held up behind, ridden and headway from 4 out, stayed on, not reached leaders
chased leaders, led and mistake 12th, headed 4 out, soon ridden, one pace from next
mid-division, headway 11th, ridden after 13th, weakened 4 out
led until 2nd, prominent, mistake 9th, soon struggling, behind from 12th
in touch, outpaced and mistake 5 out, stayed on from 2 out
chased leaders, every chance 4 out, soon ridden, weakened next
in touch, mistake 10th, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, hit 11th, weakened 14th
led 2nd until 12th, close up, ridden after 14th, stayed on from last
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 14th
mid-division, headway 12th, ridden after 13th, gradually faded from 4 out
mid-division, headway 12th, ridden to chase winner after 4 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, struggling 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
always struggling in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
in touch, jumped slowly 8th (water), headway 13th, ridden after 4 out, stayed on to chase winner approaching last, no further impression flat
prominent until 12th, gradually faded
Brumous is selected to get the better of Alderburn and Merchants Friend, with the likes of Big Rob, Iris Bleu and Iznogoud needing to bounce back from moderate efforts. Oliver Sherwood had the misfortune to see Rodalko beaten a head in this event last year, but will be confident that Brumous can put matters right after the seven-year-old's novice victory at Leicester last month. That was only his second start over fences, and this formerly useful hurdler looks at the right end of the handicap for his assault on this class 3 chase. The drying ground should help his cause, and Brumous can make the most of the fact that he gets over a stone from Alderburn here. The latter has been denied a crack at some decent prizes, including at the Cheltenham Festival due to the soft ground, and he too will appreciate the conditions today, so should go well for Tony McCoy. Merchants Friend was not entirely unfancied on his return from a 448-day absence at Sandown a fortnight ago, and it was only a bad mistake down the far side that stopped him finishing closer than he did in third. Charlie Mann's veteran may be placed at least, but the likes of Big Rob, Iris Bleu and Iznogoud need to put some disappointing efforts behind them to figure. Granted, the latter was up against it in the Racing Post Chase last time, but even so it is hard to see him coming out on top over the progressive younger brigade, headed by our idea of the winner, Brumous.
Alderburn 4-1jt-fav (11-6) Held up, headway to track leaders 4 out, led before 3 out, driven and pressed last, in command final 100 yards, won at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Dec beating Yardbird (11-4) by 1l, 10 ran.
Without A Doubt 20-1 (10-9) Mistake and behind from 3rd, tailed off when fell 5 out in race won by Simon (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Latimer's Place 14-1 (10-13) In touch, losing place when mistake 10th and 11th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Rambling Minster (10-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
The Bandit (IRE) 50-1 (11-11) In rear, some headway 10th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Pass Me By (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
King Harald (IRE) 28-1 (10-7) Mid-division, not fluent 7th, blundered 12th, in rear when mistake 15th, behind when hampered 2 out, 15th of 23, 37l behind Joes Edge (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Out The Black (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Chased winner, every chance 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 8, 17l behind Naunton Brook (11-0) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Big Rob (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) In touch on outer, losing place when not fluent 9th, behind and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Idole First (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs, 23 ran.
Avitta (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led approaching 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 5, 13l behind Howrwenow (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Iris Bleu (FR) 9-2 (11-12) In rear, struggling from 7th, beaten when pulled up 4 out in race won by King Bee (10-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb, 6 ran.
Kenzo Iii (FR) 4-1co-fav (11-2) Led, blundered 3rd, headed 12th, weakened quickly, well behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Idole First (11-10) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Merchants Friend (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up, chased leading trio from 11th, blundered 17th and mistake next, no impression after 4 out, left moderate 3rd last, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Reflected Glory (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Iznogoud (FR) 16-1 (10-1) Prominent in chasing group, ridden and lost place 10th, rallied after 4 out, no impression from next, 5th of 10, 26l behind Simon (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Brumous (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) Close up, hampered 4th, chased leader 6th, joined leader 8th, led 10th, driven out and just held on, won at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Feb beating Esprit Saint (11-2) by a shd, 5 ran.
Nirvana Swing (FR) 9-4fav (11-4) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, reminders and lost place 5th, went prominent after 9th, weakened after 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Sharp Belline (10-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec, 8 ran.
Harrycone Lewis 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, outpaced 11th, hit 13th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Green Belt Flyer (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Alexanderthegreat (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Prominent, hit 5th, led approaching 12th, headed before blundering 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the 15th in race won by Bannister Lane (10-2) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 10-3 (11-3) Led to 7th, chased winner to 12th, weakened 18th, 4th of 7, 34l behind Irish Raptor (11-8) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
