made all, jumped well, ridden approaching last, stayed on gamely
held up in 3rd, went 2nd approaching 5th, outpaced 3 out, hard ridden to challenge after next, kept on under pressure
tracked leader, lost 2nd before 5th, jumped slowly 7th, soon under pressure, weakened next, tailed off
It's difficult to get away from PICAROON, who can land the booty from Ellerslie Tom and Scale Bank. Tim Vaughan's charge has to give plenty of weight away to his rivals but he should prove to be man enough for the task as he appears to have plenty in hand on the figures. He does need to brush up his jumping but is versatile with regard to underfoot conditions and rates the one to beat. Ellerslie Tom is a useful hurdler who would have leading claims if running up to the same level over fences but he didn't really shine over the larger obstacles when last tried over them in 2008 and may be best watched as a consequence. Gordon Elliott and Tony McCoy have a fearsome strike rate when they team up but Financialregulator has regressed since a promising start to his career in bumpers, has rarely raced on quick ground and has plenty to prove on his chase bow. Quicker ground and the drop back in trip may see Scale Bank emerge as a leading competitor.
Ellerslie Tom 33-1 (10-11) With leader, tracked leaders when hit 4th, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 23, 20l behind Eradicate (10-1) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl G3 (1) gd.
Financialregulator (IRE) 14-1 (9-13) Mid-division, 10th halfway, ridden in 9th and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace, 11th of 15, 16l behind One Back For Luck (10-6) at Kilbeggan 3m hcp hdl gd.
Scale Bank (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, led narrowly before 4 out, blundered and headed next, soon outpaced, not fluent and no chance with winner from 2 out, 2nd of 6, 22l behind Nothingbutthetruth (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Picaroon 4-1fav (11-4) Towards rear, headway approaching 7th, hit 9th, with leader next, ridden and disputed lead 2 out, led approaching and headed last, kept on, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Storymaker (10-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr.
