led, mistake 5th, ridden after 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, finished tired
mid-division, ridden and weakened 13th, tailed off and pulled up before last
mid-division, mistake 5th, headway 11th, close up 4 out until ridden before 3 out, hit 2 out, soon beaten and eased
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent 12th, headway 4 out, 7th when mistake 2 out, staying on when not fluent last, kept on to take 2nd at post
held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and not fluent 2 out, went 3rd last, soon switched right, chased winner flat, one pace and lost 2nd at post
always prominent, not fluent 2nd, mistake 12th, went 2nd 4 out, challenging when hit 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, driven and stayed on well flat
held up in rear, not fluent 10th or 11th, mistake 14th, struggling after next, behind when mistake 3 out
held up, blundered 5th, behind after 15th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd after 12th until before 4 out, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, hampered 7th, headway 4 out, chased winner after 2 out, upsides when mistake and rider lost iron briefly last, beaten after
chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost plenty of ground 15th, soon well behind, stayed on approaching last but no danger
held up and behind, raced keenly, headway approaching 4 out, coaxed into 3rd between last 2, beaten and found little from last
chased leader until after 12th, driven 14th, weakened after 4 out
mid-division until blundered badly and unseated rider 7th
Nonrunner
Fundamentalist is taken to defy the weights and gets the nod over and An Accordion and Ofarel D'Airy, while Ollie Magern and Monkerhostin also have to be respected and add a touch of class to this notoriously tricky race to fathom out. Not since Unguided Missile in 1998 has any horse carried as much as 11st-10lb to victory, so the task ahead of Monkerhostin looks an arduous one. However, it is also worth remembering that he was fourth in the Gold Cup last March and, as he has been given a chance by the handicapper in the intervening period, his claims are built on solid foundations. Even so, he looks vulnerable on these terms and needs everything to go his way. The same sentiments apply to Ollie Magern, who has the burden of absolute top weight to contend with today. He is a game campaigner but will find it hard to make all the running on these terms. Jockey bookings also suggest he is the second-string from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard. Historically, Ofarel D'Airy is in the right bracket at the weights, so also merits serious consideration. However, he was not a match for the selection when they met at Ascot last December and, even on these terms; he needs to pull something out of the hat. An Accordion was a smooth winner at Doncaster last time out and is relatively unexposed. He has valuable experience of the course and, as he is on an upward curve, he has to be placed on the shortlist. Nevertheless, this has been a great period of revival for the Twiston-Davies team and, as Fundamentalist - another one-time Gold Cup hope - has been the subject of glowing reports from home; which have been backed up by recent results, the 10-year-old makes plenty of appeal to defy the weights, statisticians and the rest of a good quality field drawn together for this three-miler.
Ollie Magern 16-1 (11-12) Led to 5th, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on approaching last, 4th of 10, 12l behind Natal (10-1) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Monkerhostin (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden after 17th, stayed on strongly approaching 2 out, nearest finish, 3rd of 16, 2l behind Over The Creek (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Dec.
Fundamentalist (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) In touch, led 11th until next, led 4 out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan beating Jericho III (11-0) by 6l, 10 ran.
New Alco (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, lost place after 7th, behind after, 10th of 16, 46l behind Tamarinbleu (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Dec.
L'ami (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Prominent, behind from 11th, 15th of 20, well behind An Accordion (10-3) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) gd in Jan.
An Accordion (IRE) 11-2fav (10-3) Held up, headway 5th, led 3 out, hung left, headed 2 out, rallied to lead again flat, driven out, won at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) gd in Jan beating Ungaro (11-5) by 1/2l, 20 ran.
Ofarel D'airy (FR) 7-2fav (10-13) In touch, led after 6th, headed approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, no extra when headed flat, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Arrayou (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
Bob Hall (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake 5th, weakening when mistake 12th, 12th of 14, 41l behind Vodka Bleu (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Jan.
Ponmeoath (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Prominent on inner, 3rd halfway, dropped to 6th 4 out, weakened next, eased 2 out, 10th of 14, well behind What's In Front (9-10) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Feb.
Patsy Hall (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Behind, mistake 3rd, ridden 14th, tailed off when refused and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Mon Mome (FR) 2-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 4th, closed again on leaders soon after, ridden 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Borero (11-8) at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Abragante (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Behind, jumped big 1st, hit 3rd, soon lost ground on remainder, behind when pulled up at the 6th in race won by Tamarinbleu (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Lankawi 25-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, mistake 9th, led 5 out to next, ridden and weakened 2 out, 5th of 7, 22l behind Cloudy Lane (11-9) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd.
Flying Enterprise (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged 4 out, ridden next, kept on until no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Lothian Falcon (10-7) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Dec.
King Harald (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Made all, ridden and kept on well from 2 out, won at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Feb beating Aka Jake (11-4) by 5l, 19 ran.
