jumped left, never travelled and soon pushed along, mistake and ridden 3rd, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
confidently ridden and held up in rear, smooth headway approaching 15th, 2nd before 3 out, led on bit 2 out, hard held
led until approaching 3rd, chased leader until lost place 13th, weakened before 17th, poor 7th when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway before 14th, chased leaders next, driven into 3rd at the last, stayed on same pace run-in
chased leaders on inside, lost place and struggling towards rear 14th, behind when blundered 17th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, steady headway 15th, pushed along in 6th before 4 out, soon no extra
chased leaders, lost place before 14th, tailed off 16th, pulled up before 4 out
never travelled, towards rear, ridden along 3rd, tailed off when blundered 12th, mistake 17th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders on outside, reminder before 9th, pushed along before 14th, weakened before 16th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, 2nd 13th, led briefly before 4 out, every chance 4 out, lost 2nd before next, chased leading pair until approaching 2 out, kept on same pace in 4th
tracked leader, made most from approaching 3rd, headed briefly before 4 out, headed 2 out, soon no chance with easy winner, kept on well for 2nd
held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 14th, chased leaders next, weakened after 17th and pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, mistake 12th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and no extra before the last
This looks wide-open and though last year's second Coolking has been disappointing this term, he's 8lb lower now. Warwick third Safran De Cotte definitely has the ability to win a race like this off his current mark but is closely matched with Ballypatrick on their run together in last season's Eider at Newcastle. Jonjo O'Neill has won this twice in the last six years and his Catching On is a fast-improving chaser judged on his victory at Huntingdon, though has been done no favours by the handicapper. Copper Birch also warrants a second look, however, and Thomas Wild has already won twice over these fences and has bags of stamina. Finish The Story has won four times this season but this is his stiffest task to date and Gorgehous Lliege finished behind VIKING BLOND in the Sussex National in January. Peter Bowen's stayer is hard work but only a pound higher here and will still be galloping when others have cried enough so gets the nod.
Merlin's Wish 33-1 (11-6) Prominent, lost place when fell 12th, in a race won by Midnight Prayer (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m Listed ch (1) gs in Mar '14, 15 ran.
Catching On (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Held up, headway to 3rd 3 out, led and pecked on landing 2 out, ran on, won at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb beating A Good Skin (11-8) by 7l, 9 ran.
Gorgehous Lliege (FR) 6-1 (10-3) Disputed lead, driven 4 out, ridden and held after next, sole rival and well beaten when pulled up approaching last, re-traced steps and eventually completed, 2nd of 10, well behind Bob Ford (11-2) at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Copper Birch (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, left close 2nd 6th, left in lead 10th, headed 12th, led after next, headed 4 out, 3rd and beaten 2 out, no extra last, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Letbeso (11-2) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
Ballypatrick (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, pushed along after 15th, ridden in 4th before 4 out, plugged on same pace from next, 4th of 9, 37l behind Gorgehous Lliege (10-5) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
Thomas Wild 11-4 (11-9) Held up, hit 1st, headway 13th, not fluent next, outpaced when not fluent 4 out, rallied next, no impression on winner from 2 out, went 2nd flat, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Kings Apollo (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Safran De Cotte (FR) 11-4fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd from next, led 10th, headed 11th, not fluent 12th, mistake 14th, 3rd and no impression on winner from 16th, closed on 2nd flat, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Take The Mick (10-13) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Jan.
Viking Blond (FR) 9-2 (10-3) Towards rear of mid-division, headway 11th, driven to chase leaders 14th, outpaced 3 out (usual 4 out), 5th and plenty to do 2 out, rallied after last, finished well to take 2nd near finish, never reached winner, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Itoldyou (10-11) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Spanish Arch (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Reminders leaving start, chased leaders, ridden after 10th, went 2nd 3 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 15l behind Farbreaga (11-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Finish The Story (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Prominent, mistake 1st, led 4th, drew well clear after 3 out, won at Southwell 3m 2f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Feb beating Mr Mcgregor (10-9) by 50l, 9 ran.
Coolking 12-1 (11-9) Prominent, pushed along and lost place before 8th, pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Newton Thistle (10-10) at Towcester 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Bang On Time (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, blundered 2nd, lost place 5th, not fluent 6th, mistake 10th, 4th and one pace 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 6, 18l behind Kings Apollo (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Emma Soda 15-8fav (10-7) Disputed lead until led 7th, headed 10th, chased winner until ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 4, 44l behind Basford Ben (9-11) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
