chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
held up, hit 9th, reminders 11th, some headway approaching 3 out, never dangerous
held up, smooth headway 14th, led on bit after 3 out, pushed clear last
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 5 out, weakened approaching last
towards rear, weakened 10th, pulled up after 11th
chased leaders, hit 2nd, weakened approaching 4 out
behind, effort 14th, weakened 5 out, pulled up next
chased leader, weakened 5 out, pulled up 2 out
held up, struggling halfway, pulled up before 14th
led and jumped left, blundered 13th, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, weakening when blundered 12th
held up, blundered 5th, weakened from 10th, pulled up before 13th
mid-division, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before last
in touch, weakened from 14th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 5 out
in rear, hit 9th, headway approaching 16th, chasing leaders when mistake 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up, blundered 12th, headway 5 out, chased winner approaching last, no impression
behind, pushed along 6th, weakened and jumped slowly 7th, tailed off and pulled up after 11th
Tamarinbleu is probably better than he showed at Ascot last month but, along with Lacdoudal, he probably has too much weight at present and preference is for New Alco. The selection lost no caste in defeat behind stablemate Joes Edge on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival and, with Ferdy Murphy's horses continuing in such good form, he looks worth an interest here racing off the same mark as at Cheltenham. Limerick Boy may prefer a softer surface, while Reveillez disappointed at the Festival and may now be best watched. Copsale Lad has disappointed in his last two starts over fences and is hard to recommend, while Green Belt Flyer has yet to confirm his liking for ground this fast. Pole Star would have claims on the pick of his form but, given his current form, it is hard to back with any confidence anything trained by Evan Williams. Openide should appreciate the underfoot conditions but may be a shade high in the weights, while Undeniable has rather harshly been raised 8lbs for his win at Wetherby last month but for which Sue Smith's gelding would have gone close to being the selection. There are fewer doubts over New Alco though and he is preferred.
Lacdoudal (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, some headway, no impression when hampered 2 out, never dangerous, 11th of 23, 27l behind Joes Edge (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Tamarinbleu (FR) 4-1jt-fav (11-9) Held up behind, blundered badly 9th, pulled up after next pulled up in race won by Misty Dancer (9-13) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Reveillez 12-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden into 3rd after 3 out, kept on same pace from last, 6th of 23, 7l behind Idole First (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Copsale Lad 6-1fav (10-12) Mid-division, no headway from 3 out, 16th of 28, 17l behind Burntoakboy (9-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Limerick Boy (GER) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leading pair, closed from 4 out, led narrowly 3 out, jumped left and headed next, weakened before last, 6th of 10, 28l behind Simon (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
New Alco (FR) 7-1co-fav (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 15th, headway approaching 3 out, no real progress from 2 out, 6th of 23, 10l behind Joes Edge (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Green Belt Flyer (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up, steady headway 9th, chased leaders 13th, left 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, in command before next, won at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Mar beating Harrycone Lewis (11-0) by 9l, 7 ran.
Fundamentalist (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Chased leader, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 22l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Mar.
Pole Star 25-1 (11-1) Led, holding slight lead when blundered and unseated rider in race won by L'Antartique (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (1) gs in Mar, 19 ran.
Maurice (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Held up when fell 7th fell in race won by Nice Try (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Silver Knight 5-1 (11-6) Held up, chased leaders after 5 out, soon ridden, chased winner last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Undeniable (10-3) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Openide 100-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, struggling and behind 14th, 14th of 17, 48l behind Denman (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Lou du Moulin Mas (FR) 10-1 (11-5) In rear, moderate late headway, never dangerous, 8th of 24, 22l behind Cloudy Lane (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Without A Doubt 33-1 (11-8) Held up behind, ridden and headway from 4 out, stayed on, not reached leaders, 5th of 17, 8l behind Alderburn (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Undeniable 9-1 (10-3) Held up, headway halfway, led 13th, stayed on well from last, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Silver Knight (11-6) by 2l, 9 ran.
Healy's Pub (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Prominent, slight mistake 3rd, soon settled in mid-division, moderate 5th after 3 out, kept on without threatening under pressure from next, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Sir Frederick (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f chs gf.
Lankawi 11-8fav (11-3) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5th, led 3 out, ridden approaching last, driven out, won at Hexham 2m nov chs (3) sft in Mar beating Torkinking (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Victory Gunner (IRE) (11-6) 0th of 10, 0.0000 behind What A Scientist (11-12) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.