held up, not fluent 2nd, headway on outside 14th, one pace 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders on inside until not fluent 2nd, 6th when fell 11th
pressed leader, led 3rd until 7th, led next, ridden and headed last, edged left and held towards finish
led until 3rd, led 7th, headed next, every chance 3 out, one pace from 2 out, mistake and no extra last
prominent, not fluent 2nd, hit 9th and 11th, soon ridden, lost place before 14th, weakened approaching 3 out
in rear, awkward 1st, ridden 14th, in touch 4 out, one pace 2 out, went 4th last, no impression
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden to press leader 2 out, led last, driven out
held up, not fluent 10th, slightly hampered 11th, headway before 13th, 3rd and one pace last
last from 3rd, behind when not fluent 8th, pulled up after 11th
No Loose Change had failed to complete both previous outings before winning this for Paul Nicholls last year. MERRION SQUARE is attempting the same feat after falling at this track and again at Sandown last time. He'd finished ahead of Coole River in December and can come out best today with a clear round. Muldoon's Picnic was below par at Cheltenham but had been making good progress before that and Brass Tax has a shout with a conditional's 7lb claim in his favour. Recent winners Itoldyou and Doctor Foxtrot are upped in class but should still go well.
Merrion Square (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, blundered 2nd, fell 11th, in a race won by Chartreux (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar, 8 ran.
Muldoon's Picnic (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Towards rear, struggling 9th, pulled up after 11th, in a race won by Holywell (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar, 23 ran.
Brass Tax (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Made most to 13th, outpaced 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 32l behind Firebird Flyer (10-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Feb.
Coole River (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 4th, soon lost place, headway 13th, chased leaders 5 out, effort after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 12, 20l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Mar.
Nataani (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Berkeley Barron (11-12) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Mar.
Doctor Foxtrot (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division on outside, jumped right 10th, closed 12th, led 3 out, driven and stayed on well flat, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar beating Savant Bleu (11-11) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Miss Ballantyne 2-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, closed 11th, not fluent 12th, ridden after 14th, beaten in 3rd 2 out, no extra, last of 3, 21l behind Stone Light (11-1) at Warwick 2m 4f mares nov hcp chas 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Itoldyou (IRE) 7-4 (11-2) Held up 4th, headway to 3rd at 12th, niggled along and went 2nd at 14th, not fluent 3 out and ridden, led flat, just held held on near finish, all out, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Mar beating West Cork Flash (10-8) by ns, 4 ran.
Estates Recovery (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Led and soon aclear, mistake 6th, pushed along after 8th, headed before 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Winged Crusader (11-10) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
