held up in rear, headway when mistake 9th, 6th and outpaced approaching 2 out (usual 3 out), kept on same pace, never on terms
tracked leaders, chased leading pair before 2 out (usual 3 out), kept on same pace, lost place last, weakened flat
tracked leaders, mistake 8th, outpaced before next, weakened approaching 2 out (usual 3 out)
tracked leaders on outside, mistake 5th, challenged after 9th, ridden on long run between last 2, kept on same pace, 3rd and held flat
with leaders, lost place after 9th, weakening when mistake 2 out (usual 3 out)
mid-division, hit 5th, mistake 8th, outpaced next, ridden and rallied approaching bypassed 2 out, went 3rd last, stayed on and every chance flat, held near finish
mid-division on inside, reminders after 7th, weakened before 2 out (usual 3 out), soon pulled up
pressed leader, led narrowly 7th, made rest, ridden on long run between last 2, hard pressed flat, held on near finish
led, headed narrowly 7th, lost place before 2 out (usual 3 out), soon weakened
behind, mistake 2nd, reminders after 6th, struggling 8th, never dangerous
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Habbie Simpson and Cucumber Run have both been chasing, as has Tornado Bob, and all three are probably worth opposing back over the smaller obstacles in a competitive-looking handicap. Russian War won this 12 months ago but has been woefully out of form since and is 10lb higher this year, while the handicapper looks to have got to Corkage. American Trilogy easily won a charity race at Aintree last week under Mick Kinane but this is a much bigger ask and Cockney Trucker's consistency means he gets very little respite from the assessor. ARCTIC COURT made all to win a novices' handicap over 3m1f at this meeting last year and looked back to his best when just touched off over 2m at Newcastle last month. He gets the nod ahead of recent 3m winner Cloudy Too.
Russian War (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Behind, headway under pressure into mid-division before 2 out, never nearer, 9th of 24, 23l behind Cape Tribulation (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Cockney Trucker (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders between last 2, kept on under pressure flat, never reached leaders, 5th of 28, 7l behind Son Of Flicka (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Corkage (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place after 4 out, weakened from next, 14th of 21, well behind Cape Tribulation (11-12) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs.
Tornado Bob (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Prominent, challenged after 3 out, every chance aproaching last, weakened flat, 11th of 24, 16l behind Attaglance (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (4yo+) (2) gd in Mar.
Cloudy Too (IRE) 7-2fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, clear from next, stayed on strongly, ridden after last, eased towards finish, won at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar beating Rudemeister (11-1) by 12l, 10 ran.
American Trilogy (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Behind, outpaced when switched left 3 out, headway under pressure before next, kept on same pace, no impression with leaders, 5th of 19, 15l behind Swincombe Flame (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Jan.
Habbie Simpson 11-10fav (11-0) Chased leading pair, chased winner approaching 2nd, went right and hit 12th, went right and led 2 out, went right again and headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Mush Mir (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (4) gd.
Cucumber Run (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Wandered 1st, led and tended to jump left, slow jump and headed 4 out, soon lost place, weakened next, 17th of 20, well behind Hunt Ball (12-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd in Mar.
Arctic Court (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) With winner, ridden and about 5 lengths down before last, every chance last 50 yards, just held, 2nd of 9, ns behind Red Merlin (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Little Hercules (IRE) 17-2 (11-4) Held up mid-division, outpaced 6th, effort 3 out, no impression, 4th of 11, 15l behind Timesawastin (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Wyse Hill Teabags 3-1fav (11-6) In touch, pushed along after 5th, lost place before next, behind 8th, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Featherbed Lane (10-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Stopped Out 40-1 (11-12) Tracked winner, pushed along and lost place after 4 out, last of 11, 43l behind Timesawastin (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
