chased leaders, reminder after 9th, ridden after 15th, soon beaten, pulled up after 17th
chased leaders, hampered 14th, struggling when hit 17th, not a danger after
held up, hit 5th, ridden and never travelling final circuit, pulled up after 17th
prominent, left in lead 14th, headed 16th, lost place when hampered 4 out, stayed on again approaching last
held up, hit 8th, headway 12th, with leaders when hit 17th, soon weakened, slightly hampered 4 out, pulled up before next
led until blundered and unseated rider 14th
chased leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened last
mid-division, pecked 9th, headway and hit 12th, led 16th until 4 out, ridden to lead after 3 out, not fluent next, hit last and soon headed, rallied to lead final 100 yards, all out
mid-division, headway after 4 out, went right next, soon ridden to challenge, close 3rd when stumbled last, no extra
always towards rear
held up, nudged along after 16th, ridden and headway after 3 out, led soon after last, headed final 100 yards, kept on
Nonrunner
A tentative vote goes to Preacher Boy who bounced back from a spell in the doldrums to go close at Newbury. Timmy Murphy rides the selection in preference to Harris Bay and Ron Hodges' gelding can justify that decision despite a 7lb rise for his second to Caribou. His career hasn't gone on as anticipated following his Hennessy third in 2006 but he hasn't got too many miles on the clock and looks capable of achieving further success. Irish Raptor ran a blinder at Aintree but he's up in the weights and the run is likely to have taken something out of him, Crystal D'Ainay and Le Duc are both talented but quirky, Blue Splash has to put some modest performances behind him, Sweet Diversion lacks a run, Burren Legend is up in the class and weights whilst Bowleaze will need to pull out a little more again. Reasons for and against can be found for most of the field but, like Timmy Murhpy, we'll keep faith with Preacher Boy.
Crystal d'Ainay (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden after 12th, behind 14th, tailed off when pulled up at the 16th in race won by Himalayan Trail (9-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 10th (Becher's Brook) headed after 2 out, kept on under pressure towards finish, 2nd of 29, nk behind Gwanako (11-8) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd.
Harris Bay 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, joined leader 6th until next, struggling after 8th, weakening when pulled up at the last in race won by Pistol Desbois (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar, 7 ran.
Preacher Boy 11-1 (11-3) Led until 3rd, prominent, led 4 out, headed 2 out, rallied and every chance flat, held near finish, 2nd of 14, nk behind Caribou (11-4) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Mar.
Burren Legend (IRE) 6-5fav (11-4) Led until 2nd, tracked leader, led after 10th, ridden after 3 out, joined next, kept on well from last, ridden out flat, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) gs in Mar beating Robin De Sherwood (11-4) by 6l, 3 ran.
Blue Splash (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden after 8th, weakening when mistake 14th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Miko de Beauchene (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb, 16 ran.
Bowleaze (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, disputed 2nd, mistake 12th, led 2 out, soon ridden, drifted right from last, all out, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Without A Doubt (11-12) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Le Duc (FR) 9-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 17th, effort 2 out, weakened quickly, 10th of 16, well behind Garde Champetre (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gs in Mar.
Ice Melted (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, headway 11th, weakened 4 out, 3rd of 8, well behind Bible Lord (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Kaldouas (FR) 11-4fav (11-2) Held up behind leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 8, 22l behind Kenzo III (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Mokum (FR) 16-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Caribou (11-4) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Mar, 14 ran.
Classic Capers 8-1 (11-2) In rear, headway 10th, led next, headed 3 out, one pace, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Randwick Roar (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Sweet Diversion (IRE) 12-1 (9-12) Always rear, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Hot Weld (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf, 10 ran.
