raced wide in touch, headway to chase leaders over 6f out, ridden and weakened over 3f out
held up towards rear, steady headway 7f out, effort travelling well and quickened between horses approaching final 2f, led over 1f out, ridden and edged left soon after, came well clear final furlong
chased leaders, went 2nd halfway, ridden 2f out, hung left and weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, led 9f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, outpaced and no chance with winner final furlong
in touch, headway to chase leaders 6f out, pushed along and stayed on same pace final 2f
led, hung left on bend and headed 9f out, weakened rapidly over 6f out, tailed off
always behind, lost touch final 5f, tailed off
pulled hard early, tracked leaders, challenged travelling well on outside approaching final 2f, kept on in 3rd but readily outpaced by winner final furlong
held up in rear, steady headway over 6f out, ridden and chased leaders on inside over 2f out, weakened final furlong
took keen hold, chased leaders until weakened rapidly inside final mile, tailed off and virtually pulled up 5f out
took keen hold, prominent, ridden and weakened over 3f out, tailed off
in touch, headway to chase leaders 6f out, pushed along over 3f out, weakened 2f out
in rear, headway under pressure over 3f out, weakened 2f out
always behind, ridden and struggling in rear 6f out, tailed off
I Shot The Sheriff has a lot more on his plate than when successful at Southwell and it may also be worth opposing Huntingdon winner Theatrelands over this longer trip. Sin Bin hasn't raced since scrambling home at Chepstow last April and Ruby Walsh prefers Paul Nicholls' newcomer Atlantic Roller. Gold Ingot is another interesting debutant but so is UNCLE JIMMY, who gets the nod. By Alderbrook and a half-brother to bumper winners Meister Eckhart and Sonnyanjoe, he represents a stable that has done well here in similar races in the past and is sure to know his job. This is point-to-point winner River Maigue's first appearance under Rules but he still looks the pick of the remainder ahead of Newbury second Rydon Pynes.
I Shot The Sheriff (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Held up in 5th, good headway to 2nd inside final 3f, led over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, readily, won at Southwell 2m NH flat (6) gd in Nov beating The Ferick (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Royal Guardsman (IRE) 13-8fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway on outside 6f out, went 2nd over 3f out, ridden and edged left 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, lost 3rd post, 4th of 17, 8l behind Sir Johnson (12-0) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Sin Bin (IRE) 7-4fav (11-1) In touch, 3rd travelling well over 4f out, went 2nd 4f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, stayed on to lead close home (no time taken), won at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Apr beating Chance Encounter (11-4) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Atlantic Roller (IRE) Old Vic gelding out of Tourist Attraction.
Gold Ingot Best Of The Bests gelding out of Realms Of Gold.
Kruseman 40-1 (10-11) Mid-division, outpaced 7f out, 6th of 14, 22l behind Old Tricks (10-9) at Wincanton 2m NH flat (6) sft in Dec.
Pirate's Gold (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, mid-division, outpaced over 4f out, stayed on from over 1f out, not able to trouble leaders, 5th of 9, 9l behind Starving Marvin (10-7) at Warwick 2m mdn nhf (6) gs in Jan.
River Maigue (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Tr ldrs in mid div, cl up 3rd 3out, gng best bef last, rdn clr, easily, won at Glenbane 3m ire ptp gs in Oct beating Boardwalk Empire (11-7) by 3l, 15 ran.
Sammyman 6-1 (11-0) Held up in 6th, struggling in rear 4f out, tailed off, 6th of 8, 36l behind Barenger (11-0) at Newbury 2m NH flat (6) gs in Nov.
Starsky Des Mottes (FR) (10-1) 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Star Conti (10-2) at Nantes(FR) 1m 3f n h flat 3yo gs in Nov '09.
Uncle Jimmy (IRE) Alderbrook gelding out of Carrabawn.
Theatrelands 8-1 (10-7) Prominent, ridden and slightly outpaced over 3f out, rallied 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 1m 6f NH flat (6) gs in Jan beating The Mad Robertson (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
King Spirit (IRE) Fruits Of Love gelding out of Tariana.
Rydon Pynes 40-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, steady headway on inside over 3f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd last strides, unable to reach winner, 2nd of 17, 1 1/4l behind My Inheritance (10-9) at Newbury 1m 4f 4yo nhf (6) sft in Jan.
