led, headed before and hit 1st, tracked leader, led again 8th, headed 11th, weakened from 3 out
in touch and keen, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division in 5th, went 3rd before 11th, jumped left 13th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on well
towards rear, headway to go in touch from 5 out, ridden before 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out
with leader, led froom 1st, headed 8th, remained close up, led again 11th, not fluent and pressed 2 out, headed before last, kept on
always towards rear
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along after 9th, weakened before 11th
Nonrunner
Nacarat, who won a Grade 1 at Aintree in April, bids to repeat last year's success in this but has 10lb more to carry and is probably taking on better opposition than 12 months ago. Diamond Harry won the Hennessy at Newbury on his reappearance last term but had his problems thereafter and this is his first start since. Nick Williams' eight-year-old still has plenty of scope but so does TIME FOR RUPERT. The latter had a genuine excuse when losing his unbeaten record over fences in the RSA Chase in March as he'd had an interrupted preparation and broke a blood vessel in the race itself. That said, Paul Webber's charge was still only beaten six lengths which speaks volumes about his ability and he looks well treated by the weights here as he beat subsequent National Hunt Chase winner Chicago Grey with any amount in hand over 3m2f at Cheltenham last December. Poquelin and Weird Al are both decent performers but probably better over shorter trips than this.
Nacarat (FR) 10-3 (11-10) Tracked leaders, headway to dispute 10th, led 6 out, headed after 4 out and soon struggling in 5th, left distant 4th after last, 4th of 8, 46l behind Follow The Plan (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gd in May.
Poquelin (FR) 11-10fav (11-10) Led, hit 3 out and headed, led again next, blundered last, held on bravely, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr beating Holmwood Legend (10-1) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Weird Al (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Chased leader to 4th, lost place and dropped to rear 6th, struggling 12th, lost touch and pulled up before 14th(water), in a race won by Long Run (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) gd in Mar, 13 ran.
Chicago Grey (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up in last, headway from 4 out, went 3rd after next, 3 lenghts off leader when mistake and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Balthazar King (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf, 6 ran.
Time For Rupert (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) In rear, pushed along 12th, reminders 15th, 9th after 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 6l behind Bostons Angel (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Acrai Rua (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 10th, lost place when hit 12th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Dusky Bob (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sep, 12 ran.
Chief Dan George (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 13th, no danger after, tailed off, 17th of 40, well behind Ballabriggs (11-0) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Diamond Harry 6-1 (10-0) Took keen hold, chased leader until 11th(water), went 2nd again 16th, led narrowly 17th, soon joined, hit 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on very gamely under pressure flat, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov beating Burton Port (10-1) by 1 1/4l, 18 ran.
