tracked leaders, not fluent 9th or when losing pace next, blundered 3 out, soon well held
held up, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 11th, hit next, ridden 2 out, went 3rd last, stayed on same pace
prominent, not fluent 3rd, ridden when not fluent 3 out, soon edged left and beaten, mistake and no extra next
held up, headway approaching 9th, weakened before 4 out
led, not fluent 10th, mistake 5 out and when headed 3 out, stayed on, no impression on winner from last
held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, 5 lengths 4th when blundered last, weakened flat
tracked leader, led 3 out, ran on well
tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 7th, outpaced 10th, not fluent 11th, well behind from 5 out, tailed off
Bold Sir Brian won a Listed chase at Sandown in December but has been less impressive in a couple of subsequent outings and has to give a lot of weight to his rivals here. McMurrough has a good strike rate over fences and is on a hat-trick after victories over this trip at Haydock and Newcastle while De Boitron had Gansey behind when runner-up in this 12 months ago and is 5lb lower now. His yard continues to struggle for winners however. Gansey's trainer Sue Smith also runs MR MOONSHINE and it may be worth taking a risk on the nine-year-old has he has a huge pull in the weights from when he finished fourth behind Mcmurrough at Haydock. An earlier second to Cape Tribulation in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby is smart form. Yes Tom has won over hurdles and fences here but is high enough in the weights at present.
Bold Sir Brian (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Held up behind, hit 6th, struggling 9th, not fluent 11th, soon lost touch, pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Always Right (11-2) at Kelso 2m 7f lst chs (1) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Yes Tom (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Led, headed before 2 out, soon weakened quickly, 6th of 7, 22l behind Shrapnel (11-8) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hdl gd.
McMurrough (IRE) 11-4fav (11-9) Pressed leader, led before 2 out, ridden and pressed approaching last, kept on flat, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs beating William Money (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Gansey (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Held up in touch, weakened from 4 out, pulled up, in a race won by Cloudy Too (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Mr Moonshine (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Mid-division on inside, chased leaders 17th to 24th (canal turn), behind when pulled up before 27th, in a race won by Auroras Encore (10-3) at Aintree 4m 3f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (1) gs, 40 ran.
De Boitron (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Led, hit 4 out, headed when mistake 2 out, mistake last, one pace, 4th of 9, 10l behind Prince Of Dreams (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Feb.
Bocciani (GER) 33-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, no impression 4 out, stayed on flat, not able to trouble leaders, 5th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Cedre Bleu (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Mar.
Stormin Exit (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Always behind, 8th of 9, well behind Nuts N Bolts (11-2) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) hvy in Feb.
