towards rear when hampered and unseated rider 12th
held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, never in contention
led at good pace, headed 15th, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, hampered 12th, headway 15th, stayed on, never reached leaders
towards rear, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 3 out
never reached beyond mid-division
tracking leader when fell 12th
in touch, mistake 6th, behind from 15th
behind, tailed off when pulled up before 19th
mid-division, blundered 4th, hit 15th, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened next
in rear, moderate late headway, never dangerous
always behind, tailed off 15th, pulled up before 3 out
always rear, tailed off
chased leaders until lost place 15th, headway to chase leaders well before last, weakened flat
always rear
in touch, chased leaders 14th, chased winner from next until one pace flat
mid-division to rear, stayed on from 3 out, strong run flat, took 2nd towards finish
behind, hampered 12th, no danger after
towards rear, mistake 5th, tailed off 15th
always towards rear
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
close 5th when unseated rider 9th
chased leaders, went 2nd 12th, led 15th, driven from 2 out, held on gamely under pressure flat
in touch, headway under pressure from 2 out, stayed on flat, took 3rd towards finish
Liberthine is the choice ahead of It Takes Time, Darby Wall, Oodachee, Maletton and Cloudy Lane to name but a few in this amateur riders' affair. With Sam Waley- Cohen on board, the 2005 Mildmay Of Flete winner Liberthine is taken to make up for last year's eighth placing in this race, due to the fact that she has been sharpened up by a run behind stablemate Copsale Lad at Newbury last month. Last year she lined up without a prep race but went on to land the Topham at Aintree, and she is set to return there next month for a crack at the John Smith's Grand National. Success here will see her price for the Aintree marathon shorten, and she looks all set to make a bold bid to give Nicky Henderson a fourth Kim Muir victory. The Pipe stable have won two of the last four runnings, and are represented by the well handicapped course-and-distance winner It Takes Time who stayed on over a shorter trip at Newbury last time. Darby Wall has won twice round here from four previous visits, so has to be worth a mention at least, but a bigger Irish danger may well be Oodachee, trained by Charlie Swan. Third in last year's Pertemps Final here, he has taken well to fences and is well enough handicapped compared to his hurdles rating. If the ground continues to dry out, he will be a potent threat. Maletton is no stranger to big weights and hails from an in-form yard, but needs to raise his game just a bit to figure in the finish, while Cloudy Lane in contrast will find this less exacting than behind Heltornic at Haydock. Lightly weighted and with the experienced Richard Burton in the saddle, he may go well for Donald McCain who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday. He would not mind a belated present that is for sure. The market may reveal which of the Nicholls trio is best fancied, but none make as much appeal as Liberthine.
The Bajan Bandit (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, 11th of 20, 40l behind Millenium Royal (11-5) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Liberthine (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden after 9th, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 16, 47l behind Copsale Lad (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Lord of Illusion (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, good headway 6th to track leaders, hit 9th, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 7th of 16, 42l behind Copsale Lad (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Napolitain (FR) 16-1 (10-4) Prominent, reminder 12th, mistake 16th, soon ridden, lost touch approaching 4 out, 4th of 5, well behind Little Brick (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Feb.
Naunton Brook 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, reminders and lost place after 13th, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Heltornic (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
It Takes Time (IRE) 28-1 (10-6) Blundered 1st and 8th, in rear, headway approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat, never nearer, 4th of 11, 19l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft.
Nadover (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, weakened from 14th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Simon (11-2) at Southwell 3m lst hcp chs (1) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Maletton (FR) Evensfav (12-5) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, left 2nd last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Lucifer Bleu (10-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Patricksnineteenth (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Disputed lead to 3rd, stayed prominent, mistake 7th, challenged 9th, weakened after 4 out, 3rd of 6, 32l behind Wain Mountain (10-8) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan '06.
Turthen (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Held up, steady headway from 12th, close up and travelling well when blundered and unseated rider at the 15th in race won by Rambling Minster (10-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
Lou du Moulin Mas (FR) 7-1 (10-2) Held up in touch, mistake 14th, chased leader from 16th until 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 18, 24l behind Halcon Genelardais (11-3) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Alright Now M'Lad (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, led after 2 out, driven out, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb beating Go For One (10-6) by 2l, 8 ran.
Little Big Horse (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Led to 5th, led again 9th, headed next, led approaching last, driven out, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb beating Green Ideal (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Darby Wall (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Towards rear, 8th before 3 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 9th of 13, 20l behind Quintero (9-4) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl 81-123 hvy in Feb.
Oodachee 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, closer in 2nd approaching 2 out, slight mistake last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Druids Castle (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Feb.
Ponmeoath (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Led, went clear straight, stayed on well, easily, won at Limerick 2m 1f beg chs sft in Feb beating Island Supreme (11-5) by 6l, 16 ran.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Led until 2nd, tracked leader, mistake 9th, jumped right 15th, came wide and led narrowly 4 out to 3 out, weakened soon after next, last of 4, 16l behind Cornish Rebel (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Jan.
Almost Broke 11-2 (11-10) Always towards rear, no impression, 5th of 11, 39l behind Maletton (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Direct Flight (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Mid-division, progress 6 out, 4th next, 5th and ridden 3 out, 7th when fell at the 9th in race won by Euro Leader (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Yardbird (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, ridden after 17th, kept on same pace, 7th of 18, 17l behind Rambling Minster (10-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Tyssac (FR) (10-12) Unseated rider 4th unseated rider in race won by Mioutou (10-3) at Pau 2m 2f chs sft in Dec, 17 ran.
Lady of Scarvagh (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Prominent, went 2nd 6th, led 11th, made rest, driven clear after 3 out, won at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan beating Bengo (11-10) by 18l, 11 ran.
Cloudy Lane 11-2jt-fav (9-11) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, every chance approaching 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 10th of 16, well behind Heltornic (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Cheeky Lady (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Close up, 4th before 6 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Homer Wells (10-2) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs hvy in Jan, 16 ran.
