held up, effort after 4 out, soon ridden, no impression, weakened 2 out
led until after 1st, prominent, mistake 8th, ridden after 10th, hit 4 out, awkward and weakened next
prominent, hampered 2nd, ridden after 12th, no impression on winner from after 2 out
took keen hold, made virtually all, in command from 4 out, rider dropped whip and drew clear after 2 out, unchallenged
held up, losing touch from 4th, behind 9th, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
More than half of this field have to carry more than their allotted weight because of the presence of Gwanako. Ofarel D'Airy carried a similar weight to victory for Paul Nicholls in this in 2009 and the nine-year-old will make a bold bid to follow suit if fully recovered from his fall in the Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree when close up. But these hunter chase handicaps don't always go to plan and we'll take on the top weight with KING CYRUS, who beat Whizzaar at Taunton in March and is 5lb better off here. What Of It may be best of the rest.
Gwanako (FR) 4-1fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, joined leader 11th (foinavon), upsides when fell 14th, in a race won by Cloudy Lane (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (2) gs in Apr, 26 ran.
Whizzaar 11-2 (11-11) Tracked leader, led 3rd, mistake 4 out, soon headed, 3rd and outpaced 2 out, stayed on well final 100 yards, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Silver Story (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hts chs (5) sft.
King Cyrus (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Chased leader, led 12th until ridden just before 2 out, weakened soon after, 4th of 8, 19l behind My Flora (11-11) at Stratford 2m 7f hts chs (5) gd in Apr.
Louis Pasteur (IRE) 14-1 (12-7) 2nd of 9, 15l behind Southwestern (12-7) at Littlewindsor 3m ptp gs in Apr.
Pastek (FR) 4-5 (12-0) Led til hdd & wknd 4 out; pu aft 2 out, in a race won by Sobre Tresor (12-0) at Littlewindsor 3m ptp sft, 3 ran.
Dunshane (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 6th until 8th, mistake 10th, beaten when hampered 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 45l behind Rash Move (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hts chs (5) sft.
What Of It (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, under pressure approaching 10th, weakened 5 out, 5th of 6, 39l behind Noble Legend (11-2) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Apr.
