led until mistake and reminder 5th, outpaced next, stayed on flat, took 3rd post
held up towards rear, mistakes, headway 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, led 6th, headed approaching 3 out, 3rd and beaten when hit last and lost hind legs on landing, weakened flat
in touch, ridden 6th, soon weakened, mistake 2 out, tailed off
prominent, pushed along after 5th, slightly outpaced approaching 3 out, soon switched left and rallied, led soon after 2 out, stayed on well to draw clear flat
mid-division, headway when not fluent 5th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in rear, not fluent and behind 4th, tailed off
tracked leader, led 5th until next, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, weakened last
in rear, not fluent and behind 4th, headway after 6th, led approaching 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon headed, one pace flat
held up in rear on outside, took keen hold, headway approaching 5th, lost place before next, soon behind, mistake 2 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, pushed along 5th, hit next, soon behind, mistake 3 out, tailed off
GREAT REASON can provide Nicky Henderson with his third winner in five years in this race by getting the better of Rushwee and Five Out Of Five amongst others. The selection runs in the same colours as the locally trained Mighty Man and is from the same family. He has shown promise on all three starts, bumping into useful rivals on each occasion, in particular when chasing home Mille Chief at Huntingdon. He faces nothing of that quality here and should prove hard to beat. Rushwee returned a beaten favourite on both starts in bumpers before being sent off at 50-1 for his hurdling bow in November where he showed promise to take third; that was an eyecatching run but it's slightly surprising that he hasn't been seen out since. Five Out Of Five represents the leading stable at the track and is related to a number of winners including the useful Cloone River and could challenge for minor honours along with Cloudy Spirit who has shown enough to think that she can win a modest race but they could struggle to match Great Reason.
Brimley 20-1 (11-1) Led, not fluent 7th, headed after next, soon weakened, 11th of 16, 45l behind Benartic (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gs.
Ceepeegee (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, pushed along 7f out, outpaced over 5f out, 4th of 6, 29l behind Brackloon High (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 2f NH flat (6) sft in Jan.
Five Out Of Five (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Keen hold, held up in mid-divison on outside, headway on outside over 6f out, chased leaders 4f out, pushed along, hard ridder over 1f out, soon weakened, 5th of 14, 6l behind Tiger Bay (11-4) at Lingfield 2m mdn nat hunt flt (4-6yo) (6) std.
Goat Castle (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, struggling after 8th, tailed off, 10th of 16, 42l behind Benartic (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gs.
Great Reason 13-2 (11-4) Tracked clear leader, headway 4 out, led next, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression with winner flat, 2nd of 14, 6l behind Mille Chief (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Mtoto's Prince 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and every chance last, not quicken flat, 4th of 16, 4l behind Boogie Dancer (10-13) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in May.
Nobby Kivambo (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Always in rear, mistake 4 out struggling soon after, tailed off, 10th of 12, 41l behind Bellvano (11-12) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Rushwee (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, pushed along 3 out, kept on same pace from next, took 3rd flat, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Sitting Tennant (11-8) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Triumphus 200-1 (11-3) Led, raced keenly, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 15, 37l behind Dan Breen (11-3) at Doncaster 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Cloudy Spirit 6-1 (10-12) Slow jump 1st, chased leaders in 4th, went 3rd 6th, driven along one pace and no impression soon after 3 out, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Megasue (10-12) at Plumpton 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs.
M'lady Eliza 100-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, took keen hold, some headway after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 12th of 15, well behind Black Jack Blues (11-3) at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) gs.
Spring Haze 100-1 (10-4) Mid-division, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Extreme Impact (10-7) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.