held up, headway to track leaders 10th, not fluent 13th and 3 out, soon weakened
tracked clear leader, effort before 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway after 8th, slow jump 11th, soon lost place, pulled up before 15th
mid-division, mistake 7th, never a factor
mid-division, weakened before 11th
held up in rear, never a factor
held up, never dangerous
held up, headway 6th, soon chasing leaders, weakened before 2 out
always behind
tracked leaders, lost place before 3 out
led and clear before 3rd, unchallenged after, pushed out
fell 1st
Nonrunner
Ballykiln strictly has the beating of Mister Apple's on running at Fontwell last month and on similar weights Henrietta Knight's gelding is taken to confirm that form with the main threat looking to come from Torche. The last mentioned would have claims on the pick of his form but Micky Hammond's gelding has clearly had his problems and he is probably best watched under the burden of top weight. Richard Rowe's Lord 'n' Master is capable but inconsistent, while Fluff 'n' Puff may just be a shade high in the weights. Irish raider Slow To Part has to be respected but would probably want a softer surface and a better bet looks to be Ballykiln in the hope that he can reproduce Fontwell form.
Lord 'n' Master (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, hampered 11th, went 2nd briefly next, soon weakened, 6th of 7, well behind Irish Raptor (11-8) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Mister Apple's (FR) 9-2 (11-11) Led, pushed along from 10th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Alfadora (10-2) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy.
Ballykiln (IRE) 11-4 (10-9) In touch, headway to lead before 3 out, strongly pressed from next, stayed on flat, caught final strides, 2nd of 7, hd behind Superrollercoaster (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Slow To Part (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Led, headed 3rd, led again from 6th, headed and weakened 5 out, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Tobar Isaun (9-9) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs 0-116 hvy in Jan.
Honest Endeavour 13-2 (11-5) Held up in read, some headway 7th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, 29l behind High Calibre (11-13) at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Fluff 'n' Puff 20-1 (9-10) Held up mid-division, headway 14th, led 3 out, hit and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Ca Na Trona (11-4) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb, 16 ran.
Bronson F'sure 14-1 (11-1) unseated rider 1st in race won by Lenny (11-1) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) hvy, 5 ran.
Torche (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden and lost place 9th, tailed off from 4 out, 5th of 8, well behind Ebony Light (11-2) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.