held up well in rear, never a factor
led, hit 7th, ridden and headed 3 out, soon pulled up and dismounted
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened and behind when hit 2 out
chased leaders, slightly lost place 7th, renewed effort to chase leaders 3 out, challenged 2 out, weakened before last
always in rear, struggling 7th, pulled up and dismounted after 3 out
held up, pulled up after 4th, dismounted
in touch, headway approaching 2 out, soon challenging, led between last 2, stayed on strongly
in touch, hit 3 out, stayed on to chase leaders approaching next, one pace approaching last
mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leader, led 3 out, hit 2 out, headed between last 2, weakened before last
always in rear
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression on leaders
raced wide in mid-division, headway under strong pressure approaching 2 out, kept on to take 2nd flat, no impression on winner
held up well in rear, hampered on bend after 5th, headway going well enough approaching 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat
in touch, ridden after 3 out, struggling before next
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
in rear, driven along after 3 out, never a factor
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off
A tricky race here with a big field lining up but the lightly-raced EARTH CRYSTAL will be primed and can make it a quick double on the card for Nicky Henderson. The six-year-old has not been seen since staying on strongly at the stiff Ascot circuit to land a novices' hurdle in January. He had previously proved he stays three miles in Ireland, and he acts well with cut in the ground. The yard could hardly be in much better form and can take this good prize on his handicap debut. Wind Instrument has a tough enough task lumping joint top weight in a field of this size but he is a thorough stayer who goes on the ground and we can see him running a big race. At The Money was resolute when winning at Market Rasen but a 7lb rise does not make him as appealing today, and Mick Jerome - eased down to land a Huntingdon handicap hurdle last month - looks likely to get more closely involved. Shannon Springs came back well after a long lay-off last time when runner up to Character Building, and with Andy Turnell's string in great nick he could emerge as a leading player. King Jack acts on the ground and is 4lb lower than when winning at Wetherby in the spring. He is likely to stay.
Wind Instrument (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (10-9) Prominent, led 7th, ridden 3 out, kept on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar beating Laertes (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Tino Tino (FR) 3-1fav (10-5) Led, hit 7th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Fresh Winter (11-1) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy in Mar.
Oscatello (USA) 13-2 (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 8th, prominent 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 21, 15l behind Albertas Run (10-4) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr '07.
Migwell (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Always in last place, reminders and behind 5th and pulled up at the 9th in race won by Master Medic (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Mick Jerome (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, driven clear, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Colophony (11-2) by 7l, 10 ran.
Gustavo 40-1 (10-11) Held up, mistake 10th, never dangerous, 13th of 22, 39l behind Forest Pennant (10-13) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Mister Gloss (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, plugged on, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Duc De Regniere (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
King Jack 1-3fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led and mistake 4 out, ridden after 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Fine Parchment (11-0) by 1l, 9 ran.
Earth Crystal (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, travelled strongly, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, ran on to lead close home, won at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) sft in Jan beating Overclear (11-13) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
At The Money 11-8fav (11-6) Made all, challenge from 2 out, all out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov beating Court Ruler (11-3) by a ns, 7 ran.
Shannon Springs (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Character Building (11-12) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Court Ruler 4-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, chased winner from 4th, challenge 2 out, every chance until just failed, 2nd of 7, shd behind At The Money (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Lordsbridge (USA) 15-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, went 4th last, soon went left, no impression flat, 4th of 22, 9l behind Andytown (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
Talenti (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, blundered first, ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 14, 25l behind Ned Ludd (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Regal Approach (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Pressed leader, led 9th, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 16, 17l behind Cullahill (11-0) at Hereford 3m 2f mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
Free World (IRE) 5-4fav (10-7) Made all, hit 2 out, kept on well, pushed out, won at Sandown 2m beg chs (3) gs in Nov beating Gauvain (11-1) by 8l, 8 ran.
Harris Bay 25-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakening when mistake and soon hung right, 7th of 11, 20l behind Duc De Regniere (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Isle de Maurice 12-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, led after 3rd to 7th, weakened quickly after 10th, soon tailed off, 8th of 10, 49l behind Arafan (9-11) at Ascot 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov '07.
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, reminders after 7th, blundered 12th, quickly weakened and pulled up 5 out in race won by Jeringa (10-5) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
