mid-division, pushed along 7th, weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, fell 4th
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, not fluent last, one pace flat
behind, hampered 4th, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat, never nearer
towards rear, headway 11th, ridden 3 out, one pace flat
always behind, slightly hampered 4 out
held up and mistakes, hampered 3rd, ridden and headway 3 out, one pace flat
towards rear, headway 10th, ridden and blundered badly 3 out, weakened flat
held up, headway 5th, every chance 3 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
always towards rear, no chance when slightly hampered 3 out
mid-division, fell 3rd
prominent, led 8th, ridden and headed 2 out, stayed on
mid-division, blundered badly and unseated rider 4 out
prominent, led 3rd to 8th, mistake 4 out, ridden to lead again 2 out, ran on
in touch, lost place and hampered 3rd, jumped right from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway and mistake 5th, ridden after 10th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
prominent and keen, ridden after 4 out, weakening when fell 3 out
behind, badly hampered 3rd, jumped right from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
prominent, hit 7th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, hit 7th, weakening when blundered 10th
in touch to 4 out, weakening when hampered 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led to 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, hampered 3rd, hit 9th, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, ran on well flat
Just about as competitive a handicap as it gets here, and we take Tiger Cry to just shade it for Ireland, with Andreas, Green Tango, Tysou and Tribal Dispute others on what was a long list of considerations. The selection is proven on decent ground back home for Arthur Moore, and is a thoroughly consistent sort. Not out of the first three on his last six starts, he has plenty of experience in big fields, jumps well and has a nice racing weight, so he get the vote. Top weight Tysou loves it around here and won't mind the ground drying out even more. A fast-run two miles is perfect for him, but Nicky Henderson's runners have not fired perhaps as well as he'd have liked at the time of writing, and a 7lb rise for his latest win makes things very difficult. Andreas impressed with his jumping early in his novice season and looks primed up for this. He had a confidence-boosting win when thrown in over hurdles last time and should be cherry ripe for this. The ground has come right for Green Tango, who attempts to make it a hat-trick here after wins at Hereford and Southwell on his last two starts. He looks to be going very much the right way and if coping with the track (he was well beaten on his only previous start here) and the big field then he has every chance. Davenport Democrat is another who cannot be discounted, while of those at longer prices the weight rise has favoured Tribal Dispute, who can put up a bold showing, but Tiger Cry can roar in.
Tysou (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 3 out, pressed leader approaching last, soon led flat, ran on strongly, won at Sandown 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Feb beating Dempsey (11-12) by 2l, 10 ran.
Andreas (FR) 2-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 4th, led after 6th, clear 3 out, easily, won at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Feb beating Saif Sareea (11-4) by 10l, 10 ran.
Ground Ball (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, 2nd before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Macs Joy (11-11) at Gowran Park 2m hdl Grd 2 sft in Feb.
Caracciola (GER) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and effort next, one pace approaching last, 5th of 12, 11l behind Desert Quest (10-3) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Dec.
Davenport Democrat (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Keen, led 2nd, ridden when headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 10, 13l behind Accordion Etoile (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Nov.
Duke of Buckingham (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Always behind, lost touch before 4 out, 6th of 10, 29l behind Armaturk (11-12) at Lingfield 2m lst hcp chs (A) gd in Oct.
Green Tango 5-6fav (11-7) Held up in touch, went 2nd from 5th, led after 3 out, ridden next, kept on well, won at Southwell 2m nov chs (2) gs in Jan beating Feel The Pride (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Bambi de L'Orme (FR) 15-2 (10-13) Behind, ridden to chase leaders 10th, effort 2 out, no extra approaching last, one pace flat and lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 10, 6l behind Tysou (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Feb.
Nyrche (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Led, ridden 2 out, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Sharp Rigging (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Kalca Mome (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Held up, headway 7th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden to lead approaching last, driven out, won at Haydock 2m hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb beating Bleu Superbe (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Flying Spirit (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Tracked winner, led 4th fell at the 6th in race won by Hoo La Baloo (10-13) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Dec, 4 ran.
Tiger Cry (IRE) 8-15fav (11-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before 2 out, rallied approaching last, no impression run-in, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Public Reaction (11-6) at Naas 2m nov chs gs in Feb.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 11-2 (10-13) Led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on flat, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Kalca Mome (10-12) at Haydock 2m hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Greenhope (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Made most, mistake 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 14, 16l behind Desert Quest (11-7) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Strike Back (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division, 7th 3 out, moderate 6th next, soon no extra, 8th of 19, 24l behind Studmaster (11-6) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Feb.
Marcel (FR) 15-2 (10-9) Held up in mid-division, headway on inside from 4 out, ridden and still disputing moderate 3rd last, weakened flat, 6th of 15, 11l behind dhtrs Horus (10-9) & Cornish Sett (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) gf.
Sharp Rigging (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leader, ridden, every chance from 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gs in Feb beating Nyrche (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Liberty Seeker (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division on inside, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and kept on same pace from next, 8th of 17, 14l behind Crow Wood (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Feb.
Portavadie 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, chased winner 7th, driven and hit 3 out and next, no impression last, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Iron Man (10-7) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Jan.
Tanikos (FR) 11-2 (10-4) Held up in touch, chasing leaders when mistake 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Kalca Mome (10-12) at Haydock 2m hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Tribal Dispute 5-1 (10-12) Behind, ridden 8th, beaten 4 out, 7th of 12, 27l behind Dempsey (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Zum See (IRE) 15-8fav (11-4) Held up in touch, improved into 2nd before 4 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, no extra when mistake last, 2nd of 6, 25l behind Mansony (11-4) at Navan 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Madison Du Berlais (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) Chased leaders in 4th, headway before 9th, chased leaders 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden clear, eased flat, won at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd beating Bonus Bridge (11-12) by 6l, 8 ran.
Le Volfoni (FR) 1-7fav (11-3) Made all, clear from 3 out, hit last, eased flat, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Feb beating Lago d'Oro (10-7) by 18l, 4 ran.
