held up, ridden and effort 18th, weakened 3 out, blundered 2 out, pulled up before last
held up last, ridden and headway to chase leader 18th, challenged to lead approaching 3 out, kept on from last, all out
pulled early and held up towards rear, headway 14th, led 18th, headed approaching 3 out, rallied and every chance when not fluent last, no extra flat
prominent until stumbled and fell 15th
chased leader, ridden and lost place 13th, rallied 18th, no impression after
led, mistake 1st, headed 18th, weakened 4 out, mistake 2 out
mid-division, headway to chase leader 9th, led briefly approaching 18th, rallied to chase leader 2 out, stayed on well to go 2nd from last
Special Conquest is one that relishes a test of stamina as exemplified by his Haydock performance where he gamely battled on having looked a forlorn hope with a circuit to travel. This sharp circuit tends to suit those that have the abilty to force the pace. His Haydock victory may have been hard work but the second has not been disgraced in similiar contests since. Petite Margot is an exposed mare who runs her race but tends to find one or two too good in recent times while Iris De Balme was backed at fancy prices at Folkestone last time but appeared a lucky winner as the rider of the second appeared to give his mount too much to do. In what is likely to turn into a slog, Special Conquest is the selection.
Maletton (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Prominent, ridden 17th, weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Irish Raptor (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan, 9 ran.
Petite Margot 4-1 (11-0) Chased winner throughout, reminder after 16th, mistake next, one pace and no impression after 2 out, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Arnold Layne (11-8) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Iris De Balme (FR) 11-1 (10-5) Held up, steady headway 17th, going well when led approaching 2 out, pushed out, won at Folkestone 3m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb beating Topless (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 16th, weakened 19th, 4th of 8, 33l behind Mokum (10-11) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Special Conquest 16-1 (10-7) Led to 6th, chased leader, led again 8th, headed 3 out, rallied 2 out, led last, all out, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Hidden Bounty (10-13) by 1l, 8 ran.
Georges Boy (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Made all, jumped right 13th, mistake 3 out, ridden 2 out, ran on gamely, won at Plumpton 3m 2f amt hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Feb beating Celebrity Call (10-7) by 8l, 7 ran.
Ironside (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Led, awkward jump 1st and 2nd, headed, led again 18th, ridden after 3 out, soon headed and weakened, 6th of 9, 28l behind Iris De Balme (10-5) at Folkestone 3m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
