mid-division, not much room on inside after 8th, plugged on from 3 out, never any chance with leaders
led until approaching 5th, led again 6th, headed 8th, weakened last
held up towards rear, headway on outside after 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, steady headway from 7th, hit 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, unable to challenge winner, one pace when lost 2nd towards finish
held up in rear, blundered 7th, plugged on approaching last, never involved
tracked leaders, led 8th until 3 out, 4th and beaten last, one pace and no impression flat
held up in touch, lost place 7th, soon in rear
held up in rear, jumped left 1st, blundered 3 out, mistake next, switched left and headway approaching last where not fluent, no impression
held up in touch on outside, hit 1st, lost place after 4 out, behind when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened and eased before last
held up in touch, lost place after 4th, pushed along from 8th, brief effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, hit 5th and lost place, not fluent 8th, soon pushed along, good headway approaching last, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, unable to reach winner
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, challenged 4 out, led next, 4 lengths clear when not fluent last, driven out
prominent, led before 5th, headed next, lost place 8th, well beaten 4 out
soon in touch, driven after 4 out, edged left before next, no extra approaching last
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4th, ridden and struggling approaching 6th, pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
Oiseau De Nuit never seems to run a bad race and is only a pound higher than when winning this last year. Colin Tizzard's veteran can't be ignored but was struggling when falling in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in which CLARET CLOAK came out best of the UK-trained runners. Emma Lavelle's charge was having just his fourth start over fences that day so there should be more to come and a 4ln rise in the weights is justified. He should again beat Dare Me. Anquetta, Changing The Guard and Astracad. Kings Grey was fourth last year but is only a pound better off with Oiseau de Nuit while Turn Over Sivola is still seeking a first victory over the larger obstacles but continues to climb the weights. However, he's favourably treated on Doncaster running with the hat-trick-seeking Sound Investment and it would be no surprise to see him in the frame again. Arnaud almost pulled off a shock in a Grade 2 novice event at Doncaster last time but the handicapper has taken no chances with him here.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 28-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakening when fell next, in a race won by Savello (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Arnaud (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Led, clear before 2 out, ridden before last, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Valdez (11-4) at Doncaster 2m nov chs G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Off The Ground (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, in touch 8th (water), ridden after 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 12, 48l behind Taquin Du Seuil (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Claret Cloak (IRE) 6-1fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, 1 length down when blundered next, ridden and kept on flat, held when lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 23, 1 1/2l behind Savello (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Dare Me (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace, never pace to threaten leaders, 7th of 23, 18l behind Savello (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Astracad (FR) 22-1 (11-1) Led to 2nd, in touch, blundered 5th, lost place 10th, behind when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Savello (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Sound Investment (IRE) 4-11fav (11-7) Raced keenly and jumped well in the main, made all, pecked 3rd, not quite fluent 8th and next, blundered badly 4 out, soon recovered, in command when went left 2 out, very easily, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m nov chs (3) gs in Mar beating Witness In Court (11-7) by 13l, 3 ran.
Changing The Guard 6-1 (11-12) Led, not fluent 1st, jumped left and not fluent next, clear 5th, mistake 8th, headed approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace last, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Sonofagun (9-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Mar.
Anquetta (IRE) 50-1 (10-8) Tracked clear leader after 4th, effort and close up in 3rd when mistake 2 out, lost place approaching last, weakened flat, 10th of 23, 23l behind Savello (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Kings Grey (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, went prominent 5th, driven after 3 out, 4th and one pace 2 out, no extra before last, 4th of 9, 18l behind Doeslessthanme (11-1) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Mar.
Anay Turge (FR) 33-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 18th of 28, 26l behind Lac Fontana (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Turn Over Sivola (FR) 3-1fav (10-11) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd next, challenged going well 3 out, led before next, soon ridden, headed last, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Doeslessthanme (11-1) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Mar.
Parsnip Pete 10-3fav (11-11) Held up in rear, pecked 1st, mistake 6th, headway when mistake 4 out, no extra before last, 6th of 8, 12l behind Sonofagun (9-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Mar.
Sew On Target (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, lost place 10th, behind 3 out, 16th of 23, well behind Ballynagour (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) Mid-division, mistake and lost place 1st, not fluent and last next, well behind 4th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Poole Master (10-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Last Shot (FR) 11-2 (11-1) Pressed leader until before 4th, stayed 2nd, led before 4 out, 1 length up when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Sonofagun (9-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Mar, 8 ran.
Bullet Street (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway on inside before 6th, mistake 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Noche De Reyes (11-3) at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gd in Mar.
