held up, headway 8th, outpaced before 10th, rallied after 2 out, weakened before last
held up, headway when not fluent 8th, went 2nd from 2 out, led before last, mistake and headed at hurdle, no extra
tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden after next, weakened before last
tracked leader, led 9th, ridden and headed before last, led again at hurdle, stayed on well
led, not fluent 7th, headed 9th, weakened after 2 out, pulled up before last
Nonrunner
None of the sextet have won over this far which makes things rather tricky although Amigo, presumably the choice of Tom Scudamore, has guaranteed stamina having finished an excellent fourth in the Scottish National last time behind Wayward Prince. He's back over hurdles here though. Stablemate Weather Babe has some decent form but has never been further than 2m7f whilst it will be fascinating to see how Terminal gets on here on his first start for David Dennis. He was a very useful sort for Willie Mullins in 2012-13, including landing a Grade 2 chase, but has been absent since last July. Speed Master went well enough last time at Ludlow to merit a shout but the choice is EXPRESS DU BERLAIS. He failed in his hat-trick bid last time over fences but his rider lost an iron and never really recovered but he'd looked good when landing his two previous starts and has proven ability up to 3m1f..
Terminal (FR) 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division, fell 6th, in a race won by Road To Riches (10-11) at Galway 2m 6f hcap ch gd in Jul, 22 ran.
Weather Babe 12-1 (11-8) Chased clear leader until 3rd, chased leading pair, 2nd again 6th, challenged 3 out, led narrowly approaching 2 out, clear before dived at the last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd beating Risk A Fine (11-6) by 5l, 8 ran.
Amigo (FR) 28-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, led 19th, headed before 3 out, no extra from last, 4th of 29, 8l behind Wayward Prince (10-1) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Speed Master (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Led, pushed along after 9th, driven and joined 2 out, soon headed, one pace and held last, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Jimmy The Jetplane (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Express Du Berlais (FR) 7-2fav (10-5) Held up, mistake 2nd, not fluent 5th, reminder after 10th, jumped left 15th, headway before 4 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 13l behind Bear's Affair (11-5) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd.
Cannon Fodder 25-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, driven 3 out, soon lost place, no impression from 2 out, took modest 4th flat, 4th of 10, 18l behind Aqalim (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
