held up mid-division, reminder before 13th, tailed off from 5 out
unseated rider start
held up towards rear, blundered 15th, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden before 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, headed last, rallied run-in, just held close home
held up towards rear, weakened from 13th, tailed off from 5 out
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 10th until 5 out, one pace in 3rd
mid-division, pushed along before 5 out, weakened before 2 out
held up in rear, blundered 8th, pulled up before next
led, reminder after 11th, clear before and blundered 14th, headed before last, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway before 11th to go mid-division, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, weakened 14th
held up mid-division, headway to go 4th 4 out, led last, all out
held up mid-division, weakened from 14th, blundered when tailed off 5 out, puled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 13th, tailed off 5 out
towards rear, fell 12th
tracked leaders early, mid-division, weakened from 5 out
Nonrunner
This trip has proved beyond John's Spirit in the past while Carruthers tends to sulk if he isn't allowed his own way out in front. Your Busy was engaged in yesterday's Topham Chase while Golden Chieftain was soon struggling at Cheltenham last time. Unioniste is undoubtedly the class act but has the weight to match and couldn't land a gamble off today's mark in the Skybet Chase in January, though is unbeaten in two previous starts here. Gullinbursti was pulled up in the Skybet Chase and then beaten at Kelso so may also be worth opposing. VICTOR HEWGO was only beaten a neck by Western Warhorse at Doncaster in January and was then less than a length by subsequent Cheltenham scorer Holywell a month later. As that pair are now rated 157 and 161 respectively, a mark of 139 here for Keith Reveley's novice looks remarkably generous and he's a very sound jumper. Duke Of Lucca hasn't had much luck this season and will be staying on when others have cried enough.
Unioniste (FR) 11-4fav (11-7) Held up mid-division, pushed along and outpaced before 5 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd run-in, 3rd of 15, 10l behind The Rainbow Hunter (10-9) at Doncaster 3m listed hcp chs (1) sft in Jan.
Carruthers 9-4fav (11-7) Pressed leader until pushed along and no impression after 15th, lost 2nd before 3 out (normal 4 out), weakened and lost 3rd bypassing omitted 2 out, finished tired, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Summery Justice (10-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Mar.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear on inside, headway 4 out, tracked leaders when hit next, ridden after 2 out, stayed on to dispute 3rd flat, never on terms, 4th of 23, 16l behind Ballynagour (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Vino Griego (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Behind, mistake 7th, struggling 4 out, never dangerous, 13th of 23, 30l behind Holywell (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Tranquil Sea (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up, in rear 15th, some headway on inside approaching 3 out, never involved and well held before 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Spring Heeled (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Golden Chieftain (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Always behind, outpaced when not fluent 3 out, 15th of 23, 41l behind Holywell (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Gullinbursti (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5 out, upsides 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Scotswell (10-5) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
Renard (FR) 33-1 (11-2) In touch on inside, driven and outpaced after 3 out, lost place when hit next, 9th of 23, 15l behind Holywell (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Victor Hewgo 4-5fav (11-7) Tracked leader, not fluent 12th, led 3 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Doncaster 3m nov chs (4) gd in Mar beating Cowards Close (11-0) by 11l, 3 ran.
Our Mick 8-1 (10-10) With leader, hit 2nd, lost place 4th, not fluent after behind when blundered 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Wishfull Thinking (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Wetak (FR) 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, lost place 7th, soon behind, stayed on into mid-division after 3 out, never near leaders, 9th of 23, 18l behind Ballynagour (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Minella For Value (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, driven in 2nd 2 out, no extra final 100 yards, 4th of 9, 10l behind Twirling Magnet (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gd in Oct.
Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, driven and effort 2 out, kept on until ridden and outpaced before last, no chance with front trio flat, 4th of 16, 8l behind Balthazar King (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
Wiesentraum (GER) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped left and chased winner 14th, ridden 3 out, every chance last, led narrowly flat, headed near finish, 2nd of 6, hd behind Baile Anrai (11-12) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Sir Du Bearn (FR) 12-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, pushed along from 10th, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Emperor's Choice (10-5) at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Saint Are (FR) 33-1 (10-13) Mid-division, in rear when mistake 8th, last after 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Spring Heeled (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Kian's Delight 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 15th, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 16, 34l behind Balthazar King (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Your Busy (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Led, joined briefly 4th, joined 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra before last, 5th of 12, 14l behind Pass The Hat (9-10) at Leopardstown 2m 5f Handicap Chase (Grade B) (5yo+) sft in Mar.
