took keen hold, soon mid-division, headway 13th, not fluent 17th, blundered next, close 4th 2 out, 3rd and beaten last, weakened flat
prominent, jumped left, led 4th, headed after next, stayed close up, lost place 16th, pulled up before 18th
held up in rear, hit 10th, ridden and behind 14th, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, hit 1st, headway 17th, mistake next, hit 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, pulled hard, headway 11th, led 13th, headed 16th, every chance before 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, lost place 10th, not fluent next, headway 16th, challenged 4 out, led and hard pressed 2 out, joined last, in command towards finish
led until 4th, led after next, headed 7th, stayed handy, ridden approaching 15th, weakened before 18th
chased leaders, mistake 4th, not fluent 11th, lost place approaching 14th, behind 18th
prominent, led 7th, headed 13th, led 16th, ridden approaching 3 out, headed and squeezed out 2 out, 4th and beaten last, weakened flat
mid-division, lost place 12th, struggling 13th, behind 18th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, not fluent 4th, jumped slowly 6th, closed 11th, challenged 2 out, upsides last, held towards finish
Tyup Pompey could run around here blindfold and won this race 12 months ago. He's 6lb higher this time around, however, and this year's contest looks a lot more competitive. Buck Mulligan doesn't look particularly well handicapped back over fences but Perth winner Shake The Barley is still at the right end of the handicap and Marleybow will be all the better for his run at Haydock in March. The Shoe was a decent second on his comeback run at Ayr and still has some scope but it could be worth taking a chance on ISN'T THAT LUCKY, who can be forgiven his run in the Topham Chase at Aintree and isn't badly treated on his best form.
Buck Mulligan 15-8 (11-6) Tracked rival, took keen hold, led last, ridden flat, ran on, won at Ludlow 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Bottman (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 2 ran.
Isn't That Lucky 16-1 (10-0) Chased leaders on inner, lost place 8th, hampered 12th (canal turn), tailed off, 14th of 30, well behind Always Waining (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
The Shoe (NZ) 8-1 (11-5) In touch in mid-division, went 3rd 4 out, led 2 out, headed soon after last, no extra close home, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind On His Own (10-7) at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr.
Cootehill (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Chased leaderd until lost place after 2nd, towards rear, hit 5th, went right next, never on terms after, 6th of 9, 32l behind Cruchain (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp chs (0-135) (3) gd in Apr.
Rockiteer (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, prominent, led after 9th, headed 3 out, mistake last, no impression flat, one pace, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Tyup Pompey (10-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Pilgrims Lane (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) In rear, chased leading pair from 5th, ridden after 2 out, one pace and no impression, 3rd of 4, 20l behind Monsieur Jourdain (10-8) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs (3) gf in Apr.
Key Cutter (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Led, pecked 2nd, headed 5th, led again before 8th, headed 13th, led after 3 out until before next, 3rd last, hung right and no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Fort View (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Apr.
Circus of Dreams Evens (11-3) Made all, drew clear approaching 4 out, easily, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr beating Baily Storm (11-12) by 50l, 2 ran.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, 2nd of 6, 24l behind Fighting Chance (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Shake The Barley (IRE) 7-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, challenged 3 out, led before next, driven out, won at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr beating Logans Run (10-11) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Marleybow (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Prominent, went 2nd at the 8th, led after 5 out, headed and blundered 2 out, rallied from last and soon every chance, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Maurisca (11-13) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
