held up in touch, pushed along and quickly weakened before 4 out, pulled up
led to 7 out, outpaced before 4 out, plugged on to chase winner from 3 out, no impression
towards rear, reminders and in rear from halfway, tailed off and pulled up
held up towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
in rear, headway from 10th, in poor 5th before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway before 5 out, led 4 out, clear from next
tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before last
towards rear and brought down 1st
tracked leaders, led 7 out, ridden and headed 4 out, quickly weakened, pulled up before last
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, in 3rd and well held when fell last
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place halfway, tailed off, pulled up
mid-division, fell 1st
non-runner
Thomas Wild was last of six finishers in this last year, behind fourth-placed Finish The Story, though fared better than Merlin's Wish who was pulled up. Armedanddangerous was only fourth in 2014 when 6lb lower but arrives here in good form having won at Uttoxeter and Wetherby recently. Alberobello and Thomas Wild are closely matched on their run together at Stratford last spring but the former will have benefited from a recent pipe-opener over hurdles at Chepstow and can come out on top this time. Return Spring could be interesting having his sights lowered and another course winner, Wizards Bridge, got back on track at Kempton two weeks ago. SAROQUE was fourth off a higher mark in the Welsh National last month so stamina won't be a problem and he may have the class to defy his big weight.
Wizards Bridge 15-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway on inside 13th, 3rd after 4 out, one pace 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 10, 13 1/4l behind Silvergrove (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Saroque (IRE) 11-2 (10-5) Tracked leader, pecked slightly 1st, ridden after 4 out, lost 2nd 3 out, 4th and no extra when mistake 2 out, weakened, 4th of 8, 19 1/4l behind Le Reve (11-4) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Return Spring (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, lost place 1st, mistake 4th, behind 8th, pulled up before 17th, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Thomas Wild 20-1 (10-2) In rear, ridden 12th, 9th 3 out, never in contention, 9th of 17, dist behind Shuil Royale (10-5) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp lst (1) gd in Jun.
Alberobello (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Led, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression in clear 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 3 3/4l behind Harley Rebel (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Fourovakind 16-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, lost place before 15th, pulled up approaching 17th, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Alpha Victor (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 5 out, headed after 4 out, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, 5th of 8, 31 1/4l behind Sir Vinski (10-11) at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Merlin's Wish 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 27l behind Armedanddangerous (10-3) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Finish The Story (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-0) Led, hit 16th, headed 19th, ridden and weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Kelso 4m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Nail 'm (IRE) 4-1fav (10-5) Chased leaders, reminders and lost place after 16th, pulled up before next, at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Teochew (IRE) 22-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, lost place after 3rd, behind when not fluent 6th, pulled up before 8th, at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Armedanddangerous (IRE) 7-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 10th, led 5 out, ridden before 3 out, kept on well, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Leanna Ban (11-6) by 10l, 8 ran.
Rocky Bender (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway under pressure 15th, blundered next, soon beaten, 4th of 14, 22 1/2l behind Golden Chieftain (11-10) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
