led or disputed lead until lost place after 3 out, weakened from next
in touch outpaced 3 out, no impression from next
in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
hit 1st, held up in mid-division, headway 4 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure from last
held up towards rear, headway 3 out effort and every chance on outside next, soon ridden, one pace approaching last
behind, effort 3 out, never on terms
mistake 2nd, mid-division, lost place 4th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, hit 2nd, outpaced 3 out, soon no impression
led or disputed lead until clear advantage after 3 out, headed next, soon ridden and one pace
tracked leaders on inside, smooth headway and every chance 3 out, ridden to chase winner approaching last, kept on same pace flat
chased leaders, lost place 3 out, weakened next
mid-division on inside, outpaced 4 out, behind from next
raced keenly in mid-division, driven 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, no impression
in touch, effort 3 out, 5th and one pace when pecked next, wewakened and pulled up before last
Formerly with Gary Moore, Olympian ran his best race since joining Phil Middleton when chasing home Spirit River at Cheltenham in December and he has to be respected but a 5lb rise for that run makes this more difficult and preference is for AKARSHAN, who gets the vote over Phantom Lad. Brendan Powell's gelding ran much better at Plumpton under testing ground last time and he has solid claims off the same mark today, although the ground is less testing this afternoon. Anything trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies has to be considered and Crouch End Flyer is no exception but he could probably do with some help from the handicapper. Nomadic Warrior is lightly raced but remains a maiden after nine starts and of more interest may be Charlie Longsdon's Ostland, who is better than he showed at Ludlow last time. Alex Hales' Dinarius did not take to fences on his most recent start and has quickly been put back over hurdles and he has to be respected off what seems a fair mark but a better bet looks to be Akarshan. The Evan Williams-trained gelding has run better since being returned to hurdles in recent starts and he should take plenty of beating off a decent mark on ground that is ideal.
Sunday City (JPN) 40-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Balzaccio (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Ostland (GER) 10-3fav (10-10) Mid-division, ridden in 5th after 6th, hung left and weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, well behind Marodima (10-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Ordre de Bataille (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Mistakes, in rear, lost touch and pulled up after 12th, in a race won by I'moncloudnine (11-10) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Akarshan (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 14l behind Bella Haze (11-3) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Olympian (FR) 20-1 (10-5) Behind, headway 3 out, chased winner after 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on for clear 2nd but no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Spirit River (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Abey M'Boy 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, good headway on outside 6th, chased leaders 3 out, weakened well before 2 out, 8th of 10, 30l behind Bothy (10-13) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Dinarius 20-1 (10-8) Led into start, held up, in rear, fell 5th, in a race won by Fighting Chance (10-12) at Leicester 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gd in Feb, 8 ran.
Farmers Cross (IRE) 17-2 (10-5) In rear, headway on outer 3 out, weakened next, 9th of 11, 36l behind Echo Point (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Playing With Fire (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway after 4th, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 14, 22l behind Peveril (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) hvy in Feb.
Phantom Lad (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Led, hit 1st, headed soon after, chased clear winner after, hit 3 out, soon dropped to 4th, rallied to 3rd last, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Lord Singer (11-5) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy.
Smoothly Does It 9-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along 6th, soon weakened, 8th of 14, 37l behind Markila (11-1) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Nomadic Warrior 10-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, blundered 5th, ridden after next, stayed on same pace from 2 out, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Mohayer (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Crouch End Flyer 10-3 (11-3) In rear, pushed along approaching 3rd, 4th when not fluent 5th, went 3rd 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 7, 19l behind Benmore Boy (11-9) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Spider Boy 150-1 (11-2) Led, headed 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, 4th of 6, 32l behind Punjabi (11-10) at Kempton 2m hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Midnight Spirit 14-1 (11-3) Led until after 3 out, still every chance after 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 13, 11l behind Bosamcliff (11-4) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Feb.
