chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
always behind
hit 5th, behind, making some headway when hampered well before 2 out
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, no extra last
chased leader 4th, ridden before 2 out, weakened last
chased leaders, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out
towards rear, ridden and some headway approaching 2 out, 7th and no chance when blundered last
behind, hit 3rd, some headway approaching 2 out
in mid-division when mistake and unseated rider 3rd
chased leaders, effort on outside to lead 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly, very easily
mistake 2nd, took keen hold in mid-division, weakened rapidly before 2 out
mid-division, driven after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat, never any chance with winner
always behind
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out and weakened before next
behind, headway on inside before 2 out, never going pace to get into contention
prominent to 4th, soon behind
always rear
held up in rear, badly hampered on inside on bend well before 2 out, headway soon after, stayed on well approaching 2 out, went 2nd before last, never any chance to reach winner
Nonrunner
As is normally the case this looks a competitive contest with plenty of the 21 declared runners having claims but it is hard to get away from MR THRILLER, who is taken to give David Pipe another winner in this event prior to having crack at landing a decent bonus by winning at the Cheltenham Festival, getting the vote over Stradbrook and Numide. The last mentioned looks the pick of Gary Moore's two runners ahead of recent Hereford winner I Have Dreamed. Numide lost no caste in defeat behind Sentry Duty in a decent race at Aintree last time and he has to be respected on the evidence of that and his previous start when landing the Greatwood at Cheltenham. David Pipe is represented by Seven Is My Number as well as the selection and the seven-year-old remains open to improvement after just six career starts and makes his handicap debut off what seems a fair mark. However, this is far and away his most difficult task to date and the son of Pistolet Bleu may not be up to it. Paul Nicholls is represented by Take The Breeze, who was good value for his Uttoxeter success last time but a 7lb rise for that victory makes life tougher here. Spear Thistle has shown better form of late over hurdles but is probably too high in the weights now, while Arthur Moore's Native Clan has paid the penalty for his win at Fairyhouse last time. A market move for Harper Valley would be of interest but a bigger threat is likely to come from Jonjo O'Neill's Stradbrook, who just did enough when successful at Wincanton recently and he remains feasibly well treated. The vote though goes to Mr Thriller who showed ability when trained in France but has shown improved form since joining David Pipe, winning both his starts in good fashion, and he looks well treated off a mark of 145 for this prior to a crack at one of the four races he is entered for at Cheltenham.
Harper Valley (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) In touch, mistakes 4th and 5th, ridden 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 19l behind Punjabi (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Dec.
Take The Breeze (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 2 out, led soon after 2 out, in command when awkward last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb beating Make Haste (10-11) by 8l, 7 ran.
Numide (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway on outer after 3 out, soon ridden, every chance when blundered last, not recover, 4th of 21, 7l behind Sentry Duty (11-9) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec.
Mr Thriller (FR) 6-4 (11-5) Tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, led 4th, blundered 2 out, soon shaken up, eased near finish, won at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Stow (11-2) by 12l, 7 ran.
Alsadaa (USA) 33-1 (10-11) With clear leader, led briefly and hit 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 16th of 21, 37l behind Sentry Duty (11-9) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec.
Procas de Thaix (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 4th, challenged and every chance 2 out, weakened soon after last, 4th of 8, 6l behind Secret Tune (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
I Have Dreamed (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to lead flat, edged left, driven out, won at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb beating Benfleet Boy (11-1) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Stellino (GER) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, no impression from before 2 out, 17th of 25, 49l behind I Hear A Symphony (11-5) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl gd in Apr.
European Dream (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Held up, headway after 3 out, chased winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Carrickboy (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Dave's Dream (IRE) 11-2 (9-11) Took keen hold in mid-division, mistake and stumbled 4th, soon dropped to rear, struggling 3 out, 11th of 14, 43l behind Serabad (10-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Moves Goodenough 4-1 (11-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, not fluent 2 out, not pace of winner from last, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Quartz de Thaix (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Stradbrook (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Prominent, chased leader 3 out, challenged approaching 2 out, soon ridden, led 2 out, all out flat, just held on, won at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan beating Oiseau de Nuit (10-12) by a ns, 8 ran.
Prince Taime (FR) 8-1 (10-6) Held up behind, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, never troubled leaders, 9th of 21, 16l behind Sentry Duty (11-9) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec.
Spear Thistle 8-1 (10-7) Led until blundered badly 4th, chased winner until weakened soon after 2 out, 14th of 15, well behind Presenting Copper (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Overstrand (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) In rear, pushed along after 5th, stayed on flat, never nearer, 5th of 9, 10l behind I Have Dreamed (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Native Clan (FR) 13-8fav (10-11) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, headway to challenge entering straight and led before 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed run-in, asserted close home, won at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 0-130 sft in Jan beating Farringdon (11-12) by a nk, 12 ra.
Osolomio (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 6th, ridden last, kept on until headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 16, nk behind Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Tender Falcon 66-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, headway under pressure on inside approaching 2 out, kept on flat, never going pace to reach leaders, 6th of 14, 6l behind Serabad (10-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Matuhi 14-1 (11-0) In touch, led 3 out, headed and weakened approaching last, 4th of 9, 10l behind I Have Dreamed (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
