in touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, effort and every chance next, soon ridden and one pace, no impression flat
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakening when fell next
mid-division, mistake 2nd, fell 5th
towards rear, hampered 5th, struggling 9th, brought down 4 out
mid-division on inside, outpaced 3 out, chased leaders under pressure next, soon ridden, no impression in 8th when fell last
not fluent 1st, soon settled mid-division, steady headway 3 out, chased leaders next, ridden after last, stayed on to lead final 100 yards
in touch, ridden after 3 out, one pace next, no impression before last
always behind
behind, hampered 4 out, driven and stayed on into mid-division 2 out, no chance when hampered last
soon mid-division, one pace approaching 2 out, never able to challenge
led to 2nd, in touch, blundered 5th, lost place 10th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
led 2nd, soon clear, reduced advantage 2 out, ridden and went 3 lengths clear again last, kept on until headed and no extra final 100 yards, dropped to 4th near finish
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, 1 length down when blundered next, ridden and kept on flat, held when lost 2nd near finish
mid-division, headway after 3 out, outpaced next, soon ridden, beaten when hampered last
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace, never pace to threaten leaders
chased leaders to 10th, behind when hampered 4 out
towards rear, hampered 5th, no headway when fell 4 out
tracked clear leader after 4th, effort and close up in 3rd when mistake 2 out, lost place approaching last, weakened flat
behind, fell 1st
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, close up 2 out, went 4th approaching last, ridden and stayed on well flat, took 2nd near finish, not reach winner
tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened after next
tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened next
hampered 1st, behind, struggling 4 out, never near leaders
Withdrawn
The home team usually end the meeting on a high but the gambled-on Alderwood, who had won the County Hurdle 12 months earlier, took it last year for Thomas Mullins and previous course form can also be important. Oiseau de Nuit won the race in 2011 and beat Tanks For That at Aintree last spring. This is his time of year and he's come up against Sire De Grugy in his last three starts so will appreciate this easier task, though isn't getting any younger. McCoy will have to work hard to keep the enigmatic Mr Mole interested while Next Sensation is unlikely to be allowed an uncontested lead and is climbing the weights. Eastlake beat French Opera here in December but may also be too high in the weights now. His Excellency could go well if in the mood while a strong gallop would suit Astracad and Easter Meteor but the handicapper looks to have given NED BUNTLINE every chance off a mark of 138 and Noel Meade's novice can come out on top if his lack of experience doesn't prove too much of a disadvantage. Competitive Edge also catches the eye near the foot of the weights but they may go too quick for Dare Me.
French Opera 3-1fav (11-0) Mid-division on outside, closed after 3f, led 6f out, headed 5f out, lost place over 2f out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 22l behind Domtaline (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 28-1 (11-7) Held up in touch in 5th, dropped to rear 7th, weakened soon after 8th, 5th of 7, 37l behind Sire De Grugy (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f chs G1 (1) hvy in Jan.
Raya Star (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5th, challenged and hit 9th (3 out), lost 2nd 2 out, soon ridden and stayed on same pace, 3rd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Module (11-2) at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Easter Meteor 14-1 (11-9) Pressed leader, led 12th, hit 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, no extra flat, 6th of 13, 19l behind Double Ross (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
Mr Mole (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Tracked winner, mistake 3 out, ridden before and hit last, kept on and no impression, last of 2, 10l behind Rock On Ruby (11-7) at Doncaster 2m nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Savello (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, close 5th 3 out, soon ridden and weakened before next, 9th of 13, well behind Turban (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f sft in Jan.
Eastlake (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, not fluent 1st, headway from 8th, every chance 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 8, 26l behind Grey Gold (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Feb.
Drumshambo (USA) 7-1 (11-6) In touch in 4th, pushed along and weakened before 5 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, 36l behind Mr Moonshine (11-4) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Viva Colonia (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, went 4th before 4 out, chased winner before 2 out, challenged last, ridden and switched left run-in, not quicken, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Mr Moonshine (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Tanks For That (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway on inside over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, ridden to lead 1f out, driven out, just held on, all out, won at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb beating Tzora (11-0) by ns, 13 ran.
Astracad (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Not fluent, held up in rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent next, left in modest 4th after 7th, no chance when blundered 3 out, went poor 3rd 2 out, tailed off, 3rd of 6, 30l behind Sire De Grugy (11-10) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Next Sensation (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Made all, clear from 4 out, hit 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Doncaster 2m (3) gs in Dec beating God's Own (11-2) by 6l, 8 ran.
Claret Cloak (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Led until after 2nd, chased leader, led again 4th, hit 4 out, ridden and headed between last 2, no impression when lost 2nd last, weakened and lost 3rd flat, 4th of 6, 10l behind Hinterland (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec.
His Excellency (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Prominent, mistakes 5th and 8th, outpaced before 4 out, rallied 3 out, every chance when mistake last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Swift Arrow (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Feb.
Dare Me (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outside after 2nd, closed 5th, challenged 7th, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Al Alfa (10-3) by 14l, 9 ran.
Lancetto (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Chased leaders in 4th until approaching 8th, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Sire De Grugy (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f chs G1 (1) hvy in Jan.
Competitive Edge (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Held up in 3rd, left 2nd at 6th, slight mistake 4 out, improved to lead next, ridden in narrow lead before 2 out, headed before last, no extra run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Letter Of Credit (11-0) at Thurles 2m 2f chs 0-145 hvy in Feb.
Anquetta (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division on outside, not fluent 2nd, lost place 9th, well beaten 4 out, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Eastlake (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Dec.
Passage Vendome (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Held up in moderate 3rd, ridden from 3 out, dropped to moderate 4th after 2 out, soon no impression, last of 4, 28l behind Felix Yonger (11-12) at Navan 2m 1f nov chs in Dec.
Ned Buntline Evensfav (11-8) Held up in rear and took keen hold early, headway from 4 out, 3rd when not fluent next, went 2nd and ridden from 2 out, no impression on winner from last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Mallowney (11-2) at Naas 2m nov chs sft in Jan.
Changing The Guard 33-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, took keen hold, hampered 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 15, 33l behind Kaylif Aramis (10-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Shooters Wood (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Led, pushed along and joined 2f out, ridden over 1f out, narrowly headed inside final furlong, one pace into 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Supreme Present (10-9) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb.
Lucky Landing (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up in last on outside, not fluent 2nd, headway 8th, lost place before 4 out, well beaten next, 7th of 9, 36l behind Doeslessthanme (11-1) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd.
Oscar Hill (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Jumped boldly, set good gallop and clear until not fluent 4 out, headed before next, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 30l behind Grey Gold (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Feb.
