led after 1st, headed narrowly 2 out, ridden and every chance last, rallied to lead again flat, stayed on well towards finish
led to after 1st, with leader, led again narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, one pace flat, lost 3rd towards finish
mid-division, pushed along 9th, headway under pressure after 3 out, went 4th before next, ridden and ran on well flat to go 3rd towards finish, not reach leading pair
always behind, blundered 11th, lost touch and pulled up before 13th
in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 5th and beaten when jumped badly left last
towards rear, ridden and headway into mid-division 9th, lost place 11th, behind when hit next and 13th, soon weakened
mid-division on outside, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, chased leading pair 12th, challenged on outside after 3 out, led last, soon ridden and hung left, headed and no extra flat
in touch, hit 10th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 6th and beaten when jumped left last
blundered 8th, always towards rear
TIKRAM is the standout performer in this field and is taken to score from Delightful Cliche and Blaze Ahead. The last-named goes very well here with three wins at the track on his CV, and he stays very well. He has never won on ground faster than good, which is a negative, and he also has plenty to find with our pick on official ratings, so we will take him on. Delightful Cliche has also won here over 3m 2f when hurdling and was last seen taking a novices' hunter chase at Folkestone earlier in the month. On that basis alone he merits plenty of respect and may be the one to chase home our selection. Spancil Hill stays well, but is better on softer ground than this and we will turn to Tikram. A very smart performer over hurdles and fences, Gary Moore's charge is now in the veteran stage and goes well on good or fast ground. He won this race last year and can repeat the dose after a couple of recent pipe-openers.
Blaze Ahead (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Prominent, led 6th, driven 3 out, headed approaching next, no extra, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Kadount (12-1) at Folkestone 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd.
Delightful Cliche 3-1 (11-11) Always prominent, left in lead 13th, strongly challenged 3 out, hung left after last, just held on, won at Folkestone 3m 2f nov hts chs (6) gd beating He's On His Way (11-11) by nk, 9 ran.
Tikram 28-1 (11-7) Tracked winner, blundered 6th, hit 12th, lost place 14th (water), outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, 5th of 8, 34l behind Take The Stand (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (4) gd.
Beluga (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Raced in rear, soon detatched, some late headway, never a factor, 5th of 8, well behind Kadount (12-1) at Folkestone 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd.
Celestial Dragon (IRE) 6-4 (12-0) Held up; smooth hdwy app 3 out; led app last; rdn out, won at Holnicote 3m ptp gd beating Mrs O'connell (11-7) by 4l, 8 ran.
Greek Star 28-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders early, soon held up in mid-division, under pressure halfway, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, 47l behind Fort View (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov hts chs (5) gd.
It Plays Itself (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Hdwy 14; wkng when blun nxt; pu 3 out,in a race won by Mnason (12-0) at Ashorne 3m ptp, 10 ran.
Jolly Boys Outing (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Mid-division, under pressure when hampered and swerved 11th, not recover and soon pulled up, in a race won by Bradley (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gd, 15 ran.
Pirate Depp (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Hdwy 8; wknd 3 out, 6th of 11, 12l behind Unoitmakessense (12-0) at Dingley 3m ptp.
Spanchil Hill 13-2 (12-0) No hdwy 4 out, 4th of 7, 18l behind Fully Loaded (12-0) at Holnicote 3m ptp gs.
Coolers Quest 28-1 (11-0) Keen early, tracked leaders, went prominent 8th, ridden after 15th, mistake 17th, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 34l behind Ask Again (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hts chs (4) gf.
Red In Bed (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, 15 lengths down in 2nd when left a narrow leader last, soon ridden, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Belavard (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m nov hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
