tracked leaders approaching 2nd, led next, blundered badly 3 out, soon headed, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent, driven before 7th, weakening when slightly hampered 9th
mid-division, ridden when hampered 9th, soon weakened
in touch, pushed along approaching 7th, struggling before next, weakened approaching 9th
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders after 6th, disputing 5 lengths 5th when ridden and fell 9th
in rear, on and off bridle, headway after 7th, chased winner after 3 out, stayed on flat
chased leaders, lost place after 5th, soon dropped out, tailed off 7th
tracked leaders, raced keenly, mistake 6th, driven after 9th, weakened 3 out
slowly away, behind, tailed off 7th, plugged on past beaten horses from 2 out
led, headed 3rd, remained prominent, reminders approaching 7th, weakened after 7th, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway approaching 9th, went 3rd before 2 out, stayed on flat
held up, effort 8th, hampered 9th, soon weakened
prominent, lost place approaching 7th, soon in rear, plugged on approaching 2 out, 21 lengths 5th when blundered badly, unseated rider last
held up towards rear, driven when hampered 9th, soon weakened
mid-division, progress to track leaders from 5th, challenged 8th, led after 3 out, stayed on well
Nonrunner
Boris The Blade, Alderman Rose and Pangbourne make up the shortlist, and it is Boris The Blade who gets the tentative nod. The selection just held on in a tight finish last time out and whilst he has a 7lb penalty for that win, he can still continue to progress. He seems to be getting the hang of the game and having won two of his last three outings, he is fancied to go in again. Ice And Soda is better than last time out, but that doesn't say much, whilst Ballyboley reverts to hurdles off what looks a stiff enough mark. Delightful Cliche ran well in defeat last time out and needs respect as a course and distance winner, whilst Pangbourne flopped last time out but this race doesn't look quite as tough. Alderman Rose ran well in defeat behind Blaze Ahead and if the blinkers work for a second time then he must have at least a place on his mind, however for the winner we will return to Boris The Blade to win again.
Pangbourne (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 10, well behind Very Cool (11-9) at Newbury 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Harrycone Lewis 40-1 (10-2) Mid-division, hit 4th, tailed off 15th when pulled up at the 20th in race won by Garde Champetre (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Ballyboley (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) With leaders, led 6th to 10th, led 12th, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, soon hung right and beaten, mistake last, hung left, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Montevideo (11-0) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (4) sft in Mar.
Alderman Rose 8-1 (11-12) Tracked winner, driven to challenge approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, headway 2 out, not much room last, stayed on well, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Blaze Ahead (11-8) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Jaloux d'Estruval (FR) 10-3jt-fav (11-3) Led 3rd, mistake 10th, blundered 13th, headed 14th, weakened approaching 16th, behind when pulled up at the 17th in race won by The Ring (11-5) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Mar, 6 ran.
Go West (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Held up, some headway, not on terms approaching 4 out, struggling after, 9th of 17, well behind Pangbourne (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Delightful Cliche 3-1 (10-13) Close up, joined leader 3 out, ridden approaching next, no extra from last, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Hold The Bid (11-11) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Boris The Blade 17-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden clear last, kept on under pressure flat, just held on, won at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar beating Etched In Stone (11-7) by a ns, 10 ran.
Woodlands Genpower (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) In touch, jumped slowly 1st, lost place when jumped slowly 5th, in rear, stayed on from 3 out, no danger, 4th of 17, 32l behind Pangbourne (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Ice And Soda (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Prominent, blundered badly 2nd, tailed off when pulled up at the 5th in race won by Ballyvaden (10-2) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Feb, 15 ran.
Mister Sher (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Always behind, 8th of 17, well behind Pangbourne (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Ortega (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, behind, pushed along after 5th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Pangbourne (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar, 17 ran.
Push The Port (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Prominent, ridden, hit 6th, soon no chance, 9th of 15, 45l behind Sir Peter (11-10) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Minster Abbi 10-3fav (10-1) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, soon outpaced, rallied between last 2, no impression, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Heir To Be (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
River Reine (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Held up from behind, not fluent 6th, soon niggled along, lost touch before 7th, 6th of 7, 43l behind Rosie All Over (11-9) at Warwick 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (4) hvy in Mar.
Heavy Weather (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) In touch, lost place when mistake 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Pangbourne (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Mar, 17 ran.