behind, pushed along after 4 out, plugged on past beaten rivals from last, never nearer
behind, some headway into mid-division after 4 out, never reached leaders, weakened after 2 out
held up mid-division, headway on outside before 3 out, soon tracked leaders, ridden into 2nd when switched inside between last 2, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
mid-division on outside, lost place and behind from 5th, not travel well and pulled up before 7th
chased leaders on inside, lost place 15th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
always towards rear
never better than mid-division behind from 16th, tailed off 3 out
mid-division, headway under pressure before 3 out, soon ridden, never reached leaders, weakened next
held up mid-division, headway 4 out, close up going well next, led 2 out, ridden clear before last, stayed on well, comfortably
mid-division, mistake 4th (water), headway under pressure before 3 out, soon ridden, never threatened leaders, weakened after next
led, driven and headed after 3 out, ridden before next, no extra and lost place between last 2, weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, one pace before 2 out, never able to challenge
chased leaders to 17th, soon behind, weakened 3 out, tailed off
always behind, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 15th, hit 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division on inside, mistake 16th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, blundered 15th, headway on inside after 4 out, led after next, headed 2 out, no impression in 3rd before last
chased leaders, blundered and lost place 17th, soon behind, tailed off
mid-division, headway 4 out, tracked leaders next, driven and not quicken after 2 out, well held in 4th from last
chased leader, not fluent 13th, lost place next, behind from 16th, pulled up after next
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 13th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
chased clear leaders to 15th, struggling in mid-division next, no danger after
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Hazel Hill bucked several trends when landing this 12 months ago. He returns as a 12-year-old but there have been just two winners of that age since 1975 and Philip Rowley’s veteran was outpaced by Minella Rocco at Wetherby six weeks ago. Derek O’Connor rides the latter here and Jamie Codd, who rode the National Hunt Chase winner on Tuesday, also wears the McManus colours on Enda Bolger’s Staker Wallace, who has won between the flags since finishing second to Billaway at Naas. Alcala won at Haydock last month but was then beaten at Fontwell and has had a couple of hard races lately. Top Wood has a brilliant record in this race having finished second in 2018 and third last year. He also won the Foxhunters’ at Aintree last season but is now a teenager. David Maxwell has his critics but rides his fair share of winners and he steered SHANTOU FLYER into second place last year. Now trained by Rose Laxton, the gelding won his only start since under Rules at Fakenham last month and that should have put the 10-year-old in the right frame of mind for another tilt. Stablemate Caid Du Berlais has a decent strike-rate but was never travelling before pulled up in this 12 months ago.
Alcala (FR) 5-6fav (12-6) Tracked winner 2nd until after 13th, chased leaders, 2nd again 14th, challenged 3 out, led narrowly next, ridden and stayed on run-in, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 1/4l behind Bob And Co (12-6) at Fontwell 3m 2f (6) sft in Feb.
Arctic Skipper (IRE) 6-4 (12-2) Mid-div, 4th frm 8th, prog in 2l 3rd aftr 4out, wknd bef 2out, fair 5th & no ex aftr 2out, pu bef last, at Knockanard 3m Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Billaway (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Tracked leaders on outer, 5th 4 out, close 5th entering straight, pushed along and headway to lead at last, ridden and stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Naas 3m sft in Jan beating Staker Wallace (12-0) by 8l, 11 ran.
Bishops Road (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Towards rear, chased leaders halfway, went 3rd before 3 out, chased winner from last, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Wishing And Hoping (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f (6) sft in Jan.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 1-2fav (11-7) (tt) held up; hdwy 12; led 2 out; easy, won at Buckfastleigh 3m hvy in Jan beating Marcle Ridge (11-7) by 5l, 11 ran.
