led until 3rd, stayed close 2nd, hit 14th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
in rear, headway 12th, mistake next, outpaced 15th, rallied from 2 out, went 3rd flat, stayed on
mid-division 3rd, chasing leaders when hit 14th, soon ridden, every chance 4 out, 4th and beaten when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, lost place after 11th (water), struggling when not fluent 13th, tailed off
with leader, led 3rd, blundered 14th, ridden and headed after 3 out, hit next, one pace last
mid-division, went 4th 9th, went 3rd approaching 12th, closed from next, challenged after 4 out, led after next, jumped left last, driven out
held up towards rear, headway after 15th, tracking leaders when hampered 4 out, stayed on to chase winner approaching last, held towards finish
chased leaders, lost place approaching 14th, no impression after
held up in rear, mistake and reminders 11th, soon behind, tailed off
It's less than 12 months since PIGEON ISLAND won the Grand Annual at The Festival. This is the eight-year-old's first attempt at 3m but he has been placed over 2m5f at Cheltenham so the distance should be within his range on this sharper track and he shouldn't be far away if his sometimes suspect jumping holds up. Pickamus has also been keeping much better company than this but just as interesting is Isn't That Lucky, who will be all the better for his third at Wetherby last month and has dropped to a very fair mark. Max Bygraves has gone well here in the past and will like the ground while Calusa Caldera can go well fresh but Just Smudge is probably a shade high in the weights now.
Pickamus (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Led 1st, remained prominent, pushed along 9th, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 49l behind Tatenen (10-13) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Pigeon Island 33-1 (10-0) Mid-division, hit 9th, soon under pressure, no impression when hampered 3 out, 7th of 16, 34l behind Poquelin (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Just Smudge 25-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, struggling from 9th, 6th of 15, 44l behind Mount Oscar (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
No Panic (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, slow 3rd, under pressure 7th, soon lost place, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Summery Justice (11-9) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Oakfield Legend 8-1 (11-7) Led until 17th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up after, in a race won by Ouzbeck (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Isn't That Lucky 9-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 7th, outpaced 5 out, kept on to take 3rd run-in, no impression, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Crescent Island (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Feb.
Max Bygraves 12-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, still plenty in front but only 4 lenghts off lead when hit 4 out, closed 2 out, switched left before last, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 10, 4l behind Peplum (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
The Snail 14-1 (11-9) Led until 11th, led 13th, headed 4 out, bumped after 3 out, not fluent next, no extra last, 8th of 10, 16l behind Peplum (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Calusa Caldera (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 11th, pushed along after 3 out, held when blundered 2 out, no extra soon after, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Shakalakaboomboom (11-1) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
