in touch, led 2nd, made rest, hard pressed 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on gamely from next
tracked winner to 19th, driven and outpaced when hit 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, no impression
mid-division on inside, lost place 18th, towards rear when mistake next, headway under pressure when blundered 4 out, ridden and stayed on to chase leading pair 2 out, no impression
mid-division on outside, in touch 10th, not fluent and reminder 13th, lost place 18th, soon behind and pulled up
towards rear, headway 15th, went 2nd 19th, upsides 3 out, ridden next, kept on and every chance until no extra towards finish
mid-division, lost place 13th, pushed along when hit next, soon beaten
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, tracked leaders after 14th, lost place 19th, no danger after
held up behind, headway 17th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
behind, headway into mid-division 16th, outpaced 4 out, weakened after next
led to 2nd, tracked leaders, lost place 17th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up behind, headway 16th, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, lost place and behind from 12th
Nonrunner
No fewer than seven of the 14 declared runners for this staying handicap chase won last time out including Martin Keighley's recent Market Rasen scorer Wychwoods Legend and Jim Old's Whitewater Dash, who is on a hat-trick, but both look too high in the weights now and preference is for MR BIG. Charlie Mann's gelding bounced back to winning ways when successful at Sandown on soft ground last time when getting the better of Bolachoir but the faster going today is of no concern to the nine-year-old and he has solid claims of following up that success racing off just a 1lb higher mark today. Petite Margot has every chance but would probably prefer a softer surface, while David Pipe's Gentle Ranger was there with every chance before falling in the National Hunt Chase last time and he could be of interest but it remains to be seen how he is following that fall. Jonjo O'Neill's It's Like That is relatively lightly raced and looks to be going the right way so he makes more appeal than other recent winners Go West and Incentivise but preference is for Mr Big, who can win again.
Gentle Ranger (IRE) 28-1 (11-6) With leaders, joined leader 16th, upsides when fell 4 out, in a race won by Poker De Sivola (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gd in Mar, 18 ran.
Wychwoods Legend 5-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd halfway, led 12th, 8 lengths clear 3 out, eased after last, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov chs (3) gd beating Presenting Forever (11-4) by 42l, 3 ran.
Zacharova (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Towards rear, never dangerous, 10th of 27, 40l behind Always Waining (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f list hcp ch (1) gs.
Sherwoods Folly 14-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, not fluent and reminders 7th, lost place before 9th, weakened next, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Synchronised (11-5) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f list hcp ch (1) hvy in Mar, 17 ran.
Minella Four Star (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear, weakened from 16th, blundered 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Gidam Gidam (11-0) at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Feb, 16 ran.
Petite Margot 4-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, led briefly approaching 5th, pushed along approaching 10th, led 14th, driven out, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Mar beating Buck Mulligan (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Mr Big (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Led 2nd until 4th, led 11th until 13th, hit 17th, led 3 out, kept on flat, won at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb beating Bolachoir (11-11) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Go West (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Led until 4th, led 8th until next, led after 11th, ridden approaching 4 out, strongly pressed from 3 out, driven out, won at Warwick 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar beating War Footing (11-10) by ns, 11 ran.
It's Like That (IRE) 7-4 (11-4) Tracked leaders, in rear from 12th, chased leader on bit approaching 3 out, led approaching last, soon ridden, just held on, won at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar '09 beating Killard Point (11-12) by hd, 4 ran.
Incentivise (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, led 4 out, clear after next, easily, won at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Mar beating Twocute (9-9) by 13l, 8 ran.
Alexanderthegreat (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, not fluent 12th, chased winner approaching 16th until 4 out, no impression approaching 2 out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Fine By Me (10-6) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Philson Run (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, detached 10th, headway before 4 out, chasing leaders when blundered 2 out, kept on under pressure, nearest finish, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Whitewater Dash (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
River Indus 22-1 (12-2) Tracked leader until 4th, chased leader again 10th until mistake 12th, left 3rd 2 out, kept on to go 2nd flat, 2nd of 12, 14l behind Scots Dragoon (11-12) at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Whitewater Dash 5-2fav (11-9) Behind, headway halfway, chased leaders 12th, pushed along 14th, led before 3out, ridden before last, ran on well, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar beating Peut Etre Sivola (11-12) by 6l, 8 ran.
