held up in rear, headway 5 out, went 3rd after 2 out, just over 2 lengths down flat, stayed on well towards finish
prominent, ridden after 17th, weakened from 3 out
mid-division, mistake 1st, towards rear when hit 10th, well behind when pulled up after 6 out
led before 1st, headed after 7th, stayed close up, every chance before 5 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
held up, weakened approaching 5 out, pulled up after 4 out
held up towards rear, mid-division from 6th, closed 14th, ridden 4 out, no extra last
tracked leaders, lost place from 4th, blundered badly 13th, soon behind, pulled up before 16th
held up in rear, mistakes 2nd, 8th and 9th, hit 10th, mistake 13th, soon behind, pulled up before 6 out
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, headway after 17th, soon outpaced, no impression before 5 out
mid-division, headway 6th, went 2nd 13th, hit 16th, led 5 out, headed 3 out, no extra flat
prominent, challenged 4 out, led 3 out, edged left before next, soon headed, 1 length down towards finish, stayed on close home
prominent, led after 7th, headed 5 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
in touch, outpaced approaching 5 out, no impression from 3 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd or 9th, ridden in mid-division 14th, weakened approaching 5 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders on inside, challenged 4 out, led after 2 out, all out
chased leaders, blundered badly and lost place 8th, well behind 15th, soon pulled up
led until before 1st, lost place when mistake 6th, last 11th, tailed off 14th, soon pulled up
in touch, not fluent 11th, lost place before 14th, tailed off 16th, soon pulled up
not always fluent towards rear, tailed off 15th, soon pulled up
held up, mistake 7th, headway 15th, went 4th before last, no extra final 100 yards
A typically competitive renewal of this Grade 3 handicap but Tidal Bay's inclusion means that a number of these will be forced to carry more than their allotted weight. Paul Nicholls' 12-year-old is a very classy chaser and won the Lexus Chase on this day 12 months ago. He's also won a bet365 Gold Cup under a big weight, though the ground wasn't as heavy as it will be today. Highland Lodge was fourth in the Hennessy having been prominent throughout and should go well again but Hey Big Spender seems to prefer smaller field nowadays and may struggle to confirm Newcastle running with Vintage Star under a penalty. Wyck Hill is better than he's shown so far this season and Goonyella is unexposed under Rules but this looks a tough ask for Carlisle scorer Knock A Hand and last year's second, Teaforthree, hasn't raced since his third in the Grand National in April. He was also well behind WELL REFRESHED at Haydock in February and we're looking no further than Gary Moore's thorough stayer today as he has conditions in his favour and looked to be on the way back at Sandown three weeks ago when the going was faster than ideal.
Tidal Bay (IRE) 17-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, slow 12th, soon beaten, 5th of 8, 30l behind Cue Card (11-7) at Haydock 3m 1f chs G1 (1) sft in Nov.
Teaforthree (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Always prominent, led 22nd (bechers), headed 5 out, led again 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, kept on same pace flat, well held when lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 40, 9l behind Auroras Encore (10-3) at Aintree 4m 3f (1) gs in Apr.
Hey Big Spender (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Mid-division, in touch 9th, went 2nd at 13th, squeezed through between rivals to lead approaching 4 out, ridden 2 out, hard pressed flat, held on gamely towards finish, won at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Nov beating Vintage Star (11-1) by nk, 9 ran.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Led until 5th, pressed leader, led again 10th until 4 out, chased leader until next, driven and no extra in 4th approaching next, 4th of 21, 14l behind Triolo D'Alene (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Goulanes (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Mid-division, hampered 11th, reminders before 4 out, soon behind, 10th of 13, 37l behind Alvarado (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Merry King (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear of mid-division, keeping on when blundered 2 out, hung badly left soon after, plugged on to modest 5th flat, 5th of 21, 18l behind Triolo D'Alene (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Wyck Hill (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, towards rear when blundered 9th, stayed on from last, no impression, 9th of 22, 22l behind Chance Du Roy (10-6) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) sft.
Well Refreshed 25-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pecked badly 9th, headway 15th, blundered stumbled badly and lost place next, renewed effort when blundered badly 19th, chased leaders before 3 out, 2nd before mistake next, one pace into 3rd before last, 3rd of 13, 2 1/4l behind There's No Panic (10-7) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd.
Goonyella (IRE) 5-1fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden in 4th 3 out, soon no impression on leaders, left 5th at last, 5th of 20, 7l behind Cootamundra (10-2) at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-150 in Nov.
Vintage Star (IRE) 9-4fav (11-1) In touch on outside, mistake 5th, mistake and reminder 9th, challenged on outside before 4 out, switched inside and ridden approaching 2 out, switched right and every chance last, kept on flat, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Hey Big Spender (11-4) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Nov.
Hawkes Point 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, joined winner on outside 12th, ridden and effort 3 out, lost 2nd next, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair flat, lost 3rd final strides, 4th of 8, 7l behind De La Bech (10-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Knock A Hand (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Made all, ridden and stayed on strongly flat, unchallenged, won at Carlisle 2m 5f (3) hvy beating Avoca Promise (10-13) by 12l, 3 ran.
Amigo (FR) 25-1 (11-11) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened before next, 14th of 21, well behind Mickie (11-3) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Nov.
Chartreux (FR) 33-1 (10-5) Prominent, pecked 1st, lost place after 3rd, struggling 11th, tailed off, 15th of 22, well behind Chance Du Roy (10-6) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) sft.
Mountainous (IRE) 5-2fav (10-13) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, 4th and one pace 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd final strides, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 8, 7l behind De La Bech (10-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Tour Des Champs (FR) 9-2fav (10-1) In touch on inside, outpaced 4 out, ridden and kept on under pressure approaching 2 out, never reached leaders, 6th of 13, 11l behind Alvarado (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Ace High 5-1 (11-12) Led, headed approaching 5th, remained prominent, led again 5 out, headed 3 out, soon rallied, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Nuts N Bolts (11-11) at Haydock 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Red Rocco (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, reminders before 10th, outpaced 5 out, rallied after next, effort 2 out, kept on under pressure to go 2nd closing stages, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Nuts N Bolts (11-11) at Haydock 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Harouet (FR) 15-2 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, went left 6th, ridden and lost 3rd 11th, weakened next, mistake 13th, 6th of 7, 22l behind Tutchec (10-10) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
One In A Milan (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, behind and reminder 9th, struggling 14th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Pickamus (11-12) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 9 ran.
