tracked leaders, hit 13th, ridden after 4 out, no impression from next, left modest 3rd approaching last
hit 2nd, mid-division, tracked leaders 15th, led 4 out, ridden after 2 out, 1 length advatage last, stayed on under pressure, drew clear flat
mid-division, struggling before 14th, soon lost touch and pulled up
held up in rear, headway after 13th, tracked leaders 16th, went 2nd before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, 1 length down last, no extra flat
with leader on outside, led 14th to before next, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
made most, hit and headed 14th, blundered next, soon behind, mistake 17th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
soon behind, struggling 12th, tailed off 14th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, headway to lead approaching 15th, headed 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd and beaten when pulled up approaching last
Most of these are proven stayers but Minella On Line, Gas Line Boy and Harry The Viking are yet to win on ground as heavy as this, though the latter was only beaten a head in this last year when 4lb lower. Gas Line Boy and dual Welsh National winner Mountainous were both behind while Broadway Buffalo fell and 2014 winner Rigadin De Beauchene was pulled up, though Venetia Williams' charge did beat Sandy Thomson's 11-year-old over a slightly shorter distance here in December when 6lb better off. As well as Mountainous, the in-form Kerry Lee also runs Bishops Road and he'll be a danger to all if lasting home but we prefer CLOUDY TOO. Plenty have carried big weights to success in this in recent years and Sue Smith's charge has a touch of class. He readily drew clear of good yardstick Virak in the Peter Marsh here last month and can defy a 10lb weight rise.
Cloudy Too (IRE) 6-1 (10-4) Chased leader, left in lead 5 out, clear before 3 out, kept on, won at Haydock 3m hcp (1) hvy in Jan beating Virak (11-10) by 15l, 12 ran.
Bishops Road (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led until 4th, led 10th, clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Mr Muddle (11-2) by 17l, 9 ran.
Mountainous (IRE) 9-1 (10-6) Mid-division, closed 5th, went 2nd 4 out, led next, clear 2 out, stayed on, won at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan beating Firebird Flyer (10-7) by 2 3/4l, 20 ran.
Broadway Buffalo (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) 5th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Thousand Stars (10-10) at Auteuil 3m sft in Nov.
Gas Line Boy (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Led until unseated rider 5 out, at Haydock 3m hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Rigadin De Beauchene (FR) 10-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, hampered 1st, not fluent 7th, led 9th, mistake next, headed after 12th, close up when hampered by loose horse when fell 15th, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Harry The Viking 11-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 14th, driven to challenge 4 out, every chance 2 out, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Rigadin De Beauchene (10-11) at Haydock 3m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Minella On Line (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, reminder in 7th place after 8th (water), chasing leaders when hit 12th, 3rd after 13th, pushed along 4 out, held when pecked last, 3rd of 10, 20l behind Local Show (11-0) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
