last, 6th of 8, 15l behind Good Bye Simon (10-6) at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Mar.
Buena Vista (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway 9th, 6th when hit last, stayed on same pace flat, 5th of 24, 8l behind Ballyfitz (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Laertes 25-1 (11-6) In touch, closer order 8th, mistake 9th, chased winner 3 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Wind Instrument (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Fresh Winter 5-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, not fuent 7th, led approaching 3 out, soon clear, pushed out, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy in Mar beating Quality Control (10-3) by 10l, 10 ran.
Copsale Lad 16-1 (10-8) Mid-division, blundered 6th, headway 8th, blundered badly 11th, lost place, blundered again 12th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Tamarinbleu (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Don't Push It (IRE) 5-2fav (11-11) Towards rear, headway 11th, ridden 3 out, weakening when fell 2 out in race won by Mister McGoldrick (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar, 22 ran.
Coq Hardi (FR) 11-4jt-fav (11-12) Held up, headway 9th, challenged 2 out, led between last 2 out, hit and headed last, one pace, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Mr Shambles (9-11) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Hennessy (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Prominent, hit 8th, chasing leaders, ridden when fell 3 out in race won by Ballyfitz (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Chief Yeoman 50-1 (10-8) Mid-division, lost place 8th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Mister McGoldrick (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar, 22 ran.
Mendo 14-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, hampered 6th, headway after 2 out, hampered flat, kept on same pace, 4th of 24, 5l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Backbord (GER) 8-1 (10-10) In touch, hit 3rd and lost place, never going well after, well behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Ballyfitz (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Always prominent, went 2nd 3rd, led approaching 3 out, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs beating I'm So Lucky (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 21 ran.
According To Pete 33-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, well there 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 24, 5l behind Ballyfitz (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Forest Pennant (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on, 4th of 17, 8l behind Beshabar (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Dream Alliance 14-1 (11-8) Track leader, led 2nd, soon clear, headed 13th, soon under pressure and pulled up 3 out in race won by Gungadu (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb, 15 ran.
Superior Wisdom (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway 6th, chasing leaders before 2 out, hung left approaching last, kept on same pace flat, 5th of 24, 7l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Rio De Janeiro (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) In touch, lost place after 5th, closed again after 3 out, stayed on well flat, gaining on leaders towards finish, 4th of 22, 3 1/2l behind Silver Jaro (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Reel Charmer 6-1 (11-6) Raced keenly and soon in touch, headway 3 out, led last, ridden, stayed on well, won at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar beating Star Beat (10-6) by 2l, 11 ran.
Artiste Bay (FR) 50-1 (10-0) Mid-division, niggled along and no impression when hampered 3 out, 12th of 24, well behind Ballyfitz (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Overstrand (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up and behind, driven along after 6th, stayed on approaching 2 out but never in contention, 5th of 12, 20l behind Doctor David (11-6) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Gustavo 20-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, never reached leaders, 8th of 21, 12l behind Auroras Encore (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs.
Tagula Blue (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, rallied after 2 out, kept on same pace flat, 6th of 24, 8l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
