made all, blundered 15th, not fluent next (water), clear after 2 out, idled and driven run-in, held on
tracked leading trio, went 2nd 4th until 10th, chased leading pair, not fluent 14th, lost 3rd 18th, chased leading trio, pushed along and hit 3 out, rallied into 3rd approaching next where went right, no impression, went badly right last
chased winner until 4th, stumbled 6th, chased leading pair until 18th, weakened next
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 10th, pushed along approaching 2 out, 3 lengths down last, closed as winner idled run-in, just held
mistake and struggling 18th, always in rear, tailed off
held up, unseated rider 12th
held up, steady headway 9th, tracked leading trio 13th, 3rd 18th until 3 out, chased leading trio, weakened 2 out
held up in touch, pushed along and lost place approaching 12th, never on terms after
held up in rear, blundered 17th, ridden and plugged on run-in, never a threat
More Buck's was placed over this trip over hurdles but has done all of his winning so far over shorter trips and this is a stiff track – he faces no easy task conceding weight all round, though does have the highest rating of these. Azure Fly was second under today's rider in an amateurs' handicap at Cheltenham last month and deserves a change of luck, though is closely matched with Dreamsoftheatre on last year's form at Ludlow. VIKEKHAL only won a three-runner conditionals' race at Warwick last month but has a decent strike-rate over fences and an experienced amateur in the saddle – Gary Moore's seven-year-old shouldn't be far away here.
More Buck's (IRE) 11-4 (10-10) Led after 1st, made rest, pressed 3 out, drew 2 lengths clear when went right and not fluent last, soon ridden, held on near finish, won at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Monbeg Gold (11-2) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Ardkilly Witness (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) In touch, not fluent and lost place 4th, soon behind, reminders after next, struggling 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Take A Bow 20-1 (11-9) Mid-division, struggling 10th, well behind 14th, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Azure Fly (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, 3rd after 2 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd last strides, no impression on winner, 2nd of 17, 7l behind Troika Steppes (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Vikekhal (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Not always fluent, tracked leaders, hampered 3rd, led 15th, clear 2 out, ridden out, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Brownville (11-12) by 7l, 3 ran.
Dreamsoftheatre (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders on outside, lost place before 13th, well behind before 4 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Caulfields Venture (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Twirling Magnet (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) Mid-division, chased leaders 7th, driven and one pace after 3 out, ridden after next, no impression in 5th when hit and unseated rider last, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
African Gold (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Close up, hit 5th, tracked leaders 4 out, soon ridden, not fluent last, soon lost 3rd, 4th of 7, 12 1/4l behind Sirop De Menthe (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Arbeo (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, challenged briefly 10th, pushed along next, ridden when not fluent 16th, outpaced next, stayed on after 3 out to take 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, 3rd and one pace from last, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Conas Taoi (10-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
