prominent, left in lead 7th, slight advantage when fell 14th
held up, badly hampered and unseated rider 1st
chased leaders, lost place 4th (water), soon behind
prominent to 5th, hit 7th, effort when hampered 14th, soon weakened
towards rear, pecked 10th (Bechers), headway 13th (Valentines), weakened after 3 out
behind, headway 15th, ridden approaching last, kept on flat
led 3rd (Chair) to approaching 5th, blundered 11th (Foinavon), ridden 2 out, hit last, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 7th, badly hampered 14th, ridden 2 out, one pace flat
chased leaders to 5th, no danger after
led, jumped slowly and headed 3rd (Chair), chased leaders to 6th, no danger after
held up, steady headway 9th, went 2nd approaching last, ridden flat, stayed on well, not trouble winner
mid-division, mistake 6th, hit 11th (Foinavon) and 12th (Canal Turn), ridden 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, jumped left 2nd, badly hampered 14th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened 10th (Bechers), towards rear when hampered 14th
in touch, hung left approaching 5th, close up when fell 14th
mid-division, fell 1st
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always behind, fell 8th
always towards rear
prominent to 12th (Canal Turn), hampered 14th, behind when mistake and unseated rider 15th
behind from 7th
mid-division, headway 11th (Foinavon), ridden approaching last, kept on one pace
in touch, left in lead 14th, ridden flat, ran on strongly
behind, headway 12th (Canal Turn), weakened 2 out
behind, pecked 10th (Bechers), some headway approaching 2 out, never near leaders
chased leaders, close 3rd when fell 8th
held up, headway 6th, hit 8th, chased winner from 14th, hit next, ridden 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
held up and keen, headway 3rd (The Chair), led approaching 5th, 4 lengths clear when fell 7th
The shortlisted three are Katarino, Munster and Bothar Na, with the pick being Munster. Where to start? That is the question. Katarino has not been seen since winning this race last year, but you would not put it past his trainer to pull off the double. Munster was sixth in last year's Topham and, even though he was brought down in his prep race, looks to hold solid credentials for today's race. The one-time useful under Rules, Barryscourt Lad, bounced back with a good win last time and is very much respected, while Bill Haze has proven progressive this season and could go well. Bothar Na was a good fourth in the Cheltenham Foxhunter, where Caught At Dawn was an also-ran but who holds chances if at his best. Drombeag was fancied for the Foxhunter at Prestbury Park, where he raced in first-time blinkers - and they are retained today - but never really got into it after after being hampered early on. It could be a different story today. Gatsby was eighth at Cheltenham while Hersov showed decent handicap form around 12 to 14 months ago, a repeat of which would give him claims of sorts. Christy Beamish has good novice hunter chase form, Junior Fontaine's summer 2005 Galway effort affords him respect, while Moving Earth was good enough to win off a rating of 116 last May. Finally, Sikander A Azam has been showing fair pointing form of late, and who knows what to expect from the one-time high-class Venn Ottery, who was seventh in this race last year? All of which returns us to the selection, which is Munster.
Abbeytown (IRE) 7-4 (12-0) Led or disputed throughout, stayed on well, won at Lingstown 3m ire ptp sft in Mar beating Alphazar (12-0) by 6l, 10 ran.
Adolphus (IRE) 4-5fav (12-5) 2nd til led 7th, clear after 14th, unchallenged, won at Overton 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Venture To Fly (12-5) by 20l, 6 ran.
Arctic Copper (IRE) (12-0) Going well, led 4 out, easily, won at Maralin 3m ire ptp hvy in Mar beating Rediscovery (12-0) by 25l, 8 ran.
Arctic Times (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, closer order 7 out, improved to dispute lead from before straight, strongly pressed and headed 2 out, no impression and kept on well under pressure run-in, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Ballistraw (11-3) at Gowran Park 3m hts chs s.
Barryscourt Lad (IRE) 6-4fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, clear when hit last, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m 5f hts chs (6) sft in Mar beating Camp Hill (12-0) by 7l, 7 ran.
Beachcomber Bay (IRE) (12-0) Led 4 out, kept on when headed 2 out, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Super Gale (12-0) at Durrow 3m ire ptp hvy in Mar.
