chased leading pair, 2nd at 7th, led 9th, made most after, hit 2 out and soon headed, chased winner, every chance last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in
slight lead until 3rd, chased leader until 7th, chased leading pair, pushed along 11th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
mistakes, blundered 1st, last pair, jumped slowly 10th, blundered 12th, never on terms, tailed off
tracked leaders, went left 7th, weakened 13th, tailed off
tracked leaders until awkward and slightly lost place 4th, not fluent next, chased leaders from 4 out, led last, stayed on well, ridden out
last pair, not fluent 6th, struggling and no chance from 13th, tailed off
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, went 2nd 2 out, led narrowly soon after, headed last, driven and one pace in 4th run-in
with leaders, slight lead 3rd until 9th, chased leaders, every chance last, driven and stayed on same pace in 3rd run-in
This looks wide-open, though Panama Petrus, Liberty Court and Bob Tucker are all returning from a break. Jonjo O'Neill's yard has struggled for winners lately but Josies Orders looks the type to make his mark over fences and won off today's mark over hurdles in January. Howlongisafoot has to go on the short-list as he's already won a point-to-point and Sir Mangan wasn't disgraced when second to Stopped Out at Carlisle, though that form has sent out mixed messages. Generous Ransom is interesting but IN FAIRNESS is the token selection as he and Howlongisafoot were only separated by a length over hurdles at Cheltenham last month. Nicky Henderson's charge looked more in need of the run and has already won around here over timber.
Howlongisafoot (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 4th, went 2nd from 6th, edged left flat, no extra towards finish, 5th of 20, 6l behind Unique De Cotte (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Sir Mangan (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Led to 3rd, with winner, kept on and no impression before last, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Stopped Out (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Nov.
Panama Petrus (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) In touch in mid-division on outside, hit 4th and pushed along, under pressure bypassing omiitted 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 36l behind Brave Vic (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcap hdle Grd 3 (1) sft in Mar.
In Fairness (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, went 3rd 4 out, no fluent 2 out, no extra final 100 yards, 6th of 20, 7l behind Unique De Cotte (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Generous Ransom (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, jumped right 2nd, pushed along after 3 out, mistake next, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 9l behind Three Kingdoms (11-0) at Leicester 2m beg chs (3) gs in Nov.
Josies Orders (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) Towards rear and raced wide, reminders after 10th, jumped slowly 11th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, 44l behind Grandads Horse (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Liberty Court (IRE) 5-6fav (11-5) Led, not fluent 4 out, hard driven 2 out, mistake when headed last, soon rallied, no extra close home, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Anteros (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in May.
Bob Tucker (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) In touch, headway 3 out, effort when not fluent 2 out, weakened last, 8th of 17, 20l behind Heronry (11-2) at Ascot 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
