led to 3rd, chased leaders, weakened approaching 18th, tailed off
chased leaders, weakened approaching 20th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up towards rear, reminder after 7th, not fluent 10th, mistake and losing touch 19th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along 7th, headway 15th, led 3 out, headed flat, no extra towards finish
in touch, 2nd after 20th, bumped and led after 4 out, hit and headed 3 out, weakened after next
mid-division, mistake 2nd, blundered 12th, mistake 14th, stumbled 17th, headway under pressure before 19th, not much room after 4 out, 2nd before 2 out, led flat, driven out
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 4 out, blundered 3 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
ran in snatches, not fluent 9th, well behind 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 16th
led 1st, headed 7th, led 10th to 13th, led 18th, clear briefly after 20th, headed and bumped after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, reminder 6th, headway approaching 18th, beaten before 2 out
prominent, led 7th to 10th, led 13th to 18th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear and wide, mistake 17th, well behind from next, tailed off when pulled before 2 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 11th, well behind after 16th, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 6th, mistake and unseated rider 14th
held up towards rear, headway before 20th, tracking leaders and going well when hit 3 out, beaten before last, stayed on one pace
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Only one favourite has won this feature race in the last six renewals, and we'll take a chance with Howard Johnson's COMPANERO, to get the better of Kilcrea Asla and Appleaday. It's wide open though, and there'll certainly be some eachway value to be hand. The selection was disappointing last time out in January, something which the trainer attributed to the bad weather then. Prior to that he'd won six of eight outings including Irish points, and we know he gets the trip and handles the ground. In fact, the softer it is, the more he relishes it. He comes here well in at the weights, and Timmy Murphy's an eye-catching jockey booking, having his first outing on him with Denis O'Regan normally on board. Kilcrea Asla has never raced over this trip before, but is nicely weighted, and has Tony McCoy on board. He may want firmer ground, but he does look to have further improvement within him as a chaser. Appleaday comes here in good form too, after winning well at Sandown last time out, despite being hampered by a loose horse. A fluent jumper who stays well, he certainly has each-way claims. Never ignore Venetia Williams who's in-form, and Mon Mome looks the pick of her two runners, but may be carrying too much around. Nigel Twiston-Davies won this race a couple of years ago and sends Beat The Boys to post this time, but his runner's not lived up to his name of late and doesn't appear a likely winner. Whoever wins will need a certain amount of luck in running; the last three winners have all had an official rating of at least 140, but we think that trend can be bucked here by the 137 rated Companero.
Mon Mome (FR) 11-1 (11-1) Held up, effort 6 out, soon weakened, 7th of 16, 42l behind Rambling Minster (11-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Always Waining (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 8th, lost place 12th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Big Fella Thanks (11-2) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Officier De Reserve (FR) 13-2 (11-12) 9th of 12, well behind Maktu (10-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Flintoff (USA) 14-1 (9-11) Raced wide, in touch, reminder 7th, led 18th, ridden and headed after 3 out, close 2nd when stumbled badly 2 out, soon held, 5th of 10, 21l behind Joe Lively (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Badgerlaw (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd entering straight, soon no impression, 4th of 8, 21l behind Joncol (11-5) at Naas 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 sft in Feb.
Russian Trigger 12-1 (11-11) Mistakes, held up, headway and in touch from 8th, reminders and hit 16th, went 3rd at 17th, challenged 2 out, led on inside between last 2, driven final 100 yards, won at Folkestone 3m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb beating Enroblim Trop.
Kilcrea Asla (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Always prominent, led 9th, headed 14th, led approaching 4 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb beating Pretty Star (10-11) by 7l, 11 ran.
Beat The Boys (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Held up, pushed along after 4th, ridden approaching 13th, behind when fell 5 out in race won by Rambling Minster (11-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb, 16 ran.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Close up, chased winner 2 out, stayed on from last, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Out The Black (10-0) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gf in Feb.
Sea Diva (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Towards rear, some progress 5 out, moderate 8th after 2 out, kept on same pace, 7th of 19, 23l behind Forest Leaves (10-9) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp chs hvy in Feb.
Appleaday (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, hit 5th, led 12th, made rest, hard driven after 3 out, stayed on well, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb beating Mistress Nell (10-10) by 3l, 7 ran.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Held up, blundered badly 10th and nearly unseated rider, dropped to rear, went moderate 3rd 3 out, ridden and stayed on flat, never dangerous, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Cool Roxy (11-9) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Naunton Brook 33-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway 6 out, outpaced after 4 out, 5th of 19, 17l behind Jass (10-9) at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan.
Operation Houdini (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden in 4th entering straight, no extra in 5th approaching 3 out, left 3rd and hampered, soon weakened, 3rd of 8, well behind Siegemaster (11-3) at Navan 3m nov chs Grd 2 hvy in Feb.
Hold The Pin (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, progress 3 out, 8th next, ridden to go moderate 2nd last, kept on without threatening winner, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Dashing George (9-11) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Feb.
Alderburn 4-1jt-fav (10-9) Held up and keen, weakened 4 out, 7th of 8, 30l behind Out The Black (10-0) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gf in Feb.
Companero (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Prominent, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, left 3rd when hampered 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Kornati Kid (11-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
King Harald (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, weakened from 12th, 9th of 12, well behind Church Island (10-13) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 28l behind I'm The Decider (10-9) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Martha's Kinsman (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Alwaysd behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Jass (10-9) at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan, 19 ran.
