soon in touch, ridden 17th, weakening when jumped left 19th, tailed off when pulled up before 20th
mistakes, always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 17th
chased leaders, lost place 17th, rallied 19th, one pace from 4 out
held up, headway 17th, ridden after 20th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led to 4th, stayed prominent, led again 19th to approaching 4 out, ridden after 3 out, no extra flat
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway 16th, weakened 19th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, led 5th to 19th, ridden after next, weakened approaching 3 out
always towards rear, mistake 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 19th
behind, hit and unseated rider 2nd
chased leaders, mistake 15th, ridden and mistake 17th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 19th
led 3rd to 5th, stayed prominent, led again approaching 4 out, driven out
mistake 14th, always behind
in touch, hit 9th, ridden after 12th, lost place 18th, rallied 20th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders to 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 18th
in touch, hit and weakened 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 19th
always towards rear, hit 2nd, mistake 6th, hampered 19th, never a factor
towards rear, headway 10th, ridden 13th, weakened 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 19th
The day's feature event can go to Ossmoses ahead of last year's winner Philson Run, The Bajan Bandit, Eskimo Pie and King Bee. Stamina is definitely the key here as only those capable of lasting home in heavy ground can be considered. Into that category falls Ossmoses who revels in the conditions and who showed his well being by sauntering home in Haydock's Red Square Vodka Gold Cup last month. He had a field of useful opponents well behind that day and so a rise of 12lb was to be expected, but he should still be capable of powering home under in-form Richie McGrath. Last year's winner Philson Run limbered up for this with a hard-fought win in the Eider Chase at Newcastle. It remains to be seen whether those exertions have taken their toll, and he lines up on over a stone higher mark than 12 months ago, but you get the feeling that Paul Carberry will be able to coax him round enough to be involved in the finish again. The Bajan Bandit has it to do off 11st 12lb, but proved that he was no back-number when beating Royal Emperor at Ayr last month. The latter has since won over hurdles and took part in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, so a rise of 10lb is fair for the former high-class Len Lungo inmate. Big things are expected of Eskimo Pie who sidestepped quite a few engagements at Cheltenham to run here. The seven-year-old might just find this too exacting though and is perhaps best watched, while King Bee's stamina has to be taken on trust, but he showed no signs of stopping when beating Moulin Riche at Haydock and has a feather weight. With Martin Pipe's team not firing on all cylinders at present, his trio cannot be backed with confidence, but Control Man is probably the best of them, and with ground and trip in his favour, it is Ossmoses that catches the eye the most.
The Bajan Bandit (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, led 4 out, clear approaching next, won at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Feb beating Royal Emperor (11-11) by 14l, 10 ran.
Stormez (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Driven along in rear after 5th, never reached leaders, 10th of 18, 29l behind Ungaro (10-8) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
L'Aventure (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Always behind, 5th of 14, well behind Ossmoses (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Baron Windrush 16-1 (11-12) Held up, headway when blundered 17th, led 4 out to next, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 4th of 17, 3l behind Philson Run (11-6) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Ossmoses (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Prominent, led after 2 out, ridden clear after last, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb beating Model Son (10-2) by 15l, 14 ran.
Philson Run (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 18th, driven to lead 3 out, ridden next, stayed on under pressure, won at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb beating High Cotton (9-4) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
Marcus Du Berlais (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Held up, slight mistake 3rd, moderate 7th 4 out, kept on under pressure to go remote 3rd from last, 3rd of 9, 21l behind Forget The Past (11-10) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Control Man (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Led 2nd to 4th, led again approaching 6th, hit 13th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 13, 17l behind Eurotrek (10-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Jan.
Willie John Daly (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, slow 8th, never a factor, 5th of 13, 31l behind Eric's Charm (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Polar Red 50-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, hampered 10th, 7th of 15, 41l behind A Glass In Thyne (10-12) at Southwell 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Jan.
Eskimo Pie (IRE) 15-8 (11-4) Held up in touch, chased leader approaching 4 out, led soon after 2 out, ridden clear, won at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs in Feb beating Tufty Hopper (11-4) by 10l, 8 ran.
G V A Ireland (IRE) 7-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders in 5th, 4th after 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from next, 5th of 12, 11l behind What A Native (9-10) at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs hvy in Jan.
Robbo 25-1 (10-4) Behind, lost touch 10th, tailed off, 7th of 17, well behind Philson Run (11-6) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Prominent, outpaced briefly 3 out, hung left and weakened approaching last, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Moorlands Again (10-5) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Brave Spirit (FR) 10-1 (10-11) In touch when pulled up at the 17th in race won by Philson Run (11-6) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb, 17 ran.
King Bee (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Held up, headway 2nd, led 4th, driven out, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb beating Moulin Riche (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Trust Fund (IRE) 9-2fav (11-7) With leader, led and made most from 6th, pushed along and clear when fell 2 out in race won by Blunham Hill (10-1) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Feb, 8 ran.
World Wide Web (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Towards rear, headway 4 out, soon no extra, 3rd of 12, 27l behind Gunther McBride (11-8) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
