held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened after next
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on to chase winner flat, no impression
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, headway approaching next, stayed on
in touch, close up when hit 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up towards rear, weakened from 7th, tailed off
held up in touch, ridden to go 2nd 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
held up, headway 4 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on from last
led to 4th, led again 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, one pace
prominent, led 4th, headed 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out
with leader, hampered after 4 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, blundered 6th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mistakes, held up, headway approaching 3 out, led on bit approaching last, ran on strongly
held up, headway 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, in 3rd and held when blundered last
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, some headway approaching next, no impression
held up mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon outpaced
Nonrunner
Hi Cloy looks the class act in this race and if returning to his best he can land this at the expense of Altihar and Arteea. The selection has not run since pulling up at the Punchestown Festival last season. He was out of form last year over fences but was good enough to win the Melling Chase here two seasons ago. He looks very well treated on his return to hurdles and could be interesting off this mark. Altihar will be a major threat and comes from a yard having a purple patch at present. He was third to Kanad at Ascot last time out in a valuable handicap and coming here in top form he has a live chance. Arteea is another that reverts to hurdles after contesting in top chases. He again could be potentially well treated here so is to be noted in the betting market But for the winner the tentative vote goes to Hi Cloy.
Arteea (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Well off pace in rear, 3rd when left moderate 2nd at 5th, 3rd again 4 out, soon no danger and kept on same pace under pressure, 3rd of 4, 19l behind Justified (11-12) at Limerick 2m 1f lst chs (1) gs in Oct '06.
Hi Cloy (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, 8th 4 out, soon no extra and pulled up in race won by Neptune Collonges (11-12) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Mirjan (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, struggling from 3rd, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Through The Rye (11-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Sharp Reply (USA) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 17, 9l behind Pigeon Island (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Spring Breeze 14-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, 17th of 19, well behind Abragante (11-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Oceanos des Obeaux (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Mid-division, hit 4th, headway 7th, effort after 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 15, well behind Duc De Regniere (11-5) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Bleak House (IRE) Evensfav (12-0) Not fluent throughout, chased leader, ridden 3 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 16, 33l behind Sir Boreas Hawk (11-4) at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Haggle Twins (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) In touch, headway 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Kercabellec (9-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Spectrometer 33-1 (11-9) Held up, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out, 15th of 16, well behind Supreme Huntress (11-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Newman Des Plages (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Always rear, 10th of 12, 45l behind Or Noir De Somoza (10-10) at Auteuil 2m 5f chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Harry Flashman 11-2 (11-12) Held up, headway and in touch 2 out, effort last, ridden and hung right, flat, stayed on to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Catch The Perk (11-4) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jul.
Souffleur 11-2 (11-2) Held up going well, headway to lead before last, soon clear, eased, won at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Oct beating Incas (10-11) by 8l, 12 ran.
Dancing Lyra 50-1 (9-11) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 22, 3l behind Kings Quay (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Never So Blue (FR) 33-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 22, 14l behind Kings Quay (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Odiham 9-2 (10-12) Chased leader, hit 6th, outpaced next, went 3rd last, no chance with first 2, 3rd of 16, 11l behind Wogan (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan '06.
Altilhar (USA) 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden, headway after 3 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Kanad (9-7) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gf.
Mister McGoldrick 10-3 (11-12) Chased leaders, took closer order halfway, led 7th, clear approaching last, won at Wetherby 2m 3f lst hcp chs (1) gf beating Borora (10-6) by 6l, 7 ran.
Backbord (GER) 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, 8th 4 out, headway next, 3rd 2 out, 2nd last, kept on under pressure, 4th of 24, 3l behind Sonnyanjoe (10-6) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 0-130 gd in Apr.
