always behind
prominent, led 3 out, soon hard ridden, left 2 lengths clear last, drifted left, narrowed advantage when slipped up final strides
reminders after 5th, always behind, pulled up after 9th
chased leaders, outpaced after 12th, mistake 3 out, stayed on
held up, headway 10th, weakened 12th, fell next
chased leaders until 9th, soon behind
mid-division, hit 3rd, hampered 8th, headway next, ridden to challenge 4 out, pecked 2 out, every chance when fell last
chased leaders, ridden 12th, outpaced next, not a danger after
in touch, ridden after 13th, stayed on from next, left 3rd last
led, hit 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, pecked 2 out, left 2nd at last, rallied gamely, left in lead near finish
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace, left 3rd at the last, left 2nd near finish
tailed off from 9th, pulled up before next
With fitness at a premium, a chance is taken that Doc Row can upstage Out The Black, Nadover and Buster Collins. The Pipe stable can always be relied upon to have their charges fit and ready, so Doc Row may just improve enough to open his account for the season under Timmy Murphy who rode him to victory over hurdles at Folkestone last year. Pulled up at Cheltenham in April, the softer going today will play to his strengths, and he gets a sporting vote on his chase debut, as he can line up on the same mark that he finished on, 112. Like the selection, Out The Black is also a former point-to-point winner, and impressed with his jumping early on during his novice chase campaign. He definitely went the wrong way on his last two starts in 2004 and has not been seen since. Nadover had little to beat in disposing of two rivals at Wetherby in January, while Buster Collins has yet to jump a fence in public but is another that is sure to have been well schooled. Notanotherdonkey has a 7lb penalty to overcome and has a bit to find anyway, so it would come as no surprise if Doc Row made light of his task.
Dead-Eyed Dick (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division when fell in race won by Tanterari (10-1) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft, 9 ran.
Out The Black (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) With leader, not fluent 9th or 13th, slight lead 14th to 16th, not fluent 3 out, every chance 2 out, disputing 3rd when fell last, remounted, last of 4, well behind Cornish Rebel (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (B) gd in Dec '04.
Nadover (FR) 1-2fav (10-13) Made all, mistake when clear 2 out, very easily, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Jan beating Rowley Hill (11-3) by 7l, 3 ran.
Naunton Brook 5-1jt-fav (10-6) Mid-division, slow jump 2nd, ridden 8th, weakened 9th and lost touch 13th, 8th of 14, 46l behind Tribal Venture (10-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd.
Buster Collins (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Made all, set good pace, hit 6th and 10th, ran on, won at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Mikado (11-7) by 7l, 10 ran.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division, weakened after 8th, behind when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Mr Dow Jones (10-4) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs, 11 ran.
Doc Row (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 7th, headed and not fluent 9th, weakening when mistake 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Here We Go (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Apr, 15 ran.
Even More (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Soon in rear, 5th of 11, 27l behind Mr Dow Jones (10-4) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Twisted Logic (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Led to 12th, chased leader until after next, weakened before 4 out, last of 4, 35l behind Presenting Express (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Charlies Future 25-1 (10-10) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Earl's Kitchen (10-12) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar, 12 ran.
Notanotherdonkey (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Chased leading pair, went 2nd after 7th, led 3 out, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs beating Liberty Ben (11-2) by 9l, 15 ran.
El Hombre Del Rio (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Chased leaders until weakened after 17th, jumped right from next, 6th of 9, well behind The Bandit (11-7) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) frm in Apr.