Don Poli (IRE) 1-4fav (12-5) Hdwy 12; led 15; drvn out, won at Alnwick 3m gs in Jan beating Killer Crow (12-5) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Duhallow Tornado (IRE) 6-4fav (11-7) Hdwy 11; rdn to chall app 2 out; stayed on to ld nr fin, won at Brocklesby Park 3m gs in Feb beating King Of The Clothe (11-10) by hd, 8 ran.
Dylrow (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Mid-division, rear of mid-division at halfway, some progress entering straight, ridden in 7th 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 11 1/4l behind Billaway (12-0) at Naas 3m sft in Jan.
It Came To Pass (IRE) 2-1 (12-2) Rr of mid-div, 5th 1/2way, no ex & held in 4th bef 2out, bhnd in 4th when pu well bef last, at Kilfeacle 3m Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Law Of Gold (IRE) 6-4fav (12-5) A.p; led 13; drew clr flat; comf, won at Horseheath 3m gd in Feb beating Tullys Touch (12-5) by 12l, 10 ran.
Marcle Ridge (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Led til hdd 2 out; no ch w wnr, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Caid Du Berlais (11-7) at Buckfastleigh 3m hvy in Jan.
Minella Rocco (IRE) 5-2 (12-0) Handy on outside, led 9th, headed after next, led narrowly 2 out, holding 2nd flat, stayed on, won at Wetherby 3m (6) sft in Feb beating Hazel Hill (12-4) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Mr Mercurial (IRE) 4-1 (12-6) Chased leaders, lost place before 4th, closed next, led after 16th, jumped left last 3, stayed on, won at Musselburgh 3m 3f (4) gs in Feb beating Southfield Vic (12-6) by 2l, 7 ran.
Rewritetherules (IRE) 4-6 (12-2) Ww in rr, rapid prog & v kn from 5out, ld by 3out, gng well with 3l adv 2out, redcd ld last, all out cl hm, won at Punchestown 3m Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Handy Headon (12-2) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sausalito Sunrise (IRE) 5-2fav (12-5) (cp) lost plce 13; rallied 17; led 19; clr 4 out; stayed on wl, won at Cocklebarrow 3m 6f gs in Jan beating The Dapper Fox (12-5) by 10l, 10 ran.
Shantou Flyer (IRE) 4-11fav (12-8) Always prominent, mistake 2nd, led 12th, driven clear when hampered by loose horse approaching last, stayed on, won at Fakenham 3m (5) sft in Feb beating Haymount (12-0) by 23l, 6 ran.
Southfield Theatre (IRE) 4-7fav (11-3) Made virt all; r.o wl, won at Higham 3m gs in Feb beating An Scairp (11-0) by 6l, 7 ran.
Staker Wallace (IRE) 1-2 (11-11) Pr, closer 3rd 1/2way, closer in 2nd from 3out, disp 2out, asserted & 8l adv bef last, kow flat, easily, won at Nenagh 3m Yielding - Soft in Feb beating Lite Duties (11-11) by 8l, 3 ran.
Stellar Notion (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Led to 3 & 6-7; wknd 14; t.o & pu 2 out, at Sheriff Hutton 3m sft in Jan.
Top Wood (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, under pressure before 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 28 1/2l behind Lord Du Mesnil (10-8) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Kalabaloo (IRE) 2-5fav (10-10) Held up; hdwy 11; went 2nd aft 14; rdn to ld 2 out; stayed on wl, won at Alnwick 3m sft in Feb beating Roderick Random (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Chosen Dream (IRE) 7-1 (12-2) Chsd ldr, prog to disp bef 3out, hdd aftr 2out, nt mtch wnr bef last, ko to line, 2nd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Winged Leader (12-2) at Kirkistown 3m Yielding - Soft in Feb.
Don Bersy (FR) 4-7fav (12-3) Ref to race, at Chaddesley Corbett 3m gs in Feb.
Hazel Hill (IRE) 1-4fav (12-4) Jumped right, led until 9th, led after next, headed narrowly 2 out, held flat, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Minella Rocco (12-0) at Wetherby 3m (6) sft in Feb.
