towards rearm headway after 10th, mistake 14th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden and one pace after 2 out
held up behind, headway into mid-division when hit 7th, tracked leaders before 4 out, driven to chase leader between last 2, hit last, ridden and ran on to lead final strides
tracked leaders, mistake 12th, lost place 14th, soon behind, weakened 4 out, pulled up
held up in rear, headway on outside 14th, tracked leaders 4 out, led 2 out, hit last, soon ridden, hard pressed flat, kept on, headed final strides
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 13th, led before 4 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, well held when mistake last
mistake 4th, behind most of way, lost struggling 11th, tailed off 5 out, soon pulled up
held up, always towards rear
tracked leader to 13th, outpaced 4 out, ridden and weakened from next
mid-division, outpaced before 4 out, never on terms
mid-division, tracked leaders 10th, effort after 4 out, one pace 2 out, weakened last
made most to before 4 out, kept on and every chance until ridden and one pace before last
tracked leaders, not fluent when lost place 14th, weakened 4 out
Beware The Bear’s winning run came to end in last month’s National Hunt Chase and he will need to be a smart performer to defy a mark of 148 in this. A similar comment applies to Label Des Obeaux and Laurium has been well beaten when tried in this grade before. Minella On Line was put 11lb for winning easily at Plumpton in a race in which only three finished but Keltus has been taking a more leisurely stroll up the ratings and has every chance on his latest second off this mark at Cheltenham. DELUSIONOFGRANDEUR is a no-nonsense novice who jumps and stays. His only failure so far came in a Grade 2 and he looks well treated on an earlier defeat of the 136-rated Vintage Clouds at Catterick. Irish raider No No Mac is one of only two previous course winners and also has the form to get involved.
Beware The Bear (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Mid-division on inside, mistake and rider lost irons briefly 5th, lost place and towards rear after, well beaten 3 out, 7th of 18, 26 3/4l behind Tiger Roll (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m (1) gs in Mar.
Label Des Obeaux (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Mid-division, pushed along 5 out, never reached leaders, weakened from 3 out, 11th of 23, dist behind Un Temps Pour Tout (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Laurium Evensfav (11-5) Made all, clear before 3 out, kept on strongly, won at Kempton 3m (4) gd in Apr beating Bivouac (11-5) by 13l, 5 ran.
Calett Mad (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Held up, always in rear, struggling 5 out, lost touch from next, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Might Bite (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gd in Apr.
Final Nudge (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Prominent, mistake 20th, every chance when fell 4 out, at Uttoxeter 4m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Minella On Line (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Mistake 1st, tracked leaders, bumped 3rd, led after next, clear 14th, hit 3 out, went left next, virtually pulled up run-in, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Royals And Rebels (10-3) by 35l, 5 ran.
Keltus (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 4th, challenged 16th, not fluent 4 out, 3 lengths down last, closed and every chance flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Coologue (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Delusionofgrandeur (IRE) 4-9fav (11-8) Made all, left clear from 6 out, easily, won at Wetherby 3m (3) gd in Mar beating I Know The Code (10-12) by dist, 4 ran.
No No Mac (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leader to 4 out, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Silver Tassie (11-4) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Bells 'n' Banjos (IRE) 80-1 (11-6) Just about in touch in mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, no real impression after and weakened before 2 out, 8th of 18, 30 3/4l behind Tiger Roll (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m (1) gs in Mar.
I Just Know (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, led 9th, headed before 13th, pushed along before next, mistake 14th, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Baby Bach (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden and some progress 2 out, 8th at last, no impression, 6th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Anseanachai Cliste (9-10) at Downpatrick 3m 5f hcp gd in Mar.
