chased leaders, led 11th, headed 16th, weakened after next
towards rear, jumped right and mistake 1st, behind when badly hampered 13th, stayed on well from 2 out, went 4th towards finish
in rear, hampered 1st, not fluent 9th, pushed along after 10th, some headway when hampered 4 out, behind after until plugged on flat, no chance
chased leaders, mistake 1st, lost place when not fluent 6th, towards rear when fell 13th
in rear, last after 12th, ridden and outpaced 18th, good headway after 3 out, led next, clear last, stayed on strongly
in touch in mid-division, closed 14th, 5th when blundered badly 4 out, no extra from 2 out
disputed lead until after 10th, lost place before 13th, mistake 16th, well beaten when blundered badly 3 out
held up in rear, mistake 1st, hit 16th and 17th, closed next, weakened after 3 out, no chance when awkward and unseated rider 2 out
held up, mid-division when fell 4 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 10th or 12th, headway 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, many mistakes, headway after 3 out, no impression, weakened before last
chased leaders, hampered 4 out, lost place before next, well beaten when hampered 2 out
mid-division, in touch when mistake 9th, hit 13th, headway from 3 out, 3rd last, stayed on flat, no impression on winner, went 2nd close home
towards rear from 10th, well behind when pulled up before 2 out
disputed lead until 11th, led again 16th, headed next, hit 4 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace, lost 2nd close home
handy, effort 18th, close 2nd when fell 4 out
towards rear, not fluent 3rd, mid-division after 12th, struggling 4 out, well beaten when jumped left next, pulled up before 2 out
held up, just about in touch 18th, not fluent next, soon weakened
held up, ridden and struggling from 13th, behind 15th, pulled up before 17th
prominent, took keen hold, led 17th, clear briefly from 3 out, headed next, no extra flat
chased leaders, left 3rd 4 out, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, lost place 13th, not fluent 4 out, soon switched right and closed, chasing leaders 3 out, no extra last
NonRunner
Another impossible-looking handicap to end proceedings, though it's probably to have an experienced amateur on your side. Jamie Codd won the National Hunt Chase on Cause Of Causes last year and then partnered The Package to victory in this for David Pipe. Derek O'Connor could be on for the double this year having already won at The Festival riding for JP McManus and Jonjo O'Neill. He partners Upswing, who was a good second to Sausalito Sunrise here in November and wisely pulled up in bottomless ground in the Welsh National on his latest start. Patrick Mullins rides the hat-trick seeking Sambremont for his father and The Giant Bolster has a good record around here and would have an excellent chance on past form. Plenty of others have winning form at the track including Perfect Candidate, Mon Parrain, A Good Skin and Midnight Prayer and the Pipe yard is strongly represented with a quarter headed by the improving Doctor Harper. SILVERGROVE has got his act together and stayed on strongly to beat A Good Skin at Kempton last time. He would have won an amateurs' race under Tom David at Sandown in December had his tack not broken and compensation awaits for his rider here.
Mon Parrain (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Chased clear leader (winner), outpaced after 4 out, went 3rd and stayed on same pace before 2 out, no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 18 3/4l behind Aachen (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Knock House (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, jumped left 1st, slow 4th, fell 12th, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up on outside, headway 12th, went 2nd after 16th, left in lead next, pressed from 2 out until last, drew clear flat, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Jan beating Beg To Differ (11-6) by 8l, 8 ran.
The Job Is Right 12-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders on inner, slight mistake 6th and mistake 7th, 6th halfway, 7th and mistake 2 out, under pressure and kept on one pace to go 4th run-in, 4th of 18, 10 3/4l behind My Murphy (10-5) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Cause Of Causes (USA) 14-1 (11-4) Pushed along from early, soon raced in 5th, no impression 6th, 5th of 6, 24 3/4l behind Days Hotel (11-4) at Naas 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Midnight Prayer Evens (11-12) In touch, went 2nd before 5th, about 20 lengths down when left in lead and alone from 3 out, won at Exeter 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb
Splash of Ginge 16-1 (11-6) Led until after 2nd, led again 4th, headed 12th, struggling in 2nd when blundered 4 out, jumped slowly 2 out, soon under pressure, stayed on to go remote 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, dist behind Houblon Des Obeaux (11-0) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
Doctor Harper (IRE) 8-11fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, closed 4 out, led going well next, clear flat, easily, won at Leicester 2m (3) sft in Jan beating Deep Trouble (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 3 ran.
Lost Legend (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Mid-division, chased leaders when slightly hampered 8th, lost place 3 out (usual 4 out), 5th 2 out (usual 3 out), plugged on to take remote 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 32 1/4l behind Annacotty (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Upswing (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, hanging left and struggling before 8th, pulled up after 11th, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Sambremont (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, 6-lengths behind halfway, pushed along and 12-lengths behind 4 out, closer 3 out and mistake, ridden and no impression before 2 out where left 2nd, stayed on to press leader run-in and led close home, won at Navan 2m 1f (1) hvy in Feb beating Ttebbob (11-7) by 1l, 3 ran.
The Giant Bolster 9-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 9th, under pressure 6 out, rallied to chase easy winner approaching 2 out, never able to challenge, 2nd of 7, 28l behind Houblon Des Obeaux (11-0) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
A Good Skin (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, not much room 11th, headway on outside next, went 2nd 14th, held from before last, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Silvergrove (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Capard King (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked front pair, went 2nd after 9th, close up when awkward jump 4 out, ridden after next, lost place 2 out, no impression before last, 3rd of 4, 20l behind Kylemore Lough (11-8) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Silvergrove 3-1fav (11-5) Made all, ridden and asserted before last, stayed on well, won at Kempton 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb beating A Good Skin (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Top Wood (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Always prominent, led after 2nd, headed 5th, led again 11th, made rest, left 3 lengths clear 3 out, drew clear from next, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Foundry Square (10-13) by 16l, 9 ran.
Alternatif (FR) 9-4fav (11-10) Held up in touch, closed 11th, hampered 3 out, challenged next, every chance when mistake last, weakened flat, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 8, 20 1/4l behind Perfect Candidate (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Grandads Horse 13-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden and every chance before last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Saint Are (11-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Ericht (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Prominent, jumped left throughout, led 3rd, driven when challenged 2 out, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Cernunnos (11-12) by 5l, 11 ran.
Amigo (FR) 2-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden after next, weakened before last, 4th of 5, 29 1/2l behind Speed Master (11-2) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in May.
Corrin Wood (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Led to 5th, tracked leader, weakened from 6 out and pulled up, at Kelso 3m 2f (2) hvy in Feb.
Indian Castle (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden and lost place 14th, well beaten 2 out, plugged on, 5th of 8, 32 1/4l behind Perfect Candidate (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Your Busy (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Led, slight mistake and headed 2nd, 4th halfway, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 4 out, at Cork 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Mar.
Waldorf Salad 66-1 (11-6) Soon in mid-division, struggling 18th, behind next, pulled up before 21st, at Cheltenham 4m lst (1) gs in Mar.
