led to 7th and mistake, led again before 10th, headed 5 out, weakened after 4 out
in rear, headway before 7th to go in touch, went 3rd from 9th, ridden before last, kept on same pace
held up behind, headway 4 out, went 4th before 3 out, challenged 2 out, every chance last, kept on and held towards finish
in touch in 4th, pushed along before 11th, outpaced from 4 out, went poor 4th from 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders in 3rd, close up when left in lead 3 out, ridden run-in, held on towards finish
held up towards rear, pushed along before 9th, weakened from 4 out
Money For Nothing has been knocking on the door in similar company but the handicapper is reluctant to cut him any slack. Billy Cuckoo is the only one of these with a course win to his name but has been disappointing this term. Alpancho might just need this and River Purple also returns from a break but Attimo's latest third at Fontwell was his best to date over fences and he can continue heading in the right direction. TAKE THE CROWN has gone up 3lb since going down by a neck at Leicester but has taken well to fences and gets the nod here as he should stay the extra on this quicker surface.
Alpancho 4-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, badly hampered 13th, not recover, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Speed Master (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar '14.
Billy Cuckoo (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, weakened before 4 out, last of 4, well behind Uno Valoroso (10-3) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
River Purple 12-1 (10-10) Always behind, 6th of 7, well behind Rockchasebullett (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Sep.
Money For Nothing 7-4fav (11-5) Took keen hold tracking leaders, went 3rd before 3 out, disputing 2nd and slightly hampered 3 out, ridden edged right and went 2nd between last two, kept on run-in, always held, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Kerryhead Storm (10-10) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Attimo (GER) 4-1 (11-12) Mid-division, outpaced 5 out, ridden and kept on approaching 2 out, went modest 3rd approaching last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Strawberry Hill (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Take The Crown 5-2fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, led last, headed close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Henri De Boistron (10-10) at Leicester 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Feb.
The Jugopolist (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In touch, reminders after 2nd, struggling after 4th, soon detatched, tailed off when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Boondooma (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov chs (2) hvy in Dec, 5 ran.