held up in touch, chased leaders after 3 out, weakened next
behind when unseated rider 4 out
never going well in rear, mistake 8th
soon tracked leader, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
behind, no chance when mistake and hampered 3 out
in touch, headway going well approaching 4 out, tracked leading pair next, led before last, stayed on well flat
towards rear, headway when badly hampered 3 out, stayed on well from next, ran on to take 3rd flat, finished well
led 1st, pressed from 4 out, ridden after 2 out, headed and hit last, no extra flat
behind, blundered 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
always behind
in touch, headway to track leader 14th, 2nd when blundered and fell 3 out
mid-division, weakened 12th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 14th
prominent, pecked 3rd, ridden and weakened 14th, tailed off
behind, tailed off when mistake and fell 2 out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, one pace after next, weakened approaching 2 out
took keen hold, led to 1st, stayed in touch, blundered badly 8th, not recover, well behind after
prominent, ridden and hit 15th, weakening when hampered 3 out
in touch, ridden 8th, lost place 11th, soon tailed off
held up in touch, stayed on same pace from 2 out but not reach leaders
behind most of way
good headway on inside 12th, close up when brought down, 3 out
towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, never going pace to reach leaders
chased leaders, lost pace before 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
behind, hit 12th, soon tailed off
As usual this is one of the trickiest races of the meeting and we will give a tentative vote to Lou Du Moulin Mas, Persian Waters, Lord Of The River and Indalo could be the ones to provide most danger. The Paul Nicholls trained six-year-old has steadily been returning to form and should be spot on for this. His most recent effort at Doncaster when runner up to Run For Paddy showed he has true grit and determination. He was in the front line throughout and batted back like a trojan after being headed by the winner. Another couple of strides and he would probably have got back up. If showing the same commitment today he will be hard to beat. Persian Waters has always been held in high regard by connections and has put in some good performances since winning at Huntingdon at the end of last year. Meanwhile Indalo goes from strength to strength having landed back to back victories at Leicester and Haydock. However if back to his best, a bigger threat to the selection could be Lord Of The River, a very decent performer last year who has been laid out for this event. So quite a puzzle for punters to evaluate, but Lou Du Moulin Mas has plenty going for him and he just edges the decision.
Persian Waters (IRE) 11-2 Tracked leading pair, blundered 2nd, led 14th, headed and not quicken last, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Distant Thunder at Lingfield 3m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Bold Investor 33-1 Always behind, 8th of 13, 30l behind Pretty Star at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gs.
Maximize (IRE) 50-1 Chased leaders, lost place approaching 15th, 8th of 11, 32l behind Forest Gunner at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
The Bandit (IRE) 2-1fav Tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and effort after last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 18, 3l behind Junkanoo at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Jan.
Knock Down (IRE) 50-1 Always behind, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind Farmer Jack at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Juveigneur (FR) 16-1 Mid-division, smooth headway from 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, led narrowly last, hard ridden run-in, headed final strides, 2nd of 17, nk behind Ulusaba at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Dec.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 9-2 Chased leader, led 5th until mistake and headed 9th, close up until blundered and weakened 14th, 6th of 14, 21l behind Zeta's River at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs.
Lord Of The River (IRE) 11-2 Led, headed 10th, chased leader, weakened after 4 out, 3rd of 6, well behind Freetown at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs (B) sft in Jan.
Heart Midoltian (FR) 33-1 Chased leaders, ridden in 6th approaching 6 out, no impression from next and pulled up at the last in race won by Kicking King at Gowran Park 2m 4f chs Grd 2 gs in Oct, 7 ran.
Montreal (FR) 14-1 Behind, lost touch 8th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by El Hombre Del Rio at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
The Bushkeeper (IRE) 9-2fav Held up, steady headway 12th, tracked leaders 4 out, led and hit 2 out, driven and ran on strongly flat, won at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (B) gs in Mar '02 beating Ceanannas Mor by 7l, 23 ran.
Itsonlyme (IRE) 20-1 Chased leaders, led 8th, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened before next, no chance when mistake 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Colourful Life at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (A) gd in Jan, 12 ran.
Koquelicot (FR) 11-2 Disputed lead, narrow advantage 15th, headed 3 out, stayed challenging under pressure, ridden when mistake last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Longshanks at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Jan.
Latitude (FR) 50-1 Mid-division, weakened and well behind 4 out, 12th of 16, 31l behind Buckby Lane at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Jan.
Oh Be The Hokey (IRE) 5-1 Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, improved into 2nd after 3 out, challenged next, no impression before last, kept on, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Dantes Reef at Thurles 2m 2f hcp chs 0-130 gs in Feb.
Indalo (IRE) 7-2 Prominent, led 11th, ridden flat, ran on, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Feb beating Ebony Light by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Rathbawn Prince (IRE) 33-1 Mid-division, pushed along and no impression on leaders before 3 out, stayed on after next, never dangerous, 6th of 16, 13l behind Buckby Lane at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Jan.
Carryonharry (IRE) 33-1 Chased leaders, hit 6th, mistake and weakened 11th, 8th of 14, 23l behind Zeta's River at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs.
Lou du Moulin Mas (FR) 9-4fav With leaders, led 9th, headed next, led again 11th, ridden and headed 2 out, hard ridden and rallied from last, just failed, 2nd of 10, shd behind Run For Paddy at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd.
Smile Pleeze (IRE) 20-1 Mid-division, ridden and lost place before 7th, behind when fell at the 13th in race won by Lord Of Illusion at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Jan, 11 ran.
Pearly Jack 5-2fav Tracked leaders, 5th 5 out, headway to lead after next, ridden clear after 2 out, strongly pressed after last, stayed on well, won at Thurles 2m hcp chs 0-116 sft in Feb beating Randwick Roar by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Bee An Bee (IRE) 5-1 Prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened quickly 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Headliner at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Champagne Harry 16-1 Behind, effort under pressure from 4 out, beaten next, 9th of 12, 50l behind Innox at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Feb.
Ulusaba 6-1 Held up in rear, ridden approaching 3 out, took modest 3rd approaching last, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 9, 15l behind Longshanks at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Jan.
