held up, behind leaders 4 out, switched left and close up when hit 2 out, one pace from last
held up, awkward 12th, headway to press leader 3 out, slmost upsides last, ran on strongly under pressure flat, no extra close home
close up, led narrowly 4th, hit 8th and headed, pushed along and lost ground 11th, in rear 12th and quickly tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
held up but in touch, pushed along before 4 out, faded before last
tracked leaders, almost upsides 4 out, pushed to lead before 3 out, narrow advantage last, stayed on strongly under pressure flat, held on well
late to post, led, headed narrowly 4th, led 8th, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon weakened
There’s little between these at the weights and three have experience over fences. Chambard has placed on several occasions off a similar mark while Uptown Harry finished runner-up at Carlisle on his chasing debut. But BARON DE MIDLETON ran well before fading in the closing stages at Carlisle on last month’s chasing bow and Brian Ellison’s charge should go close with normal progress. Alnadam and Minella Trump are both dual winners over hurdles and preferred to Rath An Iuir of those chasing for the first time.
Minella Trump (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on inside, hit 4th, weakened before 2 out, left modest 4th 2 out, blundered last, 4th of 7, 16 3/4l behind Mr Scrumpy (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Alnadam (FR) 7-4 (11-9) Held up, not fluent 2nd, went 3rd next, challenged 3 out, led home bend, not fluent last, edged left flat, driven out, won at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Demachine (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Chambard (FR) 7-2 (11-1) Not fluent and always behind, closed on 4th flat, last of 5, 28 1/4l behind Red Risk (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Baron De Midleton (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd until 6th, led 4 out, headed before 2 out, no extra towards finish, 5th of 11, 5l behind Flegmatik (10-13) at Carlisle 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Rath An Iuir (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Held up in 5th, pushed along before 3 out, well held when blundered and left modest 3rd 2 out, plugged on into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Mr Scrumpy (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Uptown Harry (IRE) 18-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, niggled along 4 out, pushed along 3 out, faded tamely, last of 8, dist behind Glinger Flame (11-12) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
