held up, headway 5th, under pressure before 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th when pulled up before last
fell 1st
chased clear leader, led 5th, mistake 3 out, soon headed, weakened approaching last
held up, not fluent 1st, mistake 4th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, hit 1st, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
led, soon clear, mistake 3rd, came back to field 4th, headed next, weakened after 6th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, slightly hampered 2 out, chased winner last, no impression
always behind
held up well in rear, pushed along 6th, not clear run well before 3 out, some headway soon after, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway 4th, blundered 3 out, jumped left when mistake 2 out, weakened last
held up, not fluent 6th, soon behind, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway when mistake 6th, switched right after 3 out, not fluent last, weakened flat
held up, headway 4th, mistake next, led after 3 out, clear approaching last, stayed on strongly
Captain Cee Bee had a hard race at Cheltenham so we're going to take him on with the progressive Greenbridge. Blue Bajan should also give a good account of himself. Khyber Kym failed to live up to high expectations at Cheltenham but he does have the ability to win this race if he can reproduce the form that he showed on debut. Pigeon Island shared favouritism with Captain Cee Bee at Cheltenham but was another that failed to run his race; he, too, is capable of better and this track will suit. Songe and Pierrot Lunaire are respected but will do well to better their elders and Blue Bajan and Salford City could pose the selection more problems as this track should play to the strengths of the former Flat racers. Captain Cee Bee was having his first run since November when winning last month so he may well be able to go to the well again this afternoon. He will relish the faster conditions and is unbeaten over hurdles; make no mistake, he is very good. However, the hard race and the fact that he has to concede 8lbs to a rapidly progressive horse in Greenbridge make him worth taking on this afternoon. The selection has taken some time to get his act together over hurdles and his form is some way below that of the best on offer but he looked very, very good when winning at Kempton last time, even allowing for his market rival disappointing. His style of racing should be ideally suited to Aintree and Greenbridge may just spring a surprise.
Captain Cee Bee (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden after 2 out, led flat, edged left, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar beating Binocular (10-13) by 2l, 22 ran.
Pigeon Island 8-1co-fav (11-7) Struggling 5th, always towards rear, 11th of 22, 40l behind Captain Cee Bee (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Salford City (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd, led before 3 out, headed approaching last, no impression and dropped to 3rd near finish, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Aitmatov (11-10) at Down Royal 2m hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov.
Khyber Kim 17-2 (11-7) Mid-division, hit 2nd, headway after 4th, effort 2 out, weakened, 10th of 22, 23l behind Captain Cee Bee (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Alsadaa (USA) 7-1 (11-9) Led, ridden, headed after 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 22l behind Pigeon Island (11-9) at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb.
Marsam (IRE) 9-4fav (11-11) Led, hit 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, not quicken, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Cnoc Moy (10-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Blue Bajan (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, hit 1st and 4th, headway after 3 out, stayed on, not reach leaders, 6th of 22, 15l behind Captain Cee Bee (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Frank Crow 22-1 (11-6) Towards rear, headway and effort after 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 13, 18l behind Ignotus (11-2) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Mar.
Gloucester 9-1 (11-11) In touch, effort 3 out, ridden and one pace from next, 8th of 17, 19l behind Little Bob (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Greenbridge (IRE) 6-5 (10-9) Tracked leader from 3rd, led after 4 out, soon clear and easily, won at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Procas de Thaix (11-6) by 40l, 8 ran.
Sir Arthur (IRE) 10-3 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden and chasing winner, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Palais Tiff (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) frm in Aug.
Songe (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Keen in touch, effort approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 9l behind Celestial Halo (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Lazy Darren 10-3 (10-13) Close up, headway 4 out, led next, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Newcastle 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Riguez Dancer (10-13) by 3l, 14 ran.
Pierrot Lunaire (USA) 10-3 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led before 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Binocular (11-5) at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb.
