led to 7th, led again 9th, pressed and mistake 4 out, soon headed, led 3 out, ridden and headed last, rallied to regain lead towards finish
tracked leaders, pushed along before 4 out to chase leading pair, ridden before 2 out, one pace and no impression
in rear, headway before 10th, soon pushed along, outpaced 5 out, stayed on from before 2 out, weakened before last
held up in touch, headway before 5 out, led after 4 out, headed 3 out, led again last, kept on and headed towards finish
with leader, led 7th, headed 9th, weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden before 2 out, one pace
The veteran Morgan Be jumps and stays well and isn't overburdened despite a moderate effort in the Eider Chase at Newcastle. He had won there on his previous start where he had today's rival Rolecarr 6l behind and should confirm that form. Merigo, who won the Scottish National here in 2010 and was narrowly beaten a year ago, is no doubt warming up for another crack while Et Maintenant found 2m4f too short at Carlisle after battling to victory at Newcastle. BISHOPS HEIR has little experience over fences but looked one to follow when landing a novice chase over 2m4f here last month and is taken to follow up.
Merigo (FR) 100-1 (10-7) Always behind, 12th of 15, 40l behind Calgary Bay (11-11) at Doncaster 3m Listed Handicap Chase (0-155) (5yo+) (1) gs in Jan.
Rolecarr (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, went 3rd from 13th, chased winner from 5 out, stayed on from last, always held, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Helpston (11-7) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (2) gs in Feb.
Morgan Be 9-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear on outer, not fluent 7th, headway 20th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 30l behind Portrait King (11-8) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Feb.
Bishops Heir 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leader until 5th, mistake 5 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led before last, stayed on well, won at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs (4) sft in Feb beating Carrickboy (11-7) by 10l, 5 ran.
Heez A Steel (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Beamazed (11-4) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Et Maintenant (FR) 9-2 (11-11) Towards rear, headway 2 out, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Teenando (9-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
