mid-division, headway 3rd, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 9th, chasing leaders after next, soon ridden, one pace when mistake, hampered and left 3rd 2 out
held up, effort when mistake 9th, rider lost iron briefly, mistake next, soon struggling
held up mid-division, headway 4th, not fluent 5th, led 4 out, 4 lengths ahead when fell 2 out
led, blundered and headed 9th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up, mistake 2nd, headway 6th, driven before next, mistake 8th, weakened before next, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place approaching 3rd, soon dropped out, pulled up after 6th
held up, mistake 8th, headway to chase leaders after 10th, weakened 4 out
always prominent, raced keenly, led 9th, headed 4 out, 4 lengths down when left clear 2 out, driven out
held up in touch, lost place 6th, behind next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, raced keenly, lost place approaching 7th, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 9th, mistake 3 out, hampered and left 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 10th, weakened before 4 out
raced keenly, soon tracking leader, reminder approaching 7th, weakened before 9th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
Any number to consider in a typically competitive contest but we'll side with Plein Pouvoir; Blackpool Billy and Pagano are two others that are high on the short-list. The selection arguably has more to prove than some in this line-up but hopefully that will be factored into his price and he has sound claims on the form of his penultimate start. He won his sole start on the level in France and finished well held on his hurdling bow at Aintree; he also disappointed at Warwick last time but there were valid excuses that day. In between those runs he finished second to the useful Cryptic over this course and distance. He doesn't appear to be too badly handicapped on that form and we'll take a chance that he can bounce back. Pagano's 7lb rise for his Sandown win is fair enough and is almost negated by the claim of his promising conditional; he merits respect. At the other end of the weights, Blackpool Billy is coming into his own and represents an owner who has plenty of winners here. Ferdy Murphy's charge is well regarded and could be on a decent mark. Any number of this field have claims but those are three to consider and we'll take a chance with Plein Pouvoir.
Pagano (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Mid-division, good headway after 3 out, challenged 2 out, led soon after last, driven out, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Feb beating Stellenbosch (11-1) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Bremen 8-11fav (11-2) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, went 3rd 3 out, led last, stayed on, won at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) gs beating Divers (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Leac An Scail (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, led before next, ridden and mistake 2 out, headed between last 2, edged left last, kept on flat, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Star Beat (9-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd.
Lease Lend 9-1 (11-8) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden to challenege next, mistake when weakening 2 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Viking Rebel (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 6f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 10-3 (11-4) Chased leader to 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 13l behind Superior Wisdom (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Spare Me 9-4fav (11-1) Chased leader until weakened 3 out, 3rd of 9, 20l behind Coq Hardi (11-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Jass 9-4fav (11-5) Led to after 3rd, tracked leader, led again after 4 out, headed next, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Summer Lodge (11-5) at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Innominate (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened under pressure before next, 7th of 14, 20l behind Cardinal Spirit (11-5) at Doncaster 3m mdn hdl (4) gd in Feb.
Hopkins (IRE) 2-5fav (11-4) Tracked leader, hit 3 out, led on bit approaching 2 out, clear when hit last, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb beating Anchor Bridge (11-4) by 6l, 5 ran.
Silver By Nature 11-8fav (11-8) Made all, stayed on well from last, won at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating The Depot Bar (10-9) by 5l, 9 ran.
Bobby Bullock (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up, headway after 5th, led after 8th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 16, 11l behind Wind Instrument (11-0) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
Blackpool Billy (IRE) 5-6fav (11-7) In touch, steady headway 3 out, shaken up to lead last, pushed out, readily, won at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) sft beating Scuzme (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Borero (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Held up, headway to track leaders 6th, driven to lead approaching last, ran on, won at Folkestone 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb beating Geography (9-11) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Prelude d'Estruval (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Took keen hold, held up, struggling 6th, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Wenger (10-8) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Cruchain (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Always prominent, led approaching 3 out, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m nh mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Major Suspect (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Double Shot 12-1 (11-4) Held up, headway after 6th, hampered 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 14, 15l behind Inghwung (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb.
