tracked leaders and keen, weakened 8th
disputed lead, headed approaching last, beaten
held up, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, driven 6th, some progress 3 out
in touch, ridden 4 out, under pressure and edged left 2 out
disputing lead, edged left and one pace from 2 out
mid-division, mistake 2nd, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out
held up, ridden 4 out, no impression
held up, headway 3 out, ridden and hung left to lead last, mistake but ran on
tracked leaders, stumbled after 2nd, weakened 7th, soon behind
held up and keen, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
towards rear, headway 7th, close up and blundered 2 out, lost place when not recovered when slipped last
mid-division, mistake 2nd, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened last
headway 3 out and slightly hampered, switched right 2 out, kept on
always in rear
Heltornic can make a wiining return to the track here, Tana River and Nelson's Spice could be the best alternatives. Michael Scudamore's charge progressed superbly over fences through last season and ended up with a rating of 136. He starts this campaign over the smaller obstacles where his allotted mark is just 116. If that improvement is there over hurdles as well he will be very hard to beat. Tana River is a horse that goes well fresh and isn't badly treated on his best form. Nelson's Spice was fancied to land the hat-trick at Aintree last month but came down at the third. If none the worse for that mishap he should be involved in the finish today. Always Waining and Supreme Huntress are from top yards and so have to be respected, but Heltornic is easily the pick of the weights today and if fit could land first prize.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Chased leaders. driven after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 12, 36l behind From Dawn To Dusk (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Tana River (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, weakened 7th, 10th of 20, 37l behind Millenium Royal (11-5) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Spectrometer 25-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, led 3 out, headed approaching last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Kings Brook (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Sept '06.
Always Waining (IRE) 17-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, led 4 out, blundered and headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Ardaghey (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Ballyshan (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division, lost place 5th, weakened 9th, 9th of 13, well behind Mumbles Head (11-7) at Perth 3m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
Norton Sapphire 7-4fav (10-4) Tracked leaders, led 10th until next, led approaching 4 out, soon hard pressed and ridden, kept on gamely, all out, won at Exeter 2m 7f nov chs (4) gf in May beating Brigadier Benson (11-2) by a hd, 10 ran.
Isle de Maurice 11-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden before 10th, weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Champagne Harry (11-0) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May, 12 ran.
Heltornic (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, led 3 out, narrow lead fell 2 out fell at the 14th in race won by Joes Edge (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar, 23 ran.
Supreme Huntress (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, led 7th, headed approaching 3 out, ridden and blundered 2 out, hung left and weakened approaching last, 4th of 6, 22l behind Spring Breeze (9-9) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gf in Apr.
Cannon Fire (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leader to 8th, weakened 13th, 5th of 6, well behind Petit Lord (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (4) gd in Oct.
Jump Jet (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) In touch, hit 3rd, headway after 5th, weakened quickly 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Blaeberry (11-7) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in May, 10 ran.
Irish Legend (IRE) 66-1 (9-7) Alway in rear, 6th of 9, 33l behind Sonnyanjoe (10-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
Nelson's Spice (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Held up towards rear when fell at the 3rd in race won by Souffleur (11-2) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Insignia (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Held up, headway 4 out, hung left under pressure, kept on well, 3rd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Eden Linty (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Maktu 9-2fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th, hit 7th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 5th of 15, 16l behind Herne Bay (11-2) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Nayodabayo (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Prominent, lost place 3rd, soon pushed along and towards rear, 10th of 12, 28l behind Master Nimbus (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
