reluctant and reminders soon after start, dropped to rear before 1st, pulled up after next
held up behind in touch, pushed along 11th, pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders on inside, switched outside 10th, chased winner 4 out, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, 4 lengths down when not fluent last, no impression when lost 2nd flat
mid-division in touch, chased leaders under pressure after 5 out to before next, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, outpaced next, 4th and beaten when hit 3 out, lost moderate 4th towards finish
tracked leader, led before 11th, made rest, ridden after 2 out, 4 lengths clear last, kept on under pressure flat
in touch on outside, joined winner 11th, 3rd and outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on to regain 2nd flat, no impression
mid-division in touch, lost place 5 out, soon beaten, tailed off
led, mistake 6th, headed before 11th, chased leaders, lost place 5 out, soon behind, plugged on to moderate 4th towards finish
mid-division in touch, reminders 12th, soon struggling, behind from 5 out, tailed off when fell heavily next
held up in rear, fell 2nd
Only one favourite has won in the last eight renewals and this looks another open affair. Bold Ransom landed a chase in similar ground over these fences last month but has a 9lb rise to contend with. Pearlysteps can race off the same mark as when falling at the last when still in contention over C&D on his latest start however. Take The Breeze has been nowhere near his best so far this season and the heavy going could prove a problem for both Consigliere and the returning Mount Oscar, but the veteran According To Pete will handle it and arrives in good form after a win at Wetherby. Mon Mome showed his best form since winning the Grand National in 2009 when second at Cheltenham last time but OSCAR GOGO is preferred. He's looked a much improved chaser of late and defied a 13lb rise in the weights when beating the progressive Frontier Spirit at Ffos Las last month. Evan Williams' charge may be capable of better still over this longer trip and gets the nod.
Crescent Island (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) In rear after being hampered after 1st, hit next, behind when pecked 4 out, 9th of 14, 35l behind Calgary Bay (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Mon Mome (FR) 12-1 (11-12) In touch, lost place after 4th, went 5th 11th, 17 lengths off leader 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Mostly Bob (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Consigliere (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 13th, not fluent 3 out, clear approaching 3 out, eased flat, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft beating Minella Theatre (10-8) by 20l, 7 ran.
Mount Oscar (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, outpaced 10th, rallied after 4 out, soon chasing leaders, every chance last, kept on well, 2nd of 16, 1 1/4l behind Quinz (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Feb.
Take The Breeze (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Prominent, mistake 11th, soon ridden and no impression, well beaten 7th 4 out, stayed on approaching last, almost got 3rd, 4th of 14, 20l behind Quincy Des Pictons (9-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec.
According To Pete 33-1 (9-11) Made all, held on gamely flat, won at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec beating Helpston (9-9) by 1l, 13 ran.
Pearlysteps 20-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 3rd, not fluent 8th, headed when fell last, in a race won by Cannington Brook (10-9) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec, 11 ran.
Oscar Gogo (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3 out, 3 lengths to find last, switched right soon after, driven and stayed on strongly to lead post, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Frontier Spirit (11-11) by ns, 6 ran.
The Sawyer (BEL) 12-1 (10-9) Prominent, led 11th, headed 15th, 12 lengths 4th when not fluent 4 out, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 13, 12l behind Mostly Bob (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Bold Ransom (IRE) 3-1fav (10-7) Led after 1st, headed 14th, led next, mistake 16th, soon headed, led 18th until in tight 4 out, led again before 2 out, clear from last, eased towards finish, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec beating Captain Americo (10-13) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
King Fontaine (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) Held up, ridden 4 out, never troubled leaders, 7th of 13, 35l behind According To Pete (9-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.