slow 1st, held up, improved 4th, chased leader soon after 7th, led 9th, made rest, clear approaching last
chased leaders, led before 6th, headed 9th, chased winner after, ridden before 2 out, weakened approaching last
close up, mistake 7th, chased leading pair next, ridden 2 out, kept on to take 2nd flat
chased leaders until ridden and lost touch 11th
pulled hard, held up, ridden and mistake 9th, weakened 11th, behind when pulled up 2 out
led and jumped right 1st and 2nd, headed before 6th, mistake next, lost touch before 11th, pulled up before 4 out
pulled hard, held up, headway after 7th, weakened 11th, soon struggling
held up in rear, headway after 7th, jumped slow 10th, weakened next, behind when pulled up 3 out
Nonrunner
Reflected Glory is preferred to Le Passing and last year's winner Holy Joe. The selection came off second best to Tribal Venture in a driving finish at Warwick last time but has every chance of going one better this afternoon. He had previously unseated when favourite to get the better of Sleeping Night and Cornish Rebel at Kelso and he just about sets the standard here. Le Passing went close at Sandown last time and is a consistent performer in this grade; he should be there or thereabouts and can make the selection pull out all the stops. The ground was heavy when Holy Joe won this race last year and he may need quite a bit of rain if he's going to match strides with the two leading players but he's capable of taking a hand in the finish if running to his best. Wild Is The Wind wasn't too far behind Le Passing last time and is considered but Reflected Glory should be good enough to take this prize.
Le Passing (FR) 10-11fav (12-4) Mistake 1st, held up, headway 12th, ridden after 3 out, challenged flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Bolachoir (10-13) at Sandown 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in Feb.
Reflected Glory (IRE) 9-4 (12-5) In touch, raced keenly, went 2nd 6th, led 12th, ridden after last, edged right and headed close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Tribal Venture (12-2) at Warwick 3m hts chs (6) gd in Feb.
Wild Is The Wind (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, led after 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, held when hit last, 4th of 7, 5l behind Bolachoir (10-13) at Sandown 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in Feb.
Howard Howard 25-1 (11-13) Held up, headway approaching 12th, driven 14th, mistake 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 20l behind Tribal Venture (12-2) at Warwick 3m hts chs (6) gd in Feb.
Abbey Days (IRE) 10-11fav (12-3) Held up when blundered and unseated rider in race won by Tegucigalpa (12-3) at Taunton 2m 7f hts chs (5) gd in Feb, 8 ran.
Bay Island (IRE) 22-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, lost place 4th, tailed off when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Risk Accessor (12-7) at Bangor 2m 4f hts chs (6) hvy in Feb, 6 ran.
Chicuelo (FR) 6-1 (11-0) A.p; led 15-16; ev ch 2 out; nt r.o, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Blue Business (11-0) at Dunthrop 3m 5f ptp gs in Jan.
Not Today Sir (IRE) 50-1 (12-2) Towards rear, reminders after 5th, not fluent 7th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Risk Accessor (12-7) at Bangor 2m 4f hts chs (6) hvy in Feb, 6 ran.
Holy Joe (FR) 9-4fav (12-6) Led to 2nd, remained prominent, lost place 15th, last 16th, no danger after, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Cannon Bridge (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (4) gd in May.
