led and hit 1st, headed 4 out, chased leaders, weakening when mistake next, left modest 4th 2 out
chased leader, hit 5th, led 4 out, ridden and headed approaching next where not fluent, no impression when left in 3rd place 2 out
held up disputing close 5th, closer chasing leaders 9th, not fluent next, 4th when mistake and pecked 4 out, ridden and keeping on same pace when badly hampered by faller and unseated rider 2 out
chased leaders, led and hit 3 out, joined when fell next
held up in rear, headway on outside after 4 out, left in 2nd 2 out, ridden and keeping on and 2 lengths down last, stayed on run-in, always held
held up in last pair, behind at 8th, smooth headway on inside before 3 out, went 2nd when mistake and left in clear lead 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, all out
chased leaders on inside, weakening quickly when mistake 11th, tailed off when blundered next, pulled up soon after
raced keenly, held up disputing 5th, not fluent 8th, weakened 4 out, tailed off and eased when mistake next
Withdrawn
NonRunner
Ibleo won easily at Huntingdon on Thursday but has a further half-mile to cover here under a penalty. Keep Wondering got his head in front at Ffos Las last month on only his fourth start under Rules. MYSTICAL CLOUDS (NAP) is another with scope and slips a little further down the weights so gets a tentative vote as Darebin is best when able to dominate small fields. Echiquier is interesting having a first run over fences in this country while Favorito Buck's is capable of running well fresh, though has never won of a mark this high. Templepark improved for the switch to Fergal O’Brien in the autumn but he’s likely to find conditions too testing after a holiday.
Echiquier (FR) 14-1 (10-4) Always rear-division, pushed along and struggling before 9th, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out, at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Favorito Buck's (FR) 13-8fav (11-10) Prominent, jumped slowly and not fluent at times, effort 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Princeton Royale (12-2) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Keep Wondering (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up, steady progress 8th, mistake 10th, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, eased towards finish, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Robin Of Sherwood (10-0) by 10l, 8 ran.
Templepark 2-1fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced 4 out, driven and headway next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Walt (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Aintree My Dream (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, mistake 7th, headway 6 out, every chance when mistake 4 out, kept on into modest 3td, 3rd of 8, 21 3/4l behind Admiral's Secret (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Mystical Clouds (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, closer at 6th, pushed along after 4 out, 4th before next, ridden before 2 out, not much room and switched right approaching last, one pace in 4th run-in, 4th of 9, 10l behind Mercy Mercy Me (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Darebin (GER) 13-2 (10-11) Chased winner, awkward 7th (water), ridden and held when mistake and pecked 2 out, lost 2nd soon after, weakened into 4th before the last, 4th of 6, 26 1/4l behind Locker Room Talk (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Commandant (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Held up in mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 15, dist behind Annsam (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Ibleo (FR) Evensfav (11-12) Jumped well, tracked leader, led on long run after 3 out, soon clear, canter, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb beating Fanzio (11-11) by 9 1/2l, 4 ran.
Ramonex (GER) 7-2 (11-7) Led, headed 3 out, ridden and weakened from 2 out, fell last, at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
