prominent, mistake 18th, beaten 2 out, plugged on flat, took 4th close home
prominent, mistake 20th, every chance when fell 4 out
held up in rear, well beaten 20th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, weakened before 20th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in mid-division, hit 7th, mistake and struggling 17th, pulled up before 20th
mistakes, mid-division, closed from 17th, every chance 3 out, held from next
jumped right at times, led, headed 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, slow 4th, struggling after 12th, pulled up before 20th
towards rear, lost touch before 12th, pulled up approaching next
towards rear, ridden and struggling 17th, never dangerous, well beaten 4 out
prominent, reminder after 6th, lost place after 17th, mistake when weakening 19th, pulled up before 20th
mid-division, headway 20th, soon not clear run briefly, led 3 out, pressed flat, headed towards finish
held up towards rear, hit 7th, mistake 15th, headway 20th, 2nd after 3 out until before last, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, hit 20th, no impression 2 out
mid-division, ridden 5th, towards rear when mistake 11th, slow 12th, behind when pulled up after 16th
tracked leaders, mistake 10th, hampered 4 out, no impression after
towards rear, ridden after 15th, well behind 20th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 19th, mistake next, left 7th and plenty to do when mistake 4 out, rallied after 3 out, hit 2 out, challenging when mistake last, stayed on, led towards finish
towards rear, hit 14th, some headway 20th, no impression, well held from 4 out
not always fluent, in rear, some headway 20th, no impression, well held from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
Mysteree won the Eider at Newcastle last month and has to go on the short-list, despite a 6lb rise. Court Frontier has really got the bit between his teeth and found the step up to 3m6f at Huntingdon last time no problem. He must have a chance of completing his four-timer while Spookydooky was fourth behind Firebird Flyer in this last year. The latter can race off the same mark but Jonjo O’Neill’s charge is 10lb lower and arrives off the back of a much better run in the Devon National at Exeter. First reserve Doing Fine needs one to drop out but would be a major contender if getting a run on his staying-on second behind Rocky Creek in the London National in December. Gonalston Cloud has had a good season but, with plenty of rain forecast for the area in the next 24 hours, conditions could come right for COGRY. Jamie Bargary may need some glue to help keep him in the saddle but Nigel Twiston-Davies’ runner looks tailor-made for a race like this if the fences don’t get in the way and a recent third at Sandown may have given him a bit of confidence.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Mid-division, weakened from 6 out, 8th of 13, dist behind Vieux Lion Rouge (11-6) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Final Nudge (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 13th, effort after 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on under pressure to lead final 75 yards, won at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Lessons In Milan (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Benbens (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) In touch, pushed along and weakened before 6 out, 8th of 10, 22 3/4l behind Saint Are (11-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway before 12th, unseated rider 18th, at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Firebird Flyer (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, pulled up before 6th, at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Blakemount (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) With leader, led from 2nd, blundered 8 out, headed 4 out, left in lead briefly at last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Carrigdhoun (11-7) at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Alfie Spinner (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Handy until before 2nd, mid-division, headway approaching 11th, stayed on one pace from 4 out, 4th of 10, 10l behind Blakemount (11-6) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Out Sam 14-1 (11-8) Towards rear, badly hampered 1st, always behind after, pulled up before 17th, at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Goulanes (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Towards rear, fell 10th, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Gonalston Cloud (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 15th, ridden to challenge 3 out, kept on well closing stages, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Dancing Shadow (10-9) at Musselburgh 4m 1f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Silver Man 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway before 4th, outpaced after 3 out, switched right after 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd from last, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Coologue (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Mysteree (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 9th to chase leaders, led 5 out, kept on, driven out, won at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Knockanrawley (11-6) by 4l, 18 ran.
Warrantor (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, mistake 11th, headway 5 out, one pace from next, 7th of 13, 37l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (11-6) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Cogry 11-2 (11-12) Raced wide, held up in touch, blundered 8th and pushed along towards rear, rallied chasing leaders 13th, hit 16th, pushed along and struggling in 5th after 4 out, went modest 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Willoughby Hedge (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway before 16th, outpaced from next, plugged on and no impression, 5th of 18, 16l behind Mysteree (11-0) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Spookydooky (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Not fluent 1st, chased leaders on outside, went 2nd on long run after 13th, ridden and every chance after last, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Kingswell Theatre (11-9) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Court Frontier (IRE) 11-4 (11-1) Tracked leaders, blundered 15th, went 2 out 3 out, upsides next, led narrowly when left clear last, driven out, won at Huntingdon 3m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Cyclop (10-12) by 14l, 5 ran.
Chase The Spud 5-1 (11-9) Led after 1st, headed before next, tracked leaders, pushed along 11th, lost place before 15th, no impression after, plugged on flat, 5th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Blakemount (11-6) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Portrait King (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, brought down 1st, at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Mad Brian (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd halfway, led entering straight, ridden clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in, easily, won at Navan 2m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Rightdownthemiddle (11-4) by 15l, 13 ran.
