chased leader, led 5th until mistake and headed 9th, close up until blundered and weakened 14th
behind, hampered 3rd, blundered and unseated rider 5th
led to 5th, stayed prominent until mistake 13th, weakened next
not fluent, blundered 6th, mistake 14th, always behind
mid-division, driven 13th, hit next, weakened soon after 4 out
mid-division, ridden along 9th, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, hit 6th, mistake and weakened 11th
chased leaders, led 9th, hit 13th and 4 out, mistake and narrowly headed 2 out, stayed pressing winner, rallied and stayed on run-in, held near finish
behind, hit 9th, headway under pressure approaching 4 out, chased leading pair 2 out, one pace and no impression last
held up until fell 3rd
held up in rear, steady headway on outside from 11th, chased leading pair 14th, led narrowly 2 out, hard pressed and kept narrow advantage, driven and held on well run-in
mistakes, chased leaders, blundered 10th, hit 3 out, weakened soon after next
mistakes 12th, blundered 13th, always behind
held up, steady headway approaching 14th, ridden and hit 4 out, stayed on under pressure after next, not reached leaders and no impression before last
Another very competitive race but it can go to Run For Paddy, but Parsons Legacy, Jimmy Tennis, Malek, Zeta's River and Torche are among a few others to be considered. Starting at the top, then - of the handicap, that is - Parsons Legacy is on the up and can still be competitive off topweight. Jimmy Tennis is back to the mark from which he won at Leicester a year ago and should be sharper for a recent run. The relatively lightly-raced Malek ran a blinder in the Rowland Meyrick last time and has to be considered. He certainly will not be stopping at the finish. Run For Paddy has been dropped a pound for a very good Skybet Chase run and comes firmly into the reckoning. Be My Royal lost the 2002 Hennessy Gold Cup at a later enquiry but injury seems to have taken its toll now. Torche is tough and comes here seeking a three-timer, although he's up eight pounds for the most-recent of them. Harrycone Lewis has been running well in blinkers lately and remains on a fairly-competitive mark. Zeta's River's second to Banker Count last time has been boosted by the winner's good Racing Post Chase run and, lightly raced, he should have more to come. Farinel and Dark Room could have cases built for them were it not for the stable's indifferent form right now, Were In Touch won a soft beginners' chase last time, All In The Stars rates as promising, and Cruise The Fairway could be a decent jumper if he ever puts it all together. Picking the bones out of all this, we will side with Run For Paddy.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 13-8fav Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, went 2nd approaching 4 out, led approaching 2 out, edged left flat, driven out, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec beating Ulusaba by 3/4l, 9 ran.
World Wide Web (IRE) 14-1 Held up in mid-division, behind from 8th, 8th of 10, well behind Carlys Quest at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) sft in Dec.
Lucky Bay (IRE) 7-1 Close up, pushed along from 16th, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 12, 24l behind Innox at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Feb.
Jimmy Tennis (FR) 14-1 Not fluent, in touch, mistake 12th, ridden 16th, soon beaten, 6th of 9, 26l behind Joly Bey at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Feb.
Be My Royal (IRE) 20-1 Prominent, mistake 2nd, blundered badly and lost place 11th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Whereareyounow at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (B) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Torche (IRE) 13-8fav Tracked leader, hit 8th, led 9th to 10th, led again 3 out, headed next, stayed on under pressure to lead again last, ran on, won at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs (D) gs in Dec beating Calvic by 5l, 4 ran.
Carryonharry (IRE) 25-1 Held up in rear, not fluent and reminders 4th, ridden after 8th, behind from 10th, 8th of 12, 38l behind Colourful Life at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (A) gd in Jan.
Harrycone Lewis 11-1 Prominent, led 4th, headed 8th, led again 14th, ridden and headed after 3 out, every chance last, driven and stayed on to lead close home, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Jan beating Lords Best by 3/4l, 9 ran.
All In The Stars (IRE) 10-1 Held up last, ridden 13th, soon weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by Headliner at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Feb, 7 ran.
Cruise The Fairway (IRE) 11-4fav Chased leaders, weakened quickly 11th, well behind when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Longshanks at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Jan, 9 ran.
Zeta's River (IRE) 5-1 Settled rear, steady headway from 11th, chased winner 4 out, close up 3 out, soon ridden and beaten after next, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Banker Count at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Feb.
Burwood Breeze (IRE) 7-2 Held up towards rear, headway 10th, every chance 4 out, 3rd and held when ran out 2 out in race won by Almost Broke at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Dark Room (IRE) 20-1 Held up, headway to track leaders approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace, 4th of 9, 15l behind Willie John Daly at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Dec.
Farinel 11-1 Behind, headway approaching 2 out, never dangerous, 5th of 15, 17l behind Forest Gunner at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (C) sft in Nov.
Were In Touch (IRE) 15-8fav In touch, headway after 10th to join leader, led 11th, blundered 13th, not fluent and ridden 3 out, stayed on well from last, won at Taunton 3m beg chs (D) gs in Feb beating Bob Ar Aghaidh by 3/4l, 10 ran.
