held up in mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, chased leaders after 3 out, one pace
held up, effort 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, one pace from next
chased leaders, weakened from 4 out
chased leaders, ridden approaching 8th, weakened 3 out
led, ridden approaching 8th, headed next, soon weakened
in rear, soon pushed along, some headway from 3 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, weakened approaching 4 out
mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened last
held up, headway from 4 out, kept on from 2 out
towards rear, reminders halfway, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, kept on from 2 out
chased leaders, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
close up, led approaching 5 out, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, challenged last, every chance flat, held near finish
chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden and under pressure last, held on towards finish
always towards rear
towards rear, soon pushed along, blundered 7th, stayed on from 2 out
always towards rear, tailed off from 3 out
close up, lost place halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
A tricky race for punters to solve and we will take CAPTAIN AMERICO to come home in front, with Andytown, Aigle D'Or and Inchidaly Rock all likely contenders. The Andy Turnell-trained selection gets in with little weight on his back here despite winning his last two, the most recent being a good ground handicap hurdle over this trip at Kempton. The manner of his wins suggest that there will be more to come when required, and he might just be well handicapped. It is probably significant that his trainer chose to bypass Cheltenham's Martin Pipe race, won by Andytown, to come straight here. The latter won that race in some style, after which Nicky Henderson revealed that he had been his nap of the meeting. He has been raised 15lbs for that, and although he should act on the ground he would prefer some cut, but you would not be surprised if he was good enough to follow up. Stablemate Aigle D'Or is very interesting now stepped up in trip. As a Grade 2 Cheltenham winner over 2m 5f there is potential for him to get home on this, his first try over three miles. He goes well fresh, and has been off since a dismal Ascot effort prior to Christmas. Inchidaly Rock blundered away his chance at Haydock last time and he stays well. He has a bit to prove against these seasoned handicappers and would ideally want soft ground, but with the yard firing he is well worth his place in the line-up. Giles Cross looks to have plenty of potential and was good enough to win when Victor Dartnall would have struggled to land a walk over earlier in the season, which augurs well for his abilities. He would, however, need to settle much better to give himself a chance here, while he is also unproven on this ground. Chief Yeoman would prefer cut in the ground, but if you are prepared to put a line through his latest effort at Sandown then Time For Rupert acts on the going and has plenty of potential for improvement over this longer trip. Liberate has conditions and trip to suit and goes well on the ground, so now that he has dropped to a handy mark he could figure prominently, but Captain Americo is the suggestion today.
Special Envoy (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th until fell 4 out, in a race won by Tamadot (11-0) at Taunton 2m 3f beg chase (4) sft in Jan, 6 ran.
Andytown (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, hit 6th, headway after 3 out, led approaching last, ran on well, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Midnight Chase (11-0) by 9l, 23 ran.
Aigle D'or 5-1 (11-11) In touch, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, 12th of 21, 19l behind Sentry Duty (11-9) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec.
Mirage Dore (FR) 14-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, headway on outer approaching 7th, ridden in 4th after 2 out, stayed on well from last, held towards finish, 2nd of 27, 1 1/2l behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Chief Yeoman 25-1 (10-2) Mid-division until weakened approaching 2 out, 16th of 27, 48l behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Liberate 12-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 5th, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra from last, 6th of 16, 15l behind Fair Along (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Gaspara (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Led until stumbled and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Andytown (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar, 23 ran.
Sweetheart 28-1 (11-0) Towards rear, mistake 6th, driven and behind next, kept on from last, never dangerous, 8th of 21, 24l behind Quevega (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Mar.
Aldhaher Beebers (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Always last, mistake 1st, tailed off, 6th of 7, 42l behind Fiveforthree (11-12) at Wexford 2m hdl gs in Mar.
Star Of Angels 40-1 (9-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden when mistake 2 out, stayed on, 4th of 27, 9l behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Mamlook (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway when stumbled badly on bend approaching 3 out, effort 2 out, weakened before last, 14th of 23, 47l behind Andytown (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Kayf Aramis 16-1 (10-5) Always prominent, chased leader 4th, led 3 out, ran on well flat, won at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar beating Buena Vista (10-9) by 2l, 22 ran.
Kawagino (IRE) 66-1 (9-11) Mid-division, ridden when hit 3 out, stayed on approaching last, not pace to reach leaders, 5th of 27, 10l behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Giles Cross (IRE) 9-4 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden after 2 out, stayed on gamely, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Our Bomber Harris (11-9) by 2l, 10 ran.
Kirbybroguelantern (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, close 3rd 2 out, no extra approaching last, 6th of 27, 17l behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Inchidaly Rock (IRE) 9-2fav (10-10) Held up, headway 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, blundered 2 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 38l behind Synchronised (10-4) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Time For Rupert (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Towards rear, not much room on inside and stumbled on bend after 1st, reminders 4th, driven next, struggling before 3 out, 10th of 18, 29l behind Big Eared Fran (11-6) at Sandown 2m 4f Grade 3 nov hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Piraya (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 11th of 23, 41l behind Andytown (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Convincing 100-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, stayed on past beaten horses from after 2 out, never a threat, 9th of 27, 25l behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Captain Americo (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Held up, headway 7th, led soon after 3 out, clear next, pushed out, won at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb beating Midas Way (11-11) by 6l, 8 ran.
Gunner Jack 12-1 (11-12) Raced gamely, tracked leader, lef 5th to 4 out, stayed on to lead again 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Risk Runner (10-13) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
Auroras Encore (IRE) Evensfav (11-1) Tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Carlisle 2m nov stks (3) gs in Mar beating Panthers Run (10-12) by 20l, 6 ran.
