held up, chasing leaders when stumbled 5th, weakened 10th, pulled up before 13th (valentines)
held up in rear, refused and unseated rider 3rd (the chair)
held up behind, blundered and unseated rider 3rd (the chair)
towards rear, some headway 12th, never dangerous
prominent, chased winner approaching 2 out until approaching elbow, no extra
made all, unchallenged, pecked 10th, finished tired all out
mid-division, pecked and hampered 10th (bechers), headway 13th, chased winner approaching elbow, stayed on towards finish, always held
mid-division, chased winner from 9th, hit 14th, weakened from 16th, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, went third approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 11th, took remote 4th after 2 out, never dangerous
behind, pecked 5th, blundered badly and unseated rider 9th
chased leaders, weakened from 9th, pulled up before 12th
chased leaders, in third when pecked and unseated rider 10th (bechers)
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A tricky renewal of this contest and PALARSHAN is our pick against Gwanako and Regal Heights. Granted, Henry Daly's charge does have to reverse form with Gwanako on their meeting in the Topham Chase but its worth noting that the Daly horse is much better treated at the weights this afternoon. Gwanako is sure to be popular as an inmate of the Paul Nicholls stable and is likely to have been very much trained with this assignment in mind. Regal Heights would be a welcome winner for the locals. He was found out against better opposition in the Old Roan Chase but there is nothing of that ilk here. Iron Man is a regular in high profile events of this nature but he only made it to the third fence in the Grand National and had previously unseated rider in the Topham a season beforehand. Ayr specialist Endless Power has usually needed his first run of the season and is reluctantly passed over. Ponmeoath is better known over three miles in his native Ireland and did take the scalp of Oulart in the Kerry National. Ormello may be miles out of the handicap but he is a very proficient fencer and Lucinda Russell's representative could give each-way backers a good run for their money at the likely odds. Bill's Echo has won his last two starts and bids for a third on this occasion. The Hollow Bottom has won over regulation fences at this track while Brooklyn Brownie ran no sort of race at Cheltenham but cannot be ruled out given the form of the Malcolm Jefferson stable. As competitive a race as it can be and Palarshan is our recommendation.
Turpin Green (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, slight mistake 5 out, ridden before 3 out, no extra in 5th when mistake and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Kauto Star (11-10) at Down Royal 3m chs Grd 1 sft, 5 ran.
Gwanako (FR) 7-1jt-fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway after 10th (Becher's Brook) went 2nd 14th, led after 2 out, ridden out, won at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr beating Irish Raptor (10-12) by a nk, 29 ran.
Regal Heights (IRE) 18-1 (10-4) Mid-division, lost place from 12th, 8th of 12, 22l behind Knowhere (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Ponmeoath (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, closer in 4th 7 out, no impression under pressure when hit 2 out, soon dropped to 5th and no extra, 5th of 12, 20l behind Dear Villez (10-12) at Limerick 3m hcp chs sft in Oct.
Iron Man (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Led, headed approaching 4th, with leader from 7th, ridden 3 out, outbattled for 2nd close home, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Seymar Lad (9-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Endless Power (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up, effort 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 25l behind Starzaan (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Brooklyn Brownie (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, mistake 12th, pushed along after 4 out, no progress, soon beaten, tailed off, 9th of 17, 48l behind Parsons Legacy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
The Hollow Bottom 13-2 (11-0) In touch, chased leaders 9th, led 11th, clear approahcing 2 out, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Oct beating Osako D'airy (11-12) by 7l, 14 ran.
Which Pocket (IRE) 10-1 (10-4) Mid-division, hit 6th, headway after next, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Mont Present (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 4f cnd nov hdl (4) gd.
Ormello (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, mistake last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 11, 12l behind Tramantano (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Bestofthebrownies (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) In touch, hampered 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Gaelic Flight (10-1) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
King Coal (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, led and fell at the 2nd in race won by College Ace (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs, 9 ran.
Chukchi Country (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Led to 2nd, prominent until weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Norminster (10-2) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Oct, 14 ran.
Palarshan (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway and in touch 11th, disputed 2nd after 3 out, ridden 2 out, no extra run-in, 5th of 29, 18l behind Gwanako (11-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Bill's Echo 7-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, led approaching last, ridden clear flat, won at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct beating Apollo Creed (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Warpath (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) With leader until weakened after 8th, 11th of 12, well behind Hills Of Aran (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
