held up in rear, mistake 5 out, under pressure next, stayed on approaching last, never troubled leaders
in touch, jumped well, headway 9th, led next, drew clear after 3 out, ran on strongly
led, headed when blundered 10th, rallied after next, mistake 5 out, weakened after next
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, 2nd next, kept on under pressure, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, lost place approaching 4th, outpaced 4 out, rallied after 2 out, never able to challenge
tracked leader, driven 5 out, weakened after next
NonRunner
Pain Au Chocolat won this last year but modest subsequent efforts see headgear re-applied for the first time since 2017 while Rock On Fruity has been competing in tougher contests since landing a double over these fences at the turn of the year. The Paddy Pie missed out on a hat-trick when runner-up at Sedgefield but is not out of this in his current form and neither is CARALINE. She’s been raised 4lb after returning to winning ways back on soft ground at Wetherby but was scoring off a higher mark at this time last year and another bold bid looks likely. Lord Wishes is another looking to exploit a slide down the weights while Cave Top was still in contention when falling at Haydock last time and is preferred to Tiquer.
Rock On Fruity (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway before 3 out, weakened after next, 5th of 6, 36l behind Takingrisks (10-11) at Carlisle 3m hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 33-1 (11-11) Led until after 1st, chased leader until after 5th, lost place before 4 out, 9th of 10, 36 3/4l behind Teescomponents Lad (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Cave Top (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Led until approaching 5th, rallying when fell 4 out, at Haydock 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
The Paddy Pie (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Not fluent 1st, tracked front pair, went 2nd and effort after 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression before last, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Cap Du Nord (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Lord Wishes (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway before 4th, hit 8th, not fluent 3 out, 4th and beaten when not fluent last, 4th of 9, 14 1/2l behind Ask Paddington (11-9) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Caraline (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden and ran on, won at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Lough Salt (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Tiquer (FR) 40-1 (10-9) Towards rear, pushed along 5th, blundered 4 out, stayed on from last, went 4th towards finish, 4th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Warriors Tale (11-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.