raced cleanly, tracked leader, led 7th, 7 lengths clear, going well when fell last
chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden next, no impression when left 3rd last
raced keenly, held up, headway 8th, chased leader 4 out to 2 out, left 10 lengths 2nd last
led, headed 7th, outpaced 3 out, no impression when mistake last
held up, ridden 3 out, never on terms
held up in touch, headway 8th, went 2nd 2 out, 7 lengths down and ridden when left clear last, ran on
Nonrunner
Sardagna and East Lawyer are turned out quickly after running here yesterday and are probably best left out of calculations in a race that is taken to go to Andreas. The selection would probably have won on his chase debut at Exeter but for falling two out and has since made up for that with wins at Taunton and, latterly, at Cheltenham. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding could hardly have been more impressive on the latter occasion and holds solid claims of completing the hat-trick. Peter Monteith's Compadre has shown promise but needs to improve to trouble the selection and of more interest may be Parknasilla. Mick Easterby's gelding was outclassed at Aintree last time but has claims on earlier form and will not mind any further softening of the ground. Sardagna and East Lawyer have to be respected if taking their chance but Andreas holds an obvious chance and gets the vote.
Andreas (FR) 6-1 Held up in mid-division,smooth headway to track leaders 8th, led on bit approaching 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd beating Almaydan by 7l, 12 ran.
The Miner 12-1 Always behind, 11th of 16, 37l behind Powder Creek at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs.
Parknasilla 50-1 Held up and behind, mistake 5th, well behind 7th, never near leaders, 5th of 10, 44l behind Ashley Brook at Aintree 2m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gs.
Compadre 8-1 Tracked leader, left in lead 3 out, headed last, one pace under pressure flat, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Powder Creek at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs.
Mister Magnum (IRE) 50-1 Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on well to go 3rd flat, no impression, 3rd of 13, 14l behind Freedom Now at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gf in Aug.
Sardagna (FR) 4-9fav Tracked leaders, pecked 2nd, headway to join leaders 9th, led approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, ran on, won at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (E) sft in Mar beating Oulton Broad by 3l, 4 ran.
East Lawyer (FR) 6-4fav Held up, pecked badly 8th, ridden after 4 out, one pace, 4th of 8, 8l behind Runner Bean at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
