prominent, led 5th, jumped right on occasions, pecked on landing 4 out, pressed before 3 out, bumped rival jumping 3 out, ridden before 2 out where not fluent and headed, jumped into and not fluent last, no extra closing stages
chased leaders, ridden after 16th, steadily lost touch from 4 out, well behind when pulled up before last
led, not fluent and headed 5th, raced in 3rd, pressed leader 3 out, bumped jumping 3 out, led 2 out and soon ridden, jumped left and hampered rival last, forged on when idled run-in, pressed closing stages, just did enough
held up in rear, pushed along after 16th, ridden after 5 out and soon held, pulled up
tracked leader close up, outpaced after 4 out and dropped to 3rd, keeping on when rallied after last, pressed idling leader run-in, always held
NonRunner
Mint Condition had been a bit out of sorts since scoring at Haydock in December but wasn't disgraced at The Festival last month. Beatthebullet ran in the National Hunt Chase here last month but finished tailed off. BIG NASTY was a winner the last time he encountered good ground. He seemed to handle these big fences well enough back in January and could be the pick of the weights in this ahead of the less-exposed The Bull McCabe, who has had a break, and Brother Pat, who was left to come home alone in a match at Sedgefield last time. Champagnesuperover has no form on going this quick and a recent victory also came in a match.
Mint Condition 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division, pecked 1st, headway to go prominent 3rd, pushed along 3 out, ridden before last, no extra from last, 5th of 20, 13 1/2l behind Chambard (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Beatthebullet (IRE) 100-1 (11-6) Prominent, led 2nd until 3rd, led 5th, headed 7th, stayed handy, lost place after 4 out, well behind after 3 out, went narrow 4th from 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, dist behind Stattler (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (1) gs in Mar.
The Bull Mccabe (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Cajoled away from start, led, driven after 4 out, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, last of 8, dist behind Flight Deck (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Brother Pat 9-4 (11-2) Chased leader until left alone 14th, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Big Nasty 7-1 (10-3) Mid-division on outside, closed 6th, every chance 3 out, jumped left and bumped 2 out, held from last, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Full Back (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Champagnesuperover (IRE) 8-13fav (10-12) Chased sole rival, stumbled 4th, led before 2 out, hit last, easily, won at Catterick 3m 1f (3) gs in Mar beating Ask A Honey Bee (11-4) by 4 3/4l, 2 ran.
