prominent, went 2nd 11th, driven and outpaced in 3rd after 2 out (usual 3 out), no impression in 5th flat
in touch, lost place 2 out (usual 3 out), soon weakened
held up behind when fell 11th
chased leaders to 6th (water), behind when mistake 10th, pulled up before 3 out (usual 4 out)
in touch when fell 4th
mid-division on outside, in touch 5th, driven 2 out (usual 3 out), stayed on to take well beaten 3rd approaching bypassed last, no impression with front pair
mid-division on inside, mistake 3rd, soon towards rear, struggling 7th, pulled up before 10th
led 1st, headed 6th (water), chased leaders until brought down 10th
not fluent 1st, in rear, headway on outside 6th (water), led 2 out (usual 3 out), soon hard pressed, headed narrowly approaching bypassed last, no extra towards finish
mid-division on outside, in touch 5th, outpaced 2 out (usual 3 out), kept on same pace, no impression
mistake 1st, mid-division when brought down 4th
in touch, mistake 3rd, hampered next, switched towards outside 7th, weakened 2 out (usual 3 out), tailed off
tracked leader, led 6th (water), fell 10th
mid-division on inside, headway 11th, went 2nd after 2 out (usual 3 out), soon challenged, led narrowly approaching bypassed last, asserted clear towards finish
led to 1st, tracked leaders, hit 8th, lost place next, behind when hampred 10th, pulled up before next
behind, hampered 4th, headway 11th, chased leaders under pressure when hit 2 out (usual 3 out), soon weakened, pulled up before next
in touch on inside, lost place 9th, behind when hit 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened after next
in touch, outpaced 2 out (usual 3 out), soon weakened
mid-division, hampered 4th, outpaced 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden and kept on from next, no impression
tracked leaders, left in lead 10th, hit next, headed 2 out (usual 3 out), soon weakened
mid-division, headway 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened after next
behind, headway and in touch on outside 5th, weakened 2 out (usual 3 out)
chased leaders to 9th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out (usual 4 out)
The Henderson yard saddled three of the first four in this last year and are again mob-handed. Second Tanks For That and fourth Anquetta will again face the starter as will Kid Cassidy, who started favourite, and French Opera who fell. Barry Geraghty rides the latter but the stable also have top weight Petit Robin and the promising Tetlami. Past winners Oh Crick and Oiseau de Nuit are others who should feel at home. Benefficient won yesterday's Jewson but would have a penalty to carry if turned out again in this. His Excellency was third in the Arkle on Tuesday under a patient ride and would have every chance on that form if taking part while Ulck Du Lin is on a hat-trick after victories at Newbury and Ascot, though has taken a hike up the weights and Paul Nicholls also runs course and distance winner Shooters Wood. Drumshambo has had a terrific season but may be in the handicapper's grip now and is giving a couple of pounds to ALDERWOOD. A Grade 1 winner over hurdles last season and also successful under McCoy in last year's County Hurdle, Tom Mullins' nine-year-old has improved with experience over fences and is potentially thrown in here. Rody may be best of the rest but, though impressive lately, has a bit to find with Drumshambo on earlier form.
Petit Robin (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, no extra in 5th final 75 yards, 5th of 21, 10l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-2) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
French Opera 9-4fav (11-0) Took keen hold, chased leading pair, hit 2nd, chased leader from from 3 out, challenged and upsides last, led soon after and driven, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-6) at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
His Excellency (IRE) 80-1 (11-7) Held up behind in touch, headway into 4th after 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Simonsig (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs G1 (1) sft.
Tanks For That (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, steady headway approaching 9th, ridden after 4 out, driven and went 4th between last 2, stayed on same pace and impression on leading trio run-in, 4th of 6, 9l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-6) at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Kumbeshwar 25-1 (11-7) In touch main group, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, no chance with leaders, 5th of 7, 38l behind Sprinter Sacre (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) hvy in Jan.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Held up in touch on outside, effort 4 out to next, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 19l behind Ballygarvey (10-1) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Ulck Du Lin (FR) Evensfav (11-5) Took keen hold, held up tracking leaders, went 3rd 3 out, led 2 out, idled bady flat, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Dec beating Nozic (10-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Stagecoach Pearl 12-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led before 2 out, headed 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 15l behind Thunderstorm (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Kid Cassidy (IRE) 9-2fav (11-11) Held up well in rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, kept on well flat, went 5th close home, never nearer, 5th of 14, 9l behind Shooters Wood (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Drumshambo (USA) 11-4 (10-8) Chased leaders, headway before 2 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on well from last, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Molotof (11-0) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Marshal Zhukov (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) In rear, soon in touch in 3rd, well held when left 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace and no impression, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Majala (11-7) at Warwick 2m nov chs G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Rody (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 5th, challenged and jumped right 2 out, soon led, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan beating Eastlake (11-10) by 8l, 8 ran.
Tetlami (IRE) 11-10fav (11-7) Prominent, not fluent 7th, shaken up after 3 out, led before 2 out, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) sft in Feb beating Tony Star (11-0) by 3l, 7 ran.
Alderwood (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway into 4th 5 out, ridden in 6th entering straight, stayed on to challenge before last, 2nd last, no extra run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Lastoftheleaders (11-6) at Punchestown 2m hcp chs hvy in Feb.
Shooters Wood (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Led, hit 9th, headed 3 out, soon dropped to 3rd, lost 3rd soon after 2 out, weakened soon after, last of 6, 19l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-6) at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Viva Colonia (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Held up in last, headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, led last, driven and ran on flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Feb beating Desert Cry (11-8) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Renard (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Tracked winner virtually throughout, effort 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, well held flat, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Ballygarvey (10-1) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Oh Crick (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Held up behind in touch, headway on inside 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th and held when not fluent last, 4th of 8, 13l behind Ballygarvey (10-1) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Tatenen (FR) 7-1 (11-9) Pulled hard tracking leaders, hampered 14th, driven to challenge 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 33l behind Vino Griego (11-3) at Ascot 3m lstd hcp chs (1) sft in Feb.
King Edmund 12-1 (11-8) Prominent, under pressure 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 9, 24l behind Eastlake (10-8) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Feb.
Anquetta (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway next, went close 2nd 2 out, no impression flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Prince Of Dreams (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Feb.
Parsnip Pete 9-4 (10-13) Held up in 5th on outside, headway when mistake 6th, chased winner next until after 3 out, weakened before 2 out where jumped right and mistake, 5th of 6, 46l behind Saved By John (10-5) at Wincanton 2m Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (3) hvy in Jan.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Held up behind in touch, headway on outside 6th, ridden to chase leading pair 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Ballygarvey (10-1) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Benefficient (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Raced 3rd, slight mistake 2nd, left 2nd 4 out, travelling well behind leader after 2 out, improved to dispute lead when left well clear at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f nov chs G1 (1) hvy in Jan beating Oscars Well (11-12) by 20l, 3 ran.
