took keen hold, held up, hit 6th, blundered 9th, hit 13th, headway to chase leaders next, ridden after 3 out, kept on but no chance with winner
not always fluent, chased leaders, losing position when blundered 10th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, hit 9th, outpaced after 13th, jumped left from 4 out, stayed on again run-in
led until after 12th, weakened quickly, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led briefly after 12th, disputing close 3rd when slithered to a halt 4 out and pulled up
in touch, led and hit 13th, drew clear from 2 out, heavily eased run-in
took keen hold, held up, not fluent 7th (water), headway after 13th to track leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up and always towards rear, weakened after 13th, pulled up before 3 out
prominent until 6th, chased leaders, ridden and effort approaching 4 out, one pace from 3 out
in touch, headway after 13th to join leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened last
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Fair Prospect looked just that at Aintree and can prove too good for Aristoxene, with Mark Equal likely to prove troublesome off his low weight. Fair Prospect has been nursed back to health after a number of training problems, and connections were rewarded at Aintree last month as he overcame an absence of 22 months to score. His task was made easier when the favourite departed, but he could do no more than win decisively from Soeur Fontenail and can continue to make up for lost time here. Aristoxene shaped well on his seasonal reappearance when chasing home Il' Athou at Haydock and will have no trouble going one better soon. He will relish the trip and should be bang in there at the finish. Timmy Murphy rides Sardagna but it is Martin Pipe's other runner Mark Equal that makes more appeal off his light weight. Third to stablemate Bannow Strand at Cheltenham, he too will appreciate the longer trip and his trainer has him well enough handicapped at present. Home James may need the run but the other topweight Graphic Approach goes well fresh and is unexposed. Thought good enough to line up at the Cheltenham Festival, he should be kept in mind this term, but for now we are happy to side with Fair Prospect.
Graphic Approach (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 12th, badly hampered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by King Harald (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (A) gd in Mar, 19 ran.
Home James (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, led flat, driven out, won at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (C) gs in Feb beating Fullards (10-8) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Aristoxene (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up and keen, headway 10th, ridden and every chance flat, stayed on, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Il'Athou (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Soon tracked leaders, mistake 6th, 4th and weakening when mistake 3 out, 5th of 12, 24l behind Lords Best (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Apr.
Holy Joe (FR) (10-12) behind Royale Cazoumaille (10-1) at Auteuil 2m 2f hcp hdl gs in Nov '04, 18 ran.
Too Forward (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hampered 8th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, 21l behind Iris Bleu (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gd.
Dungarvans Choice (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, reminder after 6th, ridden after 11th, weakened approaching 5 out, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Glen Warrior (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs (B) gs in Mar, 11 ran.
Be My Destiny (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up, some headway 13th, soon struggling, behind when fell 4 out in race won by Midland Flame (11-2) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Mar '04, 13 ran.
Sardagna (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked clear leader, headway 7th, challenged 8th, soon hung left, weakened 3 out, 4th of 5, 15l behind Dangerousdanmagru (10-9) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) hvy.
Mark Equal 20-1 (11-3) Held up rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, faded flat, 3rd of 16, 14l behind Bannow Strand (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs.
Fair Prospect 7-2 (11-12) Held up, hit 11th, headway to chase leaders 5 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, blundered last, kept on well, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Oct beating Soeur Fontenail (10-8) by 7l, 10 ran.
Gingerbread House (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 12th, weakened quickly from 5 out, 4th of 7, 32l behind Control Man (11-13) at Exeter 3m 1f nov chs (C) gs in Jan.
Trust Fund (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) Prominent, blundered 6th, hampered 8th, lost place 13th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Iris Bleu (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gd, 12 ran.
