held up rear, weakened 12th
held up, some headway 14th, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden to lead and pecked 3 out, headed soon after and weakened
tracked leaders and jumped right throughout, kept on one pace
in touch, headway 15th, ridden to join leader 2 out, led last, ran on
in rear, ridden and mistake 5th, plodded on
led 2nd, headed 3 out and weakened
in touch, ridden and weakened 13th
mid-division, weakened 9th, lost touch 15th
prominent, settled in touch when mistake 2nd and 13th, ridden to chase leaders next, led after 3 out, all out when headed last
led 1st and stayed prominent, ridden and weakened 15th
mid-division, headway 9th, ridden to chase leaders and mistake 5 out, weakening when hit 2 out
towards rear, headway 15th to take closer order, ridden and one pace from 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden 12th, weakened 15th, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, lost place 7th, well behind from 16th
tracked leaders until weakened 14th
towards rear, ridden 12th, steady headway 16th, kept on
Sweet Diversion has been most consistent and can pay to follow, with Jakari, Fork Lightning, Naunton Brook and Parsons Legacy seen as possible dangers. There are plenty in with chances here, but overall Sweet Diversion has the best claims based on his efforts early on this season. The Paul Nicholls inmate likes faster ground so was rested through the winter and lines up fresher than most. Jakari is well handicapped at present, goes well here and also has the ground in his favour so has to be on the short-list along with Fork Lightning. The latter hails from the stable that collected 12 months ago with Lords Best, and is preferred to Alan King's other runner Ken'tucky. Naunton Brook has been pretty consistent of late, while Parsons Legacy lines up on a 4lb lower mark than when sent off as favourite last year. He would have finished closer than fifth but for a mistake, and can at least turn the tables on last year's runner-up Cassia Heights. Sonevafushi appears to have too much weight, and for the winner we return to Sweet Diversion.
See You Sometime 50-1 (11-12) Led, pushed along after 11th, headed 15th, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 9, 42l behind Celestial Gold (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd.
Fork Lightning (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up and jumped right, headway 10th, ridden after 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 21, 10l behind Dun Doire (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Sweet Diversion (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Tracked clear leading pair, headway 15th, left poor 2nd 4 out, 2nd of 6, 17l behind Iris's Gift (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (B) gd in Oct.
Jakari (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, close up 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Presenting Express (10-7) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Mar.
Cruising River (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) In touch, mistake 12th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by You're Special (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar, 21 ran.
Naunton Brook 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 11th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Earl's Kitchen (10-12) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 7-1jt-fav (10-11) Prominent, ridden after 11th, weakened 15th, 9th of 21, 20l behind You're Special (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Quazar (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Behind, stayed on from 3 out but never a danger, 7th of 15, 14l behind dhtrs Horus (10-9) & Cornish Sett (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) gf in Mar.
