held up towards rear, closer in 7th entering straight, ridden and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leader in 2nd, led before 7 out, headed 3 out, ridden in 3rd entering straight, no extra in 5th 2 out, kept on one pace
chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 3rd 2 out, no extra in 4th approaching last, kept on same pace
mid-division, ridden in 8th entering straight, no extra in 6th 2 out, kept on one pace
settled behind leaders, 6th halfway, dropped to rear 4 out, soon weakened, completely tailed off
held up in rear, ridden into 6th entering straight, no impression leaders in 3rd approaching last, kept on into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, headway into 6th 4 out, ridden in 5th entering straight, no extra in 7th when fell 2 out
held up in rear of mid-division, headway into 5th 4 out, improved to dispute 3 out, slight mistake 2 out, ridden to assert before last, kept on strongly run-in
settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, headway into 3rd 4 out, improved to dispute 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon ridden, no extra in 2nd approaching last, kept on same pace
chased leaders, 3rd halfway, mistake 6 out, 2nd after 5 out, weakened before 3 out, completely tailed off
led, headed before 7 out, ridden and weakened after 5 out, pulled up before 4 out
The bottom half-dozen are out of the handicap though it shouldn't pose too much of a problem for Barnlands Boy, an impressive winner of a Down Royal beginners' chase in March and on the upgrade. The Midnight Club completed the course in the Gold Cup and Grand National and though beaten a long way it would be no surprise to see him go well as it was only just over a year ago that he landed a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse. Vic Venturi was tailed off when refusing in the Grand National but he followed with a fair run behind Tidal Bay in the Bet365 at Sandown so shouldn't be written off while any further rain will aid the cause of the mudlark The Bishop Looney. Smoking Aces is better over longer trips as is Another Palm so it's MISS PEPPERPOT who gets the nod despite being a few pounds wrong in the weights as she is well suited by the trip and ground and Adrian Heskin can claim his 3lb allowance.
The Midnight Club (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Chased leaders to 6th (bechers brook), behind from 12th, 11th of 40, well behind Neptune Collonges (11-6) at Aintree 4m 4f Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (7yo+) (1) gd in Apr.
Vic Venturi (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, led 15th until 4 out, chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, lost 3rd and weakened flat, 4th of 19, 27l behind Tidal Bay (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Apr.
The Bishop Looney (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st and jumped right throughout, 5th halfway, no extra from 4 out and pulled up before 2 out (pulled a muscle), in a race won by Cadogan (11-1) at Navan 3m nov chs sft in Mar, 16 ran.
Rivage D'Or (FR) 5-1 (11-1) Waited with, moderate 5th approaching 7 out, no extra from next, pulled up after 2 out, in a race won by Quarryvale (10-8) at Thurles 2m 6f chs hvy in Feb, 11 ran.
Another Palm (IRE) 7-1 (10-3) Held up in mid-division, ridden and not fluent 19th, behind when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Master Overseer (10-3) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Smoking Aces (IRE) 4-1 (9-10) Mid-division, 8th halfway, slow 5 out and driven along towards rear, went moderate 7th entering straight and not fluent final 2, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 12l behind Paddy Pub (9-7) at Naas 3m hcp chs sft in Mar.
Barnlands Boy (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway into 3rd after 5 out and led before 3 out, asserted before last and kept on well, won at Down Royal 3m beg chase sft in Mar beating Forestside (11-12) by 6l, 9 ran.
Droim Toll (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Mid-division, 10th halfway, no extra from 3 out, 7th of 17, 23l behind Portrait King (10-7) at Punchestown 3m 4f Ext hcp ch hvy in Feb.
Give Us A Hand (IRE) 4-5fav (10-12) Tracked leader in 2nd, led 4 out, travelling best when unseated rider next, in a race won by Wellforth (11-2) at Cork 3m chs Grade 3 (1) gd in Apr, 4 ran.
West Cork Flash (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 10th 6 out, soon no impression, 9th of 16, well behind Heavenly Brook (11-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 6f beg chase gd in Apr.
Bangonform (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Soon tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, soon no extra, 10th of 13, 27l behind Paddy O Dee (9-11) at Ballinrobe 2m 1f hcp chs 0-123 gd.
Miss Pepperpot (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 6th 3 out, no extra entering straight, kept on one pace, 5th of 15, 38l behind Mister Farmer (9-12) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 gs in Apr.
