pulled hard, chased leader, led before 4th, clear approaching 6th, headed soon after 2 out, rallied last, led again flat, pushed along and stayed on well
held up well in rear, went badly left 7th, moderate headway before last, never remotely involved
held up towards rear, good headway approaching 7th, chased leaders after 3 out, went 3rd before next, stayed on same pace from last
chased leaders, went 2nd before 6th, ridden before next, lost 2nd before 2 out, weakened soon after
in touch on inside, lost place 6th, plugged on from 2 out, never on terms after
chased leaders, went 2nd travelling well before 2 out, led soon after 2 out, 1 length ahead when mistake last, headed last, kept on under pressure flat, always held
chased leaders, ridden along before 7th, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, never on terms
led until before 4th, chased leader until weakened quickly before 6th, soon tailed off, blundered 3 out and pulled up
held up in mid-division, ridden in 5th and no impression after 3 out
held up towards rear, steady headway on outside 7th, ridden in 6th after 3 out, stayed on to 4th 2 out, no impression
blundered and rider lost iron briefly 1st, towards rear and never on terms after, pushed along and struggling after 5th, tailed off
never reached beyond mid-division, mistake and ridden 6th, soon lost place, tailed off
Thundering Home has won at Kempton and Sandown this season and should stay the extra. The Fox's Decree has won a chase and a jumpers' bumper recently but is still chasing a first success over hurdles after 32 attempts, though has been knocking on the door. Sun Quest is a course and distance winner with the past form to figure but Backhomeinderry has more to do than when second at Wincanton four weeks ago and Helium's recent second came in a seller. Chris Down runs the consistent Dragon's Den and EXTREMELY SO and both have decent claims. But we just prefer the latter, who hinted at a revival here last month and may just handle the quicker ground slightly better today.
Helium (FR) 13-2 (10-10) Took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd before 6th, one pace when lost 2nd last, rallied to regain 2nd final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Bellflower Boy (11-1) at Taunton 2m 3f sell hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Thundering Home 7-1 (10-9) Mounted on course, held up well in rear, steady progress under pressure before 2 out, stayed on to 4th approaching last, led final 130 yards, won going away, won at Sandown 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs in Feb beating Experimentalist (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Dragon's Den (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 3 out, disputing close 3rd when mistake last, no impression after, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Jumps Road (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Best Director (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, reminders 5th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up soon after 7th, in a race won by Edmund Kean (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Extremely So 5-2fav (10-11) Chased leaders on inside, led before 4 out, edging left when headed 2 out, no chance with easy winner, lost 2nd in closing stages, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Seventh Sky (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Mar.
No Likey (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 19, 4 1/2l behind Tolkeins Tango (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Special Mate 66-1 (11-4) Mid-division, struggling after 7th, behind next, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind One Conemara (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Custer Of The West (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 4th before 2 out, one pace, 8th of 21, 38l behind Minella Forfitness (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) gd in Feb.
Great Kicker (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, fell early in back straight, in a race won by Morgan's Bay (10-11) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
The Fox's Decree 8-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 5f out, went 3rd before 2f out, led before 1f out, soon ridden and hung left inside final furlong, kept on under pressure near finish, won at Southwell 2m n h flat (4) std in Mar beating Dawn Commander (10-11) by nk, 11 ran.
Backhomeinderry (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 5th, every chance 2 out, switched right before last, stayed on, held by winner flat, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Key To Milan (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Mar.
Arctic Watch 12-1 (11-5) Held up, jumped left at times, not fluent 11th, ridden after 13th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out (normal 4 out), in a race won by Whispering Jack (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 6 ran.
I'm A College Boy (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Prominent, lost place and reminder 3rd, well behind after 5th, tailed off, last of 11, well behind Minella Definitely (11-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Scampi Boy (IRE) 150-1 (11-6) Soon in touch, 7th when blundered and unseated rider 18th, in a race won by Back In Focus (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Khazium (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out, 7th of 9, well behind Tresor De Bontee (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar.
Sun Quest 12-1 (10-1) Raced wide, chased leaders in 3rd, dropped to 4th after 3 out, rallied to 3rd again last, went 2nd in closing stages, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Seventh Sky (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Mar.
