settled in rear, steady headway to track winner 9th, tried to close after 2 out, 3 lengths down and held last, weakened run-in
held up, mistake 6th, struggling 9th, well behind when jumped right next
held up, driven along 3rd, chased leading pair from 10th, no impression
tried to lead, chased winner, blundered and almost unseated rider 2nd, lost 2nd at 4th, sulked and never going well after, pulled up 10th
chased leaders in 4th, mistake 7th, short lived effort 9th, weakened next
keen hold, held up until blundered and fell 2nd
chase winner 4th until 9th, ridden and struggling next
made virtually all, ridden approaching 2 out, 3 lengths clear and went left last, drew away run-in
Nonrunner
Gunship looked held when unseating his rider at Taunton last time and looks worth taking on carrying the same mark today with preference for Ballyaahbutt, who gets the vote ahead of Glen Thyne. The last mentioned has been performing consistently well of late but may just be a shade high in the weights at present. One Step Closer is less exposed than most but probably needs to improve to trouble the judge, while Day du Roy has given little sign of encouragement of late. It is impossible to know how much ability Artic Reason retains having been off the track for over 1,000 days and a safer bet looks to be Brendan Powell's Ballyaahbutt, who is taken to gain a deserved success.
Glen Thyne (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (11-4) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 3rd, led 10th, clear next, headed and no extra closing stages, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Runaway Bishop (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f amt hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy.
One Step Closer (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, pecked 13th, mistake 15th, chased leading pair next, not fluent and weakened 3 out, 3rd of 7, 24l behind Strolling Vagabond (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
Suprendre Espere 40-1 (10-1) Towards rear, badly hampered 7th, soon well behind and pulled up 4 out in race won by Le Rochelais (11-9) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Gunship (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Soon prominent, hit 3rd, mistake 13th, led after 4 out until next, 3rd and beaten when blundered badly and unseated rider in race won by Tradingup (10-9) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Ede's 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division when unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Surfboard (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Artic Reason (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up, kept on from 3 out, 7th of 19, 26l behind Rampart (10-9) at Tralee 2m hcp hdl gf in Jun '04.
Maximinus 28-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, hit 5th, soon driven along, weakened 8th, 9th of 16, well behind Celtic Major (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Ballyaahbutt (IRE) 7-4fav (10-1) Led, hit 4 out, ridden next, joined last, headed by omitted last fence, kept on one pace, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Surfboard (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Day du Roy (FR) 9-1 (11-1) Always in rear, ridden and weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Be Telling (11-12) at Fakenham 3m sll hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Feb, 6 ran.
