in touch, not fluent 4th, mistake 4 out, effort next, ridden and one pace from 2 out
mid-division, lost place halfway, no danger after
in touch, driven and outpaced before 3 out, ridden and stayed on to chase winner next, no impression
not fluent, always prominent, led before 3 out, drew clear from last
led, headed when blundered 3 out, soon beaten
behind, struggling 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, outpaced 5 out, weakened 3 out
behind, lost touch 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
Essifer won his only start in a point-to-point but has failed to trouble the judge in 19 starts under rules despite showing some promise and a better bet looks to be LORD LANSDOWN, who gets the vote with Seven Is Lucky rated the best of the rest. The selection has winning form in Irish point-to-points, has been running well over hurdles and Gordon Elliott's gelding can resume winning ways now switched to the larger obstacles. Oscar's Emerald looks the better of the two Donoghue runners ahead of Mr McGonagle, while Arturo Uno has to be respected being trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies but he needs to improve on recent form to trouble the judge. Peter Monteith's Seven Is Lucky has shown a reasonable level of form over hurdles and could be of interest on his chasing debut but a safer option looks to be Lord Lansdown, who showed decent form over hurdles and he is taken to translate winning point form to regulation fences.
Arturo Uno (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th, hit 9th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 17, well behind Picture This (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Athollbrose (USA) 250-1 (10-12) Behind, lost touch halfway, tailed off 5 out, last of 6, well behind Salford City (11-6) at Perth 2m nov stks (2) gd in Apr.
Essifer (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened from next, 5th of 11, 9l behind Za Beau (10-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Lord Lansdown (IRE) 6-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, improved to lead 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra and kept on one pace, 3rd of 18, 23l behind Palace Merano (11-4) at Thurles 2m 6f mdn hdl hvy in Feb.
Mr McGonagle (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Always behind, completely tailed off, 11th of 18, well behind Peplum (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chs gd.
Oscar's Emerald (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden in 5th after 3 out, soon no extra, 6th of 15, 14l behind Preswell Lad (11-0) at Tramore 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 gd in Apr.
Putitawayforayear (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Always behind, 11th of 15, 29l behind Dancing Mist (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Theatre Rights (IRE) 250-1 (10-8) Towards rear, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 33l behind Flaming Heck (10-1) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Seven Is Lucky (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Behind, kept on from 2 out, never nearer, 6th of 15, 17l behind Dancing Mist (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
