jumped well made virtually all, shaken up and came clear before 2 out, went right last, stayed on strongly
towards rear, last pair and struggling 11th, tailed off when went right 4 out
mid-division, steady headway chasing leaders before 11th, 3rd 13th until 4 out, weakened 2 out
towards rear, jumped slowly and dropped to rear 10th, mistake 11th, rallied approaching 4 out, stayed on well run-in, almost snatched modest 2nd
jumped left, chased leaders, weakened rapidly 12th, tailed off 14th
chased leading pair, went 2nd 12th, no chance with winner before 2 out, weakened run-in, lost modest 2nd post
towards rear, steady headway chasing leaders after 14th, 3rd 2 out, stayed on run-in, went 2nd post, no chance with winner
never better than mid-division, weakened 12th,
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 14th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and one pace approaching 2 out, weakened
chased leaders, ridden after 14th, weakened 2 out
tracked winner until 12th, chased leaders, weakened 14th
well in rear, pushed along and struggling after 10th, tailed off and pulled up before next
NonRunner
Harry Topper was once regarded as a Gold Cup horse and he will have needed his run in the Welsh National when pulled up along with Katkeau. The latter’s trainer, who won this in 2015, also runs the lightly-weighted Shotavodka and Colin Tizzard is another who is double-handed. Theatrical Star was second in the final of last year’s series at Sandown last month but 5lb higher today so we’ll take a chance on his stable companion MASTERS HILL, who will have found 2m4f too sharp in a recent run over hurdles and is back on a winning mark over fences. Whats Happening hasn’t raced since beating Perfect Candidate at Cheltenham in October 2015 but is only a pound higher and goes well fresh. Al Co could finish if on a going day but going and trip will stretch the stamina of Buywise.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Held up on outside, slow and last 4th, behind 11th, tailed off 16th, pulled up after, at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Buywise (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Towards rearm, behind 8th, tailed off 11th, soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Katkeau (FR) 33-1 (11-6) Mid-division, closed 4th, mistake 14th, losing place in 10th 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Harry Topper 40-1 (11-7) Towards rear, pushed along 6th, remote 12th 5 out, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Al Co (FR) 11-2fav (10-1) Prominent, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp lst (1) gd in Jun.
Masters Hill (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Prominent, dropped off front pair before 3rd, closed after 6th, 2nd after 3 out, no impression on winner before last, 2nd of 9, 15l behind Tornado In Milan (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Whats Happening (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, soon towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on to lead last 25 yards, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Perfect Candidate (10-3) by 2l, 12 ran.
Katenko (FR) 25-1 (10-4) Soon with leaders, led 6th, headed 7th, lost place from 11th, tailed off, pulled up, at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Theatrical Star 7-1 (10-4) Held up in mid-division, headway tracking leaders 17th, 2nd soon after 2 out, stayed on same pace from last, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Pete The Feat (10-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Shotavodka (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Behind, not fluent 5th, outpaced after 7th, well adrift before 3 out, headway 2 out, 3rd last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 10, 4 3/4l behind Bennys King (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
As De Fer (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Led until 1st, tracked leaders, 4th when not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 10, 8l behind Alfie Spinner (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Wychwoods Brook 18-1 (11-8) Mid-division, driven 11th, weakened before next, mistake when well behind 13th, pulled up after, at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Kaki De La Pree (FR) 15-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, fell 2nd, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
