led until after 8th, led again before 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened flat
held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, kept on same pace from 2 out, hampered and switched right flat
prominent, led after 8th, headed before 3 out, one pace next
mid-division, headway on outside 7th, one pace and beaten 2 out, stayed on flat
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, well held 3 out
held up in touch on outside, not fluent and lost place 7th, well beaten before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, challenged 3 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on same pace
always prominent, challenged 3 out, no impression on winner when edged left and kept on same pace flat
held up in touch, lost place 7th, not fluent 3 out, stayed on flat
held up in rear, headway on inside 3 out, challenged next, soon led, clear flat, ran on
held up in rear, headway after 8th, mistake 3 out, soon beaten
These qualifiers are coming thick and fast with the final only five weeks away. Normal rules apply as many will be simply running to earn an invite to the big day at Cheltenham but Aubusson and Big Easy clashed at Haydock in November when Lizzie Kelly's mount came out best, though he's 4lb worse off today. Knight Of Noir may be capable of reversing Cheltenham running in the autumn with Morito Du Berlais over this longer trip but Southfield Royale is now 6lb higher than when second to Oscar Sunset at Taunton. THE TOURARD MAN was always travelling strongly when scoring over 3m2f at Warwick last month. He's an improving stayer so might be capable of defying a 9lb higher mark given last year's Grand National hero Pineau De Re is having another spin over timber to protect his chase mark. Regal Encore could also be a factor if he lasts home following a short break.
Aubusson (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked winner, hit 4th, mistake and lost 2nd 3 out, ridden readily outpaced and no chance with leading duo before 2 out, kept on to hold 3rd, 3rd of 5, 24l behind Reve De Sivola (11-7) at Ascot 3m 1f hdl G1 (1) gs in Dec.
Big Easy (GER) 15-8fav (11-7) Chased leaders, closed 7th, not fluent 2 out, challenged last, led final 75 yards, headed close home, 2nd of 10, ns behind Ulzana's Raid (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Pineau De Re (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Always in rear, ridden 3 out, tailed off when pulled up last, in a race won by Phoenix Returns (10-8) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Knight Of Noir (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, led 100 yards out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Rolling Maul (9-13) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Southfield Royale 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 3 out, hard pressed next, joined last, ridden and headed narrowly flat, kept on, no extra and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Oscar Sunset (11-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Ambion Wood (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Always prominent, jumped right 5th, not fluent 10th, led 2 out, driven out, won at Worcester 2m 7f beg chase (4) gd in Jun '13 beating Cock And Hen (11-0) by 2l, 4 ran.
The Tourard Man (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 7th, left 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, not fluent last, soon edged left, stayed on, won at Warwick 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Jaunty Journey (10-6) by 2l, 14 ran.
Alaivan (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, effort 3 out, ridden and one pace before last, no impression, 6th of 22, 17l behind Clondaw Kaempfer (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Morito Du Berlais (FR) 7-4fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, 2nd after 4 out, challenged on bit 2 out, led narrowly last, hung left and bumped run-in, soon headed and kept on, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Polamco (10-13) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Regal Encore (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, shaken up after 4 out, no headway, 12th of 15, 21l behind Garde La Victoire (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Unowhatimeanharry 10-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, progress into midfield, after 3rd, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, every chance next, faded closing stages, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Cup Final (11-6) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Top Wood (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced by winner after 3 out, no extra flat, 4th of 11, 13l behind Join The Clan (10-2) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Rydon Pynes 4-1fav (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, headway after next, went 2nd 2 out, ran on flat, led towards finish, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr beating Billy Dutton (11-3) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