Bill Haze 13-2 (12-0) Led 2nd to 4th, remained prominent, led 9th, ridden and swished tail approaching last, hung badly left flat, ran on, won at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd in Mar beating Dun An Doras (11-7) by 3l, 16 ran.
Bothar Na (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 14th, challenged going well from 3 out, chased winner from 2 out until last, weakened run-in, 4th of 24, 6l behind Whyso Mayo (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gd in Mar.
Caught At Dawn (IRE) 40-1 (12-0) In mid-division until weakened 16th, 19th of 24, 33l behind Whyso Mayo (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gd in Mar.
Champagne Native (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Always prominent, led and disputed from before 9th, strongly pressed and headed after 3 out, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 24l behind Ballistraw (11-3) at Gowran Park 3m hts chs sft in Mar.
Christy Beamish (IRE) 4-7fav (12-3) Held up in rear, headway 10th, clear 3 out, ridden approaching last, headed soon after and not quicken, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Brer Bear (12-3) at Stratford 3m hts chs (5) gs in Mar.
Clear The Line (IRE) (12-0) Ran on from 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Lydon House (12-0) at Belclare 3m ire ptp gs in Mar.
Cornish Gale (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-12) Prominent, lost place 4th, no chance when blundered 3 out, 9th of 16, 25l behind Bill Haze (12-0) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Danaeve (IRE) 6-1 (12-5) 4th of 7, 16l behind Hot Toddy (12-5) at Mollington 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Drombeag (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Badly hampered 1st, soon in touch, chasing leaders when hit 13th, weakened 2 out, 9th of 24, 11l behind Whyso Mayo (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gd in Mar.
Galway Breeze (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Mid-division, hit 3rd, headway 8th, mistake 11th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, well behind Another Raleagh (11-5) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) hvy in Mar.
Gatsby (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) Prominent, led 13th, hit 5 out, headed 4 out, weakened soon after 2 out, 8th of 24, 8l behind Whyso Mayo (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gd in Mar.
Gielgud 9-2 (11-9) Held up, headway 6 out, ridden to chase leaders after 5 out, left 4th 4 out, no impression, 4th of 16, 20l behind Ramirez (11-5) at Newbury 3m hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Guignol du Cochet (FR) 66-1 (12-5) Held up, ridden 13th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Ramirez (11-5) at Newbury 3m hts chs (6) gd in Mar, 16 ran.
Hersov (IRE) Won at Limavady 3m ire ptp gs in Mar beating Newbay Prop by 3l, 12 ran.
Ikdam Melody (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) 4th when unseated rider in race won by Jacksonville (11-0) at Mordon 3m ptp hvy in Mar, 6 ran.
Junior Fontaine (FR) 3-1 (12-5) 3rd of 9, 16l behind Mr Mahdlo (12-5) at Duncombe Park 3m ptp gd in Feb.
Katarino (FR) 10-3fav (12-0) Mid-division, headway 8th, went sharp left and rider lost iron 12th (Canal Turn), led 3 out, ridden after last, ran on, won at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (B) gs beating Caught At Dawn (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 30 ran.
Let's Fly (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Blundered and unseated rider in race won by Bill Haze (12-0) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd in Mar, 16 ran.
Moving Earth (IRE) 12-1 (12-3) Very slowly away, held up in rear, kept on to take remote 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Galway Breeze (11-7) at Fakenham 2m 5f hts chs (5) sft in Feb.
Munster (IRE) (12-0) Every chance, no extra from 2 out, 2nd of 9, well behind Tenshookmen (12-0) at Lingstown 3m ire ptp sft in Mar.
Satchmo (IRE) 3-1 (12-7) won at Cottenham 3m ptp gf in Mar beating Silver Streak (12-7) by a hd, 9 ran.
Sikander A Azam 2-1 (12-5) Handy, led 2 out, ran on well, won at Mordon 3m ptp hvy in Mar beating Mr Mahdlo (12-5) by 4l, 9 ran.
Thieves'glen 16-1 (12-7) Chased leaders, bumped 9th, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, 3rd of 16, 9l behind Bill Haze (12-0) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Venn Ottery 14-1 (12-7) pulled up in race won by Skip 'n' Tune (11-7) at Larkhill 3m ptp gd, 14 ran.
