mid-division, lost place before 4th, struggling 7th, well behind 9th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up after
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, well held from next
chasing leaders on inside after 2nd, not fluent 5th, ridden and switched left after 4 out, driven after 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on final 100 yards
chased leader, ridden 4 out, not fluent 2 out, soon challenging, not fluent last, led flat, stayed on
led, not fluent 5th, ridden and headed after 2 out, 3rd and held last
mid-division on outside, lost place before 6th, behind next, pulled up after 8th
held up towards rear, headway 4th, mistake 8th and 9th, lost place before 4 out, well beaten when blundered 3 out
held up in rear, headway 10th, not fluent 2 out, soon led but hard pressed, headed flat, held close home
NonRunner
Town Parks is the only course winner in the line-up but he went backwards last year. Zalvados is only 1-14 over fences but looked to be coming to hand when third at Doncaster having only his second run for Fergal O’Brien. Rose Sea Has has found only one too good in four of his last five outings but he also has an ordinary strike-rate. GEMIRANDE should be approaching peak fitness and can record a first victory over fences in this country, though fellow French import Fix At All is capable of better and Yggdrasil may have needed a recent run at Ffos Las.
Town Parks (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Soon in touch in mid-division, struggling before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Fix At All (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th until before 9th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Gallic Geordie (10-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Zalvados (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Soon chasing leaders, not fluent 10th, close 3rd when not fluent 3 out, held 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 7 1/2l behind The Unit (11-7) at Doncaster 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Yggdrasil (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Raced keenly, led until 5th, chased leader, awkward 10th, led again 11th, headed 4 out, ridden and well held when lost 2nd soon after next, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Soldier Of Destiny (11-13) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Rose Sea Has (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Led until 9th, lost place after 4 out, rallied last, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 7 1/2l behind Billingsley (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Battle Of Actium (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Mid division, slow 5th, pulled up before 2 out, at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Mystical Clouds (IRE) 40-1 (11-8) Held up, ridden and outpaced at 3 out, kept on at 2 out, weakend after final fence, 4th of 7, dist behind Keep Rolling (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Court Royale (IRE) 18-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, never threatened, well beaten from 3 out, 5th of 6, 19 1/4l behind Billingsley (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Gemirande (FR) 5-2 (11-11) Led, mistake 10th, ridden and headed when mistake last, no extra and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Destin D'Ajonc (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
