tracked leader, led 10th, ridden 2 out, driven out
tracked leader, hit 3rd and saddle slipped, led 5th, headed 10th, weakened 12th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway 5 out, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
led, headed 5th, in 2nd when fell 7th
prominent, ridden 3 out, every chance next, kept on from last
mid-division, fell 5th
chased leader, every chance 3 out, ridden approaching last, kept on to take 2nd towards finish
in touch, reminders and weakened 9th, tailed off and pulled up before last
held up, pushed along after 8th, weakened from next, pulled up before 3 out
held up behind, blundered 1st, stayed on from 2 out
held up towards rear, weakened from 11th, tailed off when pulled up beofre 2 out
held up toards rear, hit 7th and rider lost iron, weakened after 4 out
held up, mid-division when fell 10th
held up, weakened 9th, pulled before 4 out
The Amateur Riders Handicap Chase is another tough one to call with Nycteos, New Alco, Nirvana Swing and Bob The Builder put forward as potential winners with New Alco getting a tentative vote. He had looked to be a promising recruit for Ferdy Murphy when winning a maiden hurdle at this course last October. He has since gone on to make his mark over fences, winning in the mud at Sedgefield last December and then chasing home Don't Be Shy at Haydock in January. Ferdy Murphy sent out two winners in amateur races at Cheltenham and he has a great chance of sending out the winner here. Nycteos is the biggest danger to our selection. He won a decent race on his handicap debut last time out at Chepstow last month. However, he has gone up 10lbs for that win and he may struggle to give weight to most of his rivals. Another Paul Nicholls-runner worth noting is Nirvana Swing. He makes his British, racecourse debut in the Trevor Hemmings colours having won some decent chases in France. He has the useful Jamie Snowden on board and could go well. Bob The Builder won two nice Ludlow, handicap chases earlier this year and went up 20lbs in the process. He ran a fine race of today's mark when fifth in the handicap chase on Tuesday at Cheltenham and on the basis of this form makes it onto the shortlist, but we return to our selection New Alco.
Mon Mome (FR) 11-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 8th, went 2nd after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on, never troubled winner, 2nd of 21, 3 1/2l behind You're Special (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Symphonique (FR) (10-10) Mistakes, led to 2 out, soon beaten and pulled up in race won by Si Sol (10-10) at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl sft in Jun, 8 ran.
New Field (IRE) 5-2fav (10-9) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 8th, 5th and headway before 2 out, led last, kept on under pressure, all out, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs gs in Mar beating Star Clipper (10-13) by a hd, 11 ran.
Bob The Builder 20-1 (10-6) Led to 12th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, mistake last, weakened flat, 5th of 21, 9l behind Dun Doire (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Direct Flight (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Behind, headway under pressure approaching 4 out, chased leaders next, kept on flat, 4th of 18, 10l behind Reveillez (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (1) gd in Mar.
Roznic (FR) 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 7th, ridden and every chance when blundered 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Misty Dancer (10-5) at Taunton 2m nov hcp chs (3) gs in Mar.
New Alco (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Led to 2nd, tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 8th, ridden and beaten 2 out, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Don't Be Shy (10-7) at Haydock 2m 4f nov chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Von Origny (FR) 11-2 (11-0) In touch, outpaced 10th, headway 4 out, chasing leaders when hit 3 out, went 2nd next, led flat, driven out, won at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar beating Shining Strand (11-12) by 2l, 11 ran.
Wicked Nice Fella (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Disputed lead, hit 7th, weakened after 3 out, last of 6, well behind Migwell (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (D) gd in Dec.
Lord Rodney (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) In touch, mistake 8th, hit 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Simon (10-4) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Mar, 9 ran.
Nirvana Swing (FR) (10-8) Led halfway, one pace when headed 2 out, 2nd of 14, 3l behind Neobis (10-6) at Auteuil 2m 4f chs gf in Dec.
Itsuptoharry (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and blundered 3 out, soon weakened, mistake next, 6th of 7, 29l behind No Full (11-1) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Well Tutored (IRE) 3-1fav (10-11) Prominent, 3rd after halfway, 4th 4 out, 3rd next, ridden and no impression from 2 put, no extra after last, 4th of 12, 6l behind Giolla An Bhaird (10-5) at Naas 3m nov hcp chs hvy in Mar.
Alphabetical (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, plugged on from 4 out, left poor 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 7, 27l behind Nice Try (11-10) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) sft in Mar.
Nycteos (FR) 4-5fav (11-7) Held up, headway 6th to chase leader, hit 4 out, led after 3 out, ridden last, hung right and headed flat, ran on to lead close home, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar beating Launde (11-9) by 1l, 5 ran.
No Full (FR) 14-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, never in contention, 9th of 18, 35l behind Reveillez (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (1) gd in Mar.
