led to 2nd, chased leader, outpaced approaching 5 out, rallied from 3 out, kept on to take 4th towards finish
tracked leader until 2nd, challenging when hit 5 out, led 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on and no chance with winner
held up towards rear, weakened after 5 out
tracked leaders, raced keen, led 2nd, hit 6th, headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
held up in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, hit 3rd, pushed along 7th, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, led approaching last, kept on well
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 5 out on outer, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
Nonrunner
Old boy Mister McGoldrick's form looks rock solid however this drop in trip is against him and preference instead is for DOCTOR DAVID ahead of the progressive Pret A Thou. There is every chance that the last-named might run them ragged from the front as he has been in fine trail-blazing form recently however a further 7lb rise in the weights may just anchor him. Instead then we prefer Doctor David who returned to form here when fourth to Kalahari Kiing last month. He races off the same mark and with this quicker ground in his favour (can be keen), a bold bid is anticipated. Andreas has had his jumping issues in the past and those might not be solved yet, Folk Tune is interesting if supported in the betting although he was second to a bit of a dodge-pot when last seen, whilst De Boitron should love this ground and the drop in trip shouldn't be a worry. At a price Bob's Dream could run well now returned to chasing on decent ground and Richard McGrath looks a positive jockey booking, however the tentative vote goes to Doctor David.
Mister McGoldrick 20-1 (11-0) Prominent, chased winner 7th, hit next, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 12, 7l behind The Sawyer (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Doctor David 14-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 4th, challenged 4 out, mistake last, no extra flat, 4th of 15, 7l behind Kalahari King (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Andreas (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 9th, headed before 2 out, soon ridden and no extra, 7 length down in 3rd when mistake last, weakened flat, 3rd of 4, 18l behind Panjo Bere (10-12) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Pret A Thou (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Raced keenly, led, went right last, headed narrowly flat, battled gamely to regain lead towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb beating Knockavilla (11-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Folk Tune (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, left disputing lead 6th, headed approaching 3 out, outpaced approaching last, soon ridden, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Five Dream (11-8) at Aintree 2m nov chs (3) gs in Oct.
De Boitron (FR) 85-40fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 9th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, beaten after last, one pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Lease Lend (11-10) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Bob's Dream (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Held up in mid-division, went 2nd after 7th, not fluent 2 out led approaching next, kept on, driven out, won at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb beating Sotovik (11-7) by 2l, 8 ran.
Chaninbar (FR) 100-1 (9-9) Chased leader, led 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened soon after, 10th of 23, 15l behind Get Me Out Of Here (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Feb.