mid-division, chased leading group 15th, pushed along and went 2nd home turn, outpaced by winner after 4 out, ridden 3 out, plugged on and lost modest 2nd jumping last
handy on inner, went 3rd after 18th, bad mistake and blundered 5 out, soon beaten
towards rear, reminders after 2nd, never travelling thereafter and pulled up before 14th
mid-division, mistake 8th and lost ground, pulled up before next
chased front rank, pressed leader 15th, pecked on landing 17th, led 18th travelling strongly, forged away 5 out, kept on going further ahead, hit 3 out, pushed along next, well in command when nodded on landing last, eased run-in, readily
in rear, headway 5th, prominent next, mistake and stumbled 13th, hit 16th, weakened 18th, soon pulled up
mid-division, chased leaders from 15th, went 3rd 4 out, soon ridden and kept on same pace, took remote 2nd jumping final fence, no chance with easy winner
handy, pushed along and weakened after 18th, pulled up 3 out
tracked leaders, lost position and in rear 5th, well behind thereafter and pulled up after 18th
mid-division, pushed along and weakened after 18th, soon pulled up
mid-division, well behind after 18th and pulled up
led, pushed along and headed 18th, ridden and dropped away home turn, pulled up before 5 out
towards rear, reminders after 12th, never involved and pulled up before 14th
prominent on outer, lost position and mistake 15th, soon ridden towards rear, behind and pulled up after 18th
towards rear, never a factor and pulled up after 13th
towards rear, hit 6th, always behind, pulled up after 18th
mid-division, hit 15th and soon beaten, pulled up after 18th
mid-division, lost touch 14th and pulled up
rear mid-division, steady headway into 5th after 18th, stayed on same pace from 5 out, never threatened
NonRunner
Truckers Lodge was fourth in this last year and third behind Iwilldoit the year before. He won a staying race at Sandown earlier this month. Iwilldoit is 13lb higher than when successful in 2021 but had a nice pipe-opener over hurdles and has a terrific strike-rate over the larger obstacles. Chambard and Lucy Turner won the Becher Chase at Aintree and Amateur could go well having won over 3m4f at Ffos Las earlier in the year. Nassalam pulled readily clear of Wayfinder in the main trial for this earlier in the month but this is a big step up in trip and he has a small penalty to carry. Autonomous Cloud is also penalised for winning at Uttoxeter and is closely matched with a couple of these on form at that track in March. Super Survivor, representing the yard that won the Coral Gold Cup at the start of the month, has been well supported ante-post and Gavin Sheehan is riding at the top of his game but the handicapper has given a chance to IRON BRIDGE. The latter wasn’t persevered with having found 2m4f much too short on his reappearance and he’ll strip fitter here. The Big Breakaway, second last year, didn’t handle Aintree last time but Complete Unknown is probably carrying a few pounds too many.
Iwilldoit 17-2 (11-12) Handy, led 3 out, pushed along omitted 2 out and faced challenge, headed narrowly omitted last, ridden run-in, kept on, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Gentleman At Arms (10-10) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Complete Unknown (IRE) 4-1fav (10-11) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, weakened before next, 10th of 20, 23 1/2l behind Datsalrightgino (10-7) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
The Big Breakaway (IRE) 11-2fav (10-13) Held up, hampered 6th, lost place 11th, behind when pulled up 3 out, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
The Galloping Bear 7-1 (11-4) Prominent, pushed along before 13th, outpaced and lost place before 18th, well behind when mistake 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Nassalam (FR) 3-1 (11-1) Jumped left, mid-division, closed from 3rd, bumped 4th, led 5 out, well clear after 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Wayfinder (10-2) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
Chambard (FR) 18-1 (10-6) Held up, headway 6th, tracked leaders 10th, led 6 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on, won at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Dec beating Coko Beach (12-0) by 13l, 12 ran.
Iron Bridge (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) In rear, pushed along 6 out, pulled up 2 out, at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Truckers Lodge (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Prominent, jumped well, disputed lead after 3 out, pushed along and led narrowly before last, ridden and stayed on gamely run-in, won at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Beauport (12-0) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Only The Bold (IRE) 9-4 (11-13) Chased leaders, front pair clear 2nd, pushed along 5th, soon behind, pulled up before 7th, at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Autonomous Cloud (IRE) 2-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went close 2nd when left well clear 3 out, eased towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Step Above (10-12) by 6 1/2l, 4 ran.
Super Survivor (IRE) 2-1fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, tracked winner 7th, pressed winner 12th, ridden 3 out, stayed on one pace, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Git Maker (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Amateur (IRE) 11-1 (10-10) Soon towards rear on outside, well beaten before 4 out, 11th of 16, 26l behind Twig (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Charlie Uberalles 6-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and hard pressed 2 out, soon headed, weakened last, 3rd of 5, 10 1/4l behind Kerryhill (11-0) at Kelso 2m 7f (4) gs in Nov.
Wayfinder (IRE) 11-1 (10-2) Led until after 2nd, led 5th, headed 8th, every chance 5 out, no impression on winner from 2 out, 2nd of 10, 5 1/2l behind Nassalam (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Blade Runner (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Never travelling, always in rear, not fluent 5th, tailed off when not fluent 3 out, soon pulled up, at Ascot 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Max Dynamo 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 6th, pushed along and pressed when hit 2 out, ridden and headed run-in, no extra, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Tommie Beau (12-0) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Domaine De L'Isle (FR) 22-1 (11-6) Close up, relegated to third after 8th, pushed along to maintain position down back straight, outpaced approaching 4 out, pulled up, at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Didero Vallis (FR) 16-1 (10-2) Prominent until 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 9th of 13, 20 1/4l behind Latenightpass (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Not Sure (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, closed before 10th, 4th when slow last, went 3rd flat, no impression on winner, 3rd of 10, 6 1/4l behind Animal (10-11) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Iceo Madrik (FR) 40-1 (11-0) In rear, pushed along and weakened 3 out, 9th of 12, 34 1/2l behind Ed Keeper (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
