held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden to challenge before last, kept on gamely to lead towards finish
held up mid-division, headway from 4th, led 3 out, ridden and headed when blundered last, soon weakened
held up towards rear, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up in touch, went 2nd 3 out, weakened before next
led, headed after 5th, soon lost place, tailed off 3 out
held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, led run-in, kept on and headed towards finish
held up in rear and keen, headway from 6th, every chance 2 out, led before last, ridden and headed run-in, no extra
close up and keen, led after 5th, headed narrowly before 6th, soon left in lead, headed 3 out, soon weakened, hampered on bend soon after
with leader, led narrowly when fell 6th
Nonrunner
Rare Symphony is heading in the right direction, landing a novices' handicap at Kempton last month. Philip Hobbs' four-year-old is 7lb higher here and has to go on the short-list. Celticello only managed a win in a Fakenham seller last season but will find this easier than the Cheltenham race he contested last time. Yeomanry may have more to offer over hurdles but Magic Prospect is becoming expensive to follow and Princely Hero has been chasing lately. FIRST SMASH is still awaiting a first win under NH Rules but would have every chance here if reproducing his fourth in a much better race at Taunton in February and his stable is in terrific form at present.
Celticello (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) In touch, outpaced after 2 out, soon weakened, last of 10, 44l behind Paintball (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd.
Friendly King 33-1 (11-7) In rear, stumbled 3rd, behind from 3 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Shadow Dancer (11-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Dec '09, 13 ran.
Wizard of Odds 9-2 (10-12) Held up mid-division, some headway from 3 out, ridden after next, never dangerous, 7th of 13, 24l behind Traffic Chaos (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Lang Shining (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up in rear and keen, headway from 3 out, weakening when jumped badly right last, 4th of 7, 22l behind Teshali (10-11) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
First Smash (GER) 16-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off 3 out, 6th of 10, 26l behind Fountains Flypast (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Clu Agus Cail (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) In rear, struggling from 3rd, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Babilu (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f mares hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Magic Prospect (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Held up mid-division, ridden and headway before last, kept on, 5th of 11, 6l behind Mauritino (10-13) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Al Amaan 20-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway before 2 out, no extra from last, 9th of 11, 11l behind Mauritino (10-13) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Princely Hero (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 9th until next, ridden 3 out, one pace last, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Goring One (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Mar.
Rare Symphony (IRE) 6-4fav (9-12) Always prominent, ridden to challenge and every chance 2 out, led last, ran on well, ridden out, won at Kempton 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar beating Decision (11-3) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Yeomanry 4-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along before 6th, chased winner under pressure approaching 3 out to before next, kept on same pace, no impression, 5th of 7, 12l behind Pret A Thou (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
