led, hit and headed 13th, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off when refused last
held up, pushed along after 8th, struggling when mistake 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway 8th, ridden and every chance last, not quicken towards finish
prominent, led 13th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well
prominent, joined leader 8th to 11th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
in touch, mistake 5th, slightly hampered 7th, weakened approaching 9th, behind when mistake 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, ridden and lost place after 8th, behind when pulled up before 9th
always behind, pulled up before 10th
prominent and mistakes, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up, ridden and headway after 12th, weakened 3 out
towards rear, headway 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
Nonrunner
A case can be made for most of these but the three for the short list are, Fondmort, Impek and Fota Island with only the slightest preference for Impek. The Henrietta Knight-trained veteran got wound up at the start at Cheltenham and lost ground when the tapes went up but he still went on to run a good race and was staying on up the hill just a length behind Fondmort and Lacdoudal. He won a decent handicap over this course-and-distance last October with something in hand and a similar performance can see him win the Melling Chase. Fondmort has been a grand servant for the Nicky Henderson stable and has the beating of Impek on Cheltenham form. However, he has not won a race away from Cheltenham since beating Monkerhostin at Kempton in December 2001. He is obviously suited by the course at Cheltenham and he may be found out again on this tighter track. Fota Island was second in the Champion Chase and recorded a win at this meeting last year when he beat Kadount in the Red Rum Handicap Chase. He will need to produce more over this longer trip and the Champion Chase was a weak race this year with the major candidates either injured or falling early. Monkerhostin is declared and if he runs he has a big chance but he is down to run in the Betfair Bowl on Thursday and you would have to question how much that race will take out of him. An excellent race is the highlight of an excellent card and our choice is Impek.
Central House 7-1 (11-10) Led to 1st, chased winner until hit 7th, outpaced 2 out, kept on again flat, 4th of 12, 11l behind Newmill (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Fondmort (FR) 10-3jt-fav (11-0) Chased leaders, headway 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, clear last, driven out flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Mar beating Lacdoudal (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Fota Island (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 8th, outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 12, 9l behind Newmill (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Hi Cloy (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Held up in touch, 3rd and ridden before 2 out, soon no extra, one pace, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Watson Lake (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Mar.
Impek (FR) 10-3jt-fav (11-3) Prominent, led after 2nd, ridden and headed when mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Fondmort (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Mar.
Jim (FR) 9-10fav (11-10) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, no impression from next, kept on same pace under pressure, 2nd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Forget The Past (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f chs Grd 2 sft in Feb.
Mister McGoldrick 50-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, headway 7th, hard ridden approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Newmill (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
River City (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Held up, in touch when blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Newmill (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Strong Project (IRE) 2-1fav (11-3) Made all, jumped left 4 out, clear when slight mistake next, ridden and stayed on well from 2 out, won at Thurles 2m 2f chs sft in Mar beating Steel Band (10-13) by 8l, 8 ran.
Don't Be Shy (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, pushed along 7th, outpaced and hit 9th, stayed on flat, 5th of 14, 11l behind Voy Por Ustedes (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Mariah Rollins (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, not fluent early, progress into 3rd and driven along before 3 out, no extra after 2 out, last of 4, 20l behind Forget The Past (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f chs Grd 2 sft in Feb.
Monkerhostin (FR) 13-2 (11-10) Held up, blundered 5th, headway 15th, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next, 6th of 22, 11l behind War Of Attrition (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
