held up in mid-division, mistake 1st, hampered 8th, starting to get closer when fell 13th
mid-division, not always fluent and never in any rhythm, lost place 8th, behind 14th, tailed off 17th, pulled up after
mid-division, struggling 14th, well behind 17th, pulled up after
mid-division, headway 13th, went 4th 5 out, chased clear leading pair next, no impression, stayed on same pace
chasing leaders after 1st, mistake 13th, soon lost place, pulled up before 15th
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4th, ridden and lost place 12th, behind 17th, pulled up after
tracked leaders, mistakes 10th and 11th, no impression on leaders 5 out, weakened 4 out, soon pulled up
led, 3 lengths clear 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, no impression on winner flat
in rear, ridden after 11th, behind 17th, never in contention
prominent, not fluent 2nd or 5th, lost place approaching 12th, mistake 14th, behind 17th, pulled up after
held up in mid-division, headway after 11th, ridden 17th, weakened approaching 5 out, tailed off
towards rear, headway 15th, ridden approaching 5 out, one pace, no impression
tracked leader, 3 lengths down 4 out, closed from next to lead 2 out, stayed on well, in command flat
held up, headway 9th, lost place 13th, mistake 15th, behind 17th, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, lost place and ridden 8th, behind 15th, pulled up after
towards rear, not fluent 6th, blundered and unseated rider 8th
jumped slowly early, always behind, pulled up before 14th
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 16th, weakened before 5 out
always towards rear, well behind 17th, pulled up after
prominent, lost place approaching 7th, hampered 13th, stayed on from 3 out, no impression on leaders
It's unusual for a Hennessy winner to turn up here but Carruthers bucks the trend, though is 6lb higher now and along with subsequent Newcastle winner Hey Big Spender did finish behind Galaxy Rock at Cheltenham earlier. Jonjo O'Neill won this last year with Synchronised so his seven-year-old has to be feared while Giles Cross was second in the race 12 months ago. Victor Dartnall's charge has already won the Southern National at Fontwell this season so is clearly in good heart and it would be no surprise to see him in the firing-line again. Le Beau Bai returned to form over 3m here earlier this month and was third in this race in 2009. Like recent Ffos Las winner As De Fer and Haydock scorer Cannington Brook, he has a penalty to carry however and there's just a chance that OUR ISLAND will reverse running with the latter over this longer trip. Tim Vaughan's novice is a couple of pounds out of the handicap and still seeking a first win over fences but he gives the impression he'll be suited by a real test of stamina and his jumping has improved with experience and he has genuine each-way claims at big odds. Viking Blond may have too much weight but Master Overseer isn't without a chance if reproducing his best and could run into a place.
Hey Big Spender (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up mid-division, hit 5th, headway 9th, went 2nd 5 out, led before 4 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov beating The Hollinwell (10-4) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Carruthers 10-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, hit 4th, led after next, hit 7th, headed 8th, led again 10th until 13th, led 16th, headed 4 out, led 3 out, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov beating Planet Of Sound (11-2) by 4l, 18 ran.
Blazing Bailey 50-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway 16th, not fluent next, no impression from 3 out, 8th of 18, 17l behind Carruthers (10-4) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Cappa Bleu (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, challenged last, ridden to lead flat, hard pressed towards finish, just held on, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov beating Tamarinbleu (11-8) by hd, 10 ran.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 6th, led 3 out, clear after 2 out, stayed on well, eased towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov beating Ballyfitz (10-4) by 5l, 11 ran.
Viking Blond (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Led, ridden before 14th, headed and lost 2nd 4 out, no chance with leading duo next, 3rd of 4, 15l behind Grands Crus (11-9) at Newbury 3m nov chs Grade 2 (1) gd in Nov.
As De Fer (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leader and keen, led from 2nd, made rest, not fluent 4 out when clear, easily, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Red Rouble (10-6) by 16l, 8 ran.
Giles Cross (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Made most, under pressure 3 out, ridden before last, kept on gamely towards finish, won at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Rey Nacarado (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 16 ran.
Or Noir De Somoza (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Led in start and reluctant until headway to chase leader after 2nd, ridden and lost 2nd approaching 4 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off when blundered last, 9th of 12, 45l behind Sivola De Sivola (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Nov.
Any Currency (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Tracked leader, lost place 20th, outpaced approaching 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat to go 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Deep Purple (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs.
Knighton Combe 4-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, well behind Rev It Up (11-5) at Ffos Las 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
Cannington Brook (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) Always prominent, hit 2 out, took narrow lead when left clear last, tried to pull himself up towards finish, held on, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy beating Our Island (10-9) by 1l, 11 ran.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 10-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led approaching 4 out, hard ridden 2 out, kept on well under pressure, won at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy beating Sona Sasta (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Indifference Curve (FR) 13-2 (11-3) Waited with, closer in 5th before straight, 3rd 3 out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 14, 6l behind The Bishop Looney (10-12) at Cork 3m 4f hcp chs 0-150 sft in Nov.
Master Overseer (IRE) 2-1fav (11-2) Chased leaders, pushed along when jumped slowly 10th, weakened before 5 out, 6th of 14, well behind Le Beau Bai (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy.
Mumbles Head (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Mistake 3rd, always behind, tailed off 5 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Nikola (10-11) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Ballyfitz 10-3fav (11-4) Mistake 1st, mid-division, headway and in touch 7th, 6th when mistake and unseated rider 20th, in a race won by Eyre Square (10-9) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft, 12 ran.
Our Island (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, jumped slightly left at times, ridden 9th, closed 4 out, edged right and no impression on front pair after 2 out, left 2nd last, closed on idling winner towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Cannington Brook (10-9) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy.
Heathcliff (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Prominent, led 8th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened last, 7th of 10, 15l behind Frontier Dancer (11-3) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Bench Warrent (IRE) 25-1 (9-4) Prominent, mistake 7th, lost place 9th, soon beaten, 7th of 12, well behind The Minack (11-1) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) sft.
