held up in rear, jumped left 6th, reminder 10th, headway 12th, ridden before 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, headed towards finish
prominent when not fluent 1st, in touch, close 3rd 13th, outpaced in 4th after 2 out, no impression, went 3rd after last
prominent, led 3 out, driven after 2 out, headed last, rallied to challenge final 200 yards, stayed on to lead again towards finish
tracked leaders, mistake 5th, pushed along 10th, lost place after next, pulled up before 4 out
in touch, outpaced 12th, tried to close 12th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
pressed leader, led 11th, headed 3 out, no extra when untidy last
led until 11th, weakened appraching 3 out, tailed off
A fascinating renewal of this Grade 2 handicap with the weights headed by Menorah, who made First Lieutenant fight all the way to the line in a Grade 1 at Aintree earlier this month. Hunt Ball swerved Aintree but defied top weight in a valuable Taunton handicap recently, though was behind the impressive CARRICKBOY in the Byrne Group Plate at The Festival. He's 3lb better off but that shouldn't be enough to turn the tables on Venetia Williams' charge, who will take all the beating if in the same mood despite racing from 5lb out of the handicap. The less-exposed Easter Meteor is also wrong in the weights but Big Fella Thanks is back over his best trip and didn't get far in the Grand National. Champion Court would have every chance on his best form and has the beating of Ghizao on the form book but he is becoming expensive to follow.
Menorah (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, went 4th at 9th, challenged 3 out, led narrowly before 2 out, headed last 50 yards, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind First Lieutenant (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gd.
Hunt Ball (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Jumped well, tracked leading pair, led going well 10th, came clear from 2 out, easily, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs (2) gf beating Jump City (9-12) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Champion Court (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) With winner, ridden after 13th, dropped to 3rd next, went 2nd again 2 out until last, weakened final 150 yards, 5th of 8, 15l behind Cue Card (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Ghizao (GER) 25-1 (11-10) Held up, mistakes, just about in touch 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Cue Card (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Big Fella Thanks 33-1 (11-6) Mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 8th (canal turn), in a race won by Auroras Encore (10-3) at Aintree 4m 3f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (1) gs, 40 ran.
Easter Meteor 2-1fav (11-6) Made all, pressed and jumped left last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec beating Midnight Sail (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Carrickboy (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) With leader, made most from 3rd, driven clear after 3 out, ridden after next, 2 lengths clear last, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar beating Vino Griego (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 22 ran.
