in rear, ridden from 4 out, stayed on but not trouble leaders
prominent, chased winner from 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
led, headed 4th, weakened from 6th, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 4th, headed approaching 6th, weakened after 3 out and behind when pecked last
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden and one pace from 3 out
held up rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, faded flat
mid-division, ridden 4 out, stayed on from after 2 out to chase winner approaching final furlong but no chance
in touch, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
in rear, lost touch 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden from 4 out, soon held
always in rear, losing touch when mistake 6th
tracked leaders and going well, led approaching 6th, clear approaching last, comfortable
in rear, ridden 6th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
always in the rear
Nonrunner
Bannow Strand can give Martin Pipe another Open winner, with Thalys, Gazump and Cosmocrat three lively dangers. The Pipe stable certainly know how to exploit a horse's handicap mark, and if ever one was potentially thrown in it is Bannow Strand. This extremely well-bred five-year-old, related to the likes of Mighty Moss and Bannow Bay, was very disappointing over hurdles last season, but has schooled very well for his chase debut and gets in on a mark of 103. He could easily have around 20lb in hand of today's opponents, and as lack of a run is never a problem with the Pond House inmates, he can come back with a bang. Thalys can be considered unlucky not to make it two out of two for the season as he had to be switched twice on the run-in at Stratford, in the end having to play second fiddle to Hakim. He is also lightly weighted and is a threat along with Gazump who will be all the better for his comeback run over hurdles at Perth where he was sent off as favourite. He made most of the running at the Scottish track before tiring and will strip fitter now. Cosmocrat will appreciate the step up in trip and is worth considering for a place at least, while the market may tell which of the Hobbs duo, Christopher and Shalako, is the more fancied. Dix Villez ran here on Friday but if turning out, may make his presence felt, but even so, the potentially well handicapped Bannow Strand is the pick.
Dantes Reef (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, mistake 3 out, soon no extra, 9th of 15, 46l behind Green Belt Flyer (11-4) at Naas 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 gs in Oct.
Christopher 20-1 (10-4) Prominent, blundered and ridden 10th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 22, 17l behind Liberthine (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Gazump (FR) 7-4fav (11-3) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, well behind Drumbeater (10-4) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Sept.
Prince Of Pleasure (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Led, headed 2 out, soon no extra, left 4th from last, 4th of 16, 17l behind One Four Shannon (11-0) at Roscommon 2m 5f hcp chs 0-123 sft in Oct.
The Villager (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Prominent to 11th, soon behind, 11th of 22, 33l behind Liberthine (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Cosmocrat 7-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, every chance 4 out, jumped left 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Va Vavoom (11-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Oct.
Mark Equal 12-1 (11-10) Held up, headway 11th, going well approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 11l behind Personal Assurance (11-3) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in May.
Shalako (USA) 9-2jt-fav (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 3 out, stayed on one pace before next, 5th of 17, 8l behind The Market Man (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Oct.
Moorlands Again 22-1 (9-7) Led, ridden along 7th, headed approaching 4 out, weakening when blundered 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Standin Obligation (10-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (B) sft in Oct, 9 ran.
Cetti's Warbler 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 11, 16l behind Yassar (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Oct.
All Sonsilver (FR) 25-1 (11-10) In rear, pushed along after 4th, weakened approaching 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the 8th in race won by Yassar (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Oct, 11 ran.
Meggie's Beau (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Always prominent, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed last, not quicken, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Yassar (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Oct.
Charging (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Mid-division, improved to track leaders 6 out, led approaching 3 out, clear before next, kept on well, eased close home, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-109 gs in Oct beating Too Much Chat (10-3) by 1 1/2l, 22 ran.
Bannow Strand (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 14, 39l behind Bonny Grey (10-9) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (F) gs in Apr.
Newratking (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, no extra after 6 out and pulled up in race won by Charging (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-109 gs in Oct, 22 ran.
Acertack (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Led to 4th, tracked winner, led 7th, hit 9th, headed 10th, stayed on again flat but no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Lucky Pete (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Apr.
Melford (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Patiently ridden, held up in touch, took closer order approaching 3 out, led flat, edged left towards finish, stayed on gamely, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Oct beating Pass Me By (11-12) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Dix Villez (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Led and disputed, headed after 6 out, moderate 3rd and no extra after 3 out, 3rd of 8, 29l behind Gortinard (11-12) at Tralee 2m 4f nov chs gd in Aug.
Penthouse Minstrel 22-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, one pace, 6th of 13, 11l behind Black De Bessy (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
Thalys (GER) 9-4fav (10-12) Held up in touch, mistake 5th, chased winner 3 out, ridden after 2 out, switched right, switched left flat, stayed on, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Hakim (11-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Oct.
