in touch until blundered and fell 11th
held up in rear, hampered 11th, headway on outside when blundered 4 out, weakened before last
in touch to 9th, soon behind
behind most of way
raced in mid-division, ridden 11th, soon behind
mid-division, ridden and no impression when blundered 3 out, pulled up before last
held up in mid-division, effort 13th, 8th and weakening when fell last
always rear
held up in rear, not fluent 9th, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, stayed on approaching last, took 3rd run-in
held up in rear, hampered and unseated rider 11th
held up in mid-division, headway 11th, led 3 out pushed 4 lengths clear 2 out, headed before last, chased winner until weakened run-in
chased leader, led 11th to next, chased leader from 3 out, close up 2 out, weakening when mistake last
led to 11th, prominent until outpaced 13th, rallied before last to regain 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
in touch to 9th, pulled up before 12th
held up well in rear, still plenty to do 3 out, headway under pressure next, led before last, ridden clear run-in
held up, blundered 10th, well behind and no chance when fell last
always behind, blundered 8th, ridden and blundered 11th, soon struggling
not fluent and behind most of way
behind, some headway 4 out, no chance when hampered last
in touch, led 12th until hit 3 out, weakend rapidly before next
prominent, blundered and ridden 10th, weakened 3 out, mistake last
prominent to after 11th, soon behind
Nonrunner
Iznogoud can give Martin Pipe another winner in this race, with Brooklyn Breeze, Palarshan and Supreme Prince seen as the main dangers in a wide-open renewal. Martin Pipe has won four of the last seven runnings of this contest, with Terao, Majadou, Dark Stranger and Blowing Wind the most recent two years ago. Apart from Majadou though, all of the others were sent off as lesser-fancied contenders from the stable, so the first thing to point out is that Polar Red, and Roveretto must not be totally discarded from calculations. However, on the evidence so far this season, Iznogoud looks to have been laid out with this in mind, having had the lightest of campaigns. The Nicolashayne nine-year-old, who was second in the 2002 Royal & SunAlliance Chase, was pulled up in the William Hill Chase the following year, but bounced back with a solid effort in this race 12 months ago, finding only Tikram too strong up the hill. Runner-up to the ill-fated Farmer Jack in the Racing Post Chase on only his second outing of the current campaign, Iznogoud deserves to land a decent race and has plenty going for him here. Brooklyn Breeze appeared to be coming to hand when staying on behind Buckby Lane in a Grade 3 here last time and is expected to go well. Strictly on a line through Farmer Jack though, he is held by the selection. Palarshan in contrast finished third in that event and must not be overlooked as his stable sent out Young Spartacus to win two years ago. Palarshan won the Grand Annual that year but now needs this further distance and is well-handicapped. So is Scots Grey who is extremely lightly raced and will like the ground. He was well behind Supreme Prince on that first outing in 111 days, but the latter has a penalty to carry for his Vodafone Gold Cup success at Newbury, and would not be certain to maintain the form. It is a race of many ifs and buts, with Iznogoud taken to give Martin Pipe more glory.
Supreme Prince (IRE) 7-1 Always prominent, led 3 out, driven clear 2 out, held up on well, won at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) gs beating Horus by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Colca Canyon (IRE) 25-1 Jumped slowly 1st, in touch when jumped slowly again 8th, weakened after and tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Celestial Gold at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
Mouseski 25-1 Held up in touch, outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, kept on flat, 6th of 15, 4l behind Supreme Prince at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) gs.
Redemption 33-1 Always in rear, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind Farmer Jack at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Iznogoud (FR) 20-1 Mid-division, headway under pressure to chase leaders 4 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 6l behind Farmer Jack at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Palarshan (FR) 9-1 Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, no impression from next, 6th of 16, 14l behind Farmer Jack at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Le Duc (FR) 8-1 Held up in rear, jumped slowly 6th, effort approaching 4 out, never near leaders, 9th of 15, 7l behind Supreme Prince at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) gs.
Polar Red 50-1 Behind from 4th, 24th of 25, well behind Essex at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb.
Simply Gifted 50-1 Took keen hold early, held up, not fluent 10th, headway after 4 out, stayed on well flat, 4th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Supreme Prince at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) gs.
Europa 15-2 Behind, reminders 7th, never going well and no chance after, 10th of 16, 27l behind Buckby Lane at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Jan.
Brooklyn Breeze (IRE) 6-1 Held up in rear, blundered and outpaced 7th, closed approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge when hampered 2 out, kept on run-in, 3rd of 7, 3l behind L'Ange Au Ciel at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Feb.
Scots Grey 16-1 Held up, headway 7th, ridden after 11th, not much room on inside on bend and lost place approaching 4 out, no real danger after, 8th of 15, 6l behind Supreme Prince at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) gs.
Banker Count 12-1 Made most to 6th, led again 9th, headed 3 out, one pace before next, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Farmer Jack at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Hunters Tweed 16-1 Keen, mid-division, headway 5th, led after 7th, ridden and headed approaching last, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 12l behind Spring Pursuit at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Feb.
Liberthine (FR) 11-2 Mid-division, headway approaching 11th, ridden when blundered 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 14, 21l behind Whereareyounow at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (B) sft in Feb.
Marked Man (IRE) 15-2 Held up in rear, blundered 4th, ridden 7th, stayed on to chase leaders after 2 out, went 2nd run-in but no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Tanikos at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs.
Multeen River (IRE) 15-8fav Held up, headway 7th, driven to challenge 2 out, upsides last hard ridden to lead flat, won at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Dec beating Marked Man by 1l, 7 ran.
Davids Lad (IRE) 25-1 Raced in poor 7th, ran on without threatening from 4 out, left 4th from last, 4th of 8, 39l behind Barrow Drive at Thurles 2m 2f hdl sft in Feb.
Roveretto 25-1 Mid-division when blundered and unseated rider at the 9th in race won by Innox at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Feb, 12 ran.
Ghadames (FR) 6-1 Held up in touch, chased winner after 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, left 2nd last, one pace, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Town Crier at Haydock 2m hcp chs (B) sft in Feb.
Christopher 3-1fav Tracked leaders, pushed along after 8th, weakened after 12th, 6th of 14, well behind Whereareyounow at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (B) sft in Feb.
The Villager (IRE) 11-2 Held up, in touch, lost place 6th, tailed off and pulled up 5 out in race won by Roschal at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Feb, 11 ran.
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.
Jericho III (FR) 11-2 Disputed clear lead to 7th, hit 8th and next, stayed chasing winner until mistake and weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 25l behind L'Ange Au Ciel at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Feb.
