held up in touch, headway 8th, led 2 out, soon headed, kept on one pace
chased leaders, headway and effort approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, pushed along 4 out, soon ridden and no impression
towards rear, reminders 6th, pushed along 8th, headway under pressure 2 out, kept on flat
in touch, blundered badly and lost place 2nd, weakened halfway, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
in touch, lost place 5th, weakened halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-divison, headway 4 out, led after 2 out, soon clear
towards rear, lost touch halfway
led, mistake 1st, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened
tracked leaders, weakened quickly after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, headway 8th, ridden and effort approaching 3 out, one pace when mistake last
towards rear, never dangerous
in touch, mistake 5th, weakened after 7th
St Pirran looks to hold a solid chance of following up his Cheltenham Festival success and gets our vote ahead of the runner-up there, Ground Ball, Tidour, Jurado Express and Duke Of Buckingham. The Paul Nicholls-trained selection has been raised 11 pounds for his Grand Annual win and is now four pounds worse off at the weights with Ground Ball for the two-and-a-half lengths that he beat him that day. However, he looked to have a little in hand, having travelled well throughout the race under Ruby Walsh, and looks set to go well again. Old Marsh, who was sixth in the same race, is now 14lbs better off with the selection for the near-26 lengths that he was beaten by him at Cheltenham, so, all things being equal, will have to go some to gain his revenge. Duke Of Buckingham comes into this race on an upward curve, having won his last three races. He handles a sharp track and good going very well so is entitled to plenty of respect in this race. Martin Pipe's Golden Alpha won this race last year from a 13lb lower mark than today and, while that gives him a bit to do, he looked to be coming to hand last time when second at Haydock, so do not rule out a respectable showing. Bleu Superbe was pulled up in this race last year and has 11 lengths to find on Golden Alpha based on their Haydock runs, while Ei Ei has run some gallant races in defeat this season but will need a career-best effort to win today. However Tidour was in the process of running a very good race when falling in the Arkle Chase last time, so do not be surprised if he goes well. Latalomne was well behind St Pirran at Cheltenham but Jurado Express has an 18 pounds turnaround at the weights for the eased-down 12 lengths he finished behind Ground Ball on good to yielding going at Thurles in January, and that was his first run for eight months. He too could go well, as could Simply Gifted, who unseated rider at the second fence in the Grand Annual, but who is reasonably weighted on the best of his form. In conclusion, then, St Pirran is taken to follow up his Festival win.
