chased leaders until after 5 out, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, struggling and lost place 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mistake 4 out, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, blundered 2nd, effort approaching 3 out, no further progress
held up, jumped right 5th, struggling 10th, behind when pulled up before 12th
jumped big 1st and rider lost irons, pulled up after 2nd
chased leaders, driven 3 out, stayed on after 2 out, led soon after last, ridden clear
held up towards rear, mistake 14th, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on one pace approaching last, went 3rd close home
mid-division, headway 16th, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
led until approaching 3 out, still close 2nd when blundered badly last, lost any chance, lost 3rd close home
held up towards rear, not fluent 4 out, well behind 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, never near leaders
held up in rear, mistake 16th, well behind when mistake 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never near leaders
held up towards rear, mistake 4th, mistake 11th, headway approaching 3 out, one pace and no chance with leaders when blundered last
chased leaders, pecked 14th, 3rd when mistake 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
chased leader, led approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out and ridden, headed soon after last, no extra
held up in touch, not fluent 17th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
King Harald is now 11lbs higher than when winning the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase at the festival meeting when last seen so may be a shade high in the weights for his return, while Sir Rembrandt has plenty of weight on his return and a chance is taken with Control Man, who represents top connections. It is to be hoped that the selection can show something like his old form, having disappointed towards the end of last season and, off what looks a fair mark, he looks worth a punt for the Pipe yard that does so well at this meeting. Paul Nicholls saddles two runners but neither Lou du Moulin Mas nor Whitford Don, the chosen mount of Ruby Walsh make any great appeal at the weights. First Gold is not as good as he once was and has plenty of weight, while Jack High would need to improve significantly on what he showed on his return to trouble the judge. Grattan Lodge is capable on his day but may need the run after 10 months ago and of more interest may be Charlie Mann's Merchants Friend, who has gone well here before. Control Man is well treated on his best though and off a light weight he gets the vote in the hope that he can reproduce his best.
Sir Rembrandt (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Chased leaders until lost place 6th, not fluent 10th, ridden after 12th, mistake next, soon weakened, behind when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Grey Abbey (11-12) at Aintree 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr, 8 ran.
First Gold (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Led, headed after 10th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Kicking King (11-12) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs Grd 1 sft in Apr.
Stormez (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden 8th, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up at the 14th in race won by Jack High (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Apr, 19 ran.
Jack High (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Held up, headway into 2nd 4 out, improved to lead before 2 out, slight mistake, headed approaching last, 3rd and no extra run-in, 3rd of 16, 4l behind Baron De Feypo (10-1) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl gs in Oct.
Grattan Lodge (IRE) 13-2 (10-10) Mid-division, hampered 4th, ridden after 15th, mistake 17th, weakening when hampered and pulled up 3 out in race won by Baron Windrush (10-3) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Tribal Venture (FR) 66-1 (11-0) Always behind, 8th of 11, 41l behind Inglis Drever (11-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct.
Innox (FR) (10-6) In touch to 4 out, soon beaten, last of 11, more than 38l behind Northerntown (10-12) at Enghien 3m 1f Grp 2 in Oct.
Control Man (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Held up, hit 7th, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up at the 19th in race won by Joes Edge (9-11) at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Apr, 20 ran.
Whitford Don (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Like-A-Butterfly (11-2) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr, 10 ran.
King Harald (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Made all, strongly pressed from 4 out, keeping on under pressure and one length ahead when stumbled badly and rider lost irons last, joined early run-in, ran on gamely and in command, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (A) gd in Mar beati.
Montayral (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, dropped to 10th from 10th, soon no danger, tailed off, 9th of 15, 30l behind Star Clipper (10-2) at Limerick 3m hcp chs gs in Oct.
Merchants Friend (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) Held up, towards rear, hit 17th, ridden 18th, good headway from 3 out, every chance last, hard ridden and ran on well flat, just failed, 2nd of 9, hd behind I Hear Thunder (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Oct.
Captain Corelli 8-1fav (10-12) Behind, blundered 9th, hampered 4 out, pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by King Harald (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (A) gd in Mar, 19 ran.
A Glass In Thyne (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Ridden when challenged 3 out, soon headed and weakened, 4th of 7, 11l behind L'ami (11-7) at Lingfield 3m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Dec.
Lou du Moulin Mas (FR) 9-4fav (11-7) Close up, led 5th, ridden and headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Bushido (11-2) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Oct.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Held up, headway from 16th, ridden and challenged 4 out, led 2 out, hard ridden flat ran on gamely to just hold on, won at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Oct beating Merchants Friend (11-1) by a hd, 9 ran.
