held up towards rear, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, no impression last, weakened run-in
mid-division, smooth headway approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace from last
mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, reminders after 2nd, mistake, dropped to rear 6th, driven after 3 out, stayed on under pressure but no impression from next
chased leader to approaching 2 out, weakened soon after
mid-division, struggling after 3 out, blundered 2 out and last
mid-division, hit 4th, driven, weakened after 3 out
always behind, driven, stuggling after 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on but no impression on winner
led, hanging and headed approaching 2 out, weakened last
took keen hold, chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened soon after
chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
behind, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 2 out, soon driven, weakened
chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, weakened soon after next
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, finished lame
mid-division, headway on outside approaching 2 out, soon weakened under pressure
Earth Planet has plenty of weight to carry but deservedly so after successes at Wincanton and Cheltenham in his last two starts and the relatively lightly raced gelding is taken to defy the 11lb rise for that latest win and complete a hat-trick for the team of Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh, getting the verdict ahead of Mexican Pete and John Forbes. The last mentioned has, like the selection, won his last two starts but the latest of those came under testing conditions and he may have been flattered by the margin of success that day so looks a shade high in the weights. Gary Moore complicates matters by saddling no fewer than four runners, with Or Jaune, who has a long absence to overcome, looking the pick over Salut Saint Cloud who is fit from the flat. With Paul Webber's team in good form right now, Full House has to be respected but a bigger threat may come from the consistent Mexican Pete, from Alan King's stable. Earth Planet has solid claims for Paul Nicholls though and is taken to follow up the success of Oslot 12 months ago.
Earth Planet (IRE) 3-1fav (10-9) Held up behind, crept closer from 3 out, challenged approaching last, led flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs beating Newton Bridge (10-4) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Shatabdi (IRE) 18-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, chasing leaders approaching last, one pace flat, 5th of 21, 8l behind Auroras Encore (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs.
County Zen (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Chased leader to 3rd, hit next, ridden before 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 19th of 21, 42l behind Auroras Encore (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs.
Backbord (GER) 11-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place 4th, headway 7th, weakened approaching last, 6th of 22, 17l behind Forest Pennant (10-13) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd.
Magical Legend 16-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, led after 5th, ridden approaching last, headed close home, no extra, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind One Gulp (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (1) gd.
Rio De Janeiro (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) In touch, lost place after 7th, well behind from next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Forest Pennant (10-13) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd, 22 ran.
John Forbes 5-1 (11-4) Held up, smooth headway 3 out, ridden next, led approaching last, driven out flat, won at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy beating Tragic Ohio (11-7) by 5l, 7 ran.
Laustra Bad (FR) 9-1 (11-11) Took keen hold in touch, hit 6th, weakened after 2 out, 9th of 17, 9l behind Majaales (11-1) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs.
Mexican Pete 11-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden and stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Majaales (11-1) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs.
Glacial Sunset (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Led until ridden and headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 13th of 21, 17l behind Auroras Encore (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs.
Tot O'Whiskey 9-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, went 2nd 3 out to 2 out, not fluent last, weakened, 9th of 21, 12l behind Auroras Encore (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs.
Helens Vision 20-1 (10-13) Prominent, every chance after 3 out, one pace approaching last, 4th of 17, 4l behind Majaales (11-1) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs.
Full House (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 14th, ridden after 3 out, no impression until stayed on from last, 5th of 9, 7l behind Harris Bay (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gf in Nov.
Mous Of Men (FR) 10-1 (10-13) In touch, hit 2 out, soon beaten, 10th of 19, 10l behind Katies Tuitor (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd.
Pace Shot (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, brief effort after 4 out, pushed along and weakened before next, 15th of 17, 29l behind Majaales (11-1) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs.
Salut Saint Cloud 12-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, kept on under pressure, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May beating Cream Cracker (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
Gabier 33-1 (10-4) Mid-division, struggling after 3 out, no chance from next, 8th of 14, 23l behind Earth Planet (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs.
Or Jaune (FR) 11-1 (10-8) Towards rear, pushed along 4 out, soon outpaced, rallied after 2 out, stayed on strongly flat to lead towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr '07 beating Sharp Reply (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
