rear of mid-division, pushed along 13th, struggling 19th, last next, soon pulled up
mid-division, not fluent 4th, slow 10th, closed 14th, mistake 27th, outpaced when not fluent 4 out, closed before last, no impression, went 4th flat
held up in rear, not always fluent, headway 25th, not fluent 4 out, closed before last, went 3rd final 150 yards, kept on, no impression on winner
chased winner until 7th, stayed handy, pushed along after 24th, soon lost place, behind from 27th
held up towards rear, pecked 4th, some headway 12th, mistake 16th, dropped to last 26th, remote 6th from 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd from 7th, ridden last, no impression on winner final 150 yards, kept on
chased leaders, close 3rd 2 out, edged right and weakened into 5th flat
always behind, pulled up before last
made all, clear until 4th, stayed on well, drawing clear final 150 yards
EASYSLAND beat dual Grand National winner Tiger Roll by 17 lengths in the big race over these fences at The Festival in March. The runner-up is now 15lb better off and has had a run on the Flat to blow away the cobwebs but David Cottin’s six-year-old has now won his last eight completed starts and should score again if putting in a clear round. Potters Corner is a potential fly-in-the-ointment as he’s getting plenty of weight from the likely market principals and won both the Midlands Grand National and the Welsh Grand National last year so will be staying on when others have cried enough. Cottin’s other runner, Vino Royale, and Beau Du Brizais could have place claims if one or other of the market leaders falter.
Tiger Roll (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Slowly away, pushed along early and detached, pushed along again halfway, some headway in moderate 7th 2f out, 6th 1f out, no extra, 6th of 9, 29 1/4l behind Ilmig (9-7) at Navan 1m 6f mdn sft in Oct.
Easysland (FR) 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 20th, made rest, ridden before last, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) sft in Mar beating Tiger Roll (11-4) by 17l, 14 ran.
Potters Corner (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, led 3 out, driven out, won at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) hvy in Dec beating Truckers Lodge (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 17 ran.
Little Bruce (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, dist behind Sultans Pride (10-8) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Kings Temptation 7-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, chased leader until 11th, mistake and lost place next, blundered 13th, pulled up before 14th, at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Beau Du Brizais (FR) 5-2 (11-0) Tracked winner, ridden 3 out, every chance next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 3, 3l behind Step Back (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Vivas (FR) 33-1 (10-0) Towards rear, not fluent 4th, pushed along after 9th, ridden and lost ground 12th, pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Vino Royale (FR) (11-0) 2nd of 10, 5l behind Broughton (11-0) at Merano 3m 6f hvy in Sep.
Kingswell Theatre 100-1 (11-4) Tracked leader to 16th, in touch until weakened 22nd, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) sft in Mar.
