handy, led going well 14th, ridden and hard pressed 17th, soon headed, no extra flat
mid-division out wide, struggling from 12th (canal turn), tailed off
held up, headway under pressure from off pace when mistake and unseated rider 17th
chased leaders out wide, headway under pressure 17th, soon outpaced, plugged on from 18th
chased leaders, blundered 2nd, fell 13th (valentines)
prominent, not fluent 6th, mistake 12 (canal turn), pushed along and weakened 15th
mid-division out wide, dropped towards rear from 10th (bechers), pulled up before 13th (valentines)
led, headed 14th, pushed along and weakened 17th
mid-division, struggling from 14th, tailed off
mid-division out wide, pushed along and weakened rapidly from 16th, pulled up before 17th
mid-division, fell 11th (foinavon)
mid-division out wide, rapid headway out wide 16th, ridden to dispute lead 18th, headed after elbow, no extra close home
held up, some headway from way off pace 17th, stayed on strongly flat for 5th
rear of mid-division, pushed along and weakened 15th
always towards rear, never involved
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 3rd (chair)
towards rear, mistake 1st, brought down 11th (foinavon)
mid-division, not fluent 14th, ridden and outpaced approaching 17th, kept on same pace flat
mid-division on inside, pushed along and weakened 16th
always towards rear, pulled up before 10th (bechers)
always behind
always towards rear, never involved
chased leaders on inside, going well approaching 17th, ridden to dispute lead 18th, went on after elbow, stayed on well, driven out
rear of mid-division, struggling from 11th (foinavon), plugged on
mid-division, hampered and fell 15th
always towards rear, never involved
mid-division, some headway under pressure chasing leaders 17th, kept on well from 18th for 3rd
always in rear, pulled up after 10th (bechers)
mid-division, struggling and dropped towards rear 9th, tailed off
NonRunner
Al Dancer beat Gesskille in the Grand Sefton over these fences in November but hasn’t raced since whereas the runner-up ran well again in the Becher Chase here in December behind ASHTOWN LAD (NAP). Dan Skelton’s charge jumped well and travelled strongly that day and both subsequent runs have been over hurdles. Phoenix Way is looking well treated nowadays and wears cheekpieces for the first time while Haut En Couleurs looks the pick of Willie Mullins’ quartet at the head of the weights on his fifth at Cheltenham when just ahead of Il Ridoto. Numitor looks the type to enjoy himself over these big fences and Killer Kane also makes some each-way appeal among those near the foot of the weights. Cooper's Cross, who won the Sky Bet at Doncaster in January, is another to consider but Fantastic Lady unseated her rider at the first in this last year. Peter Bowen has trained the winner on five occasions and Equus Dancer has won five of his last six starts so can’t be ignored.
Haut En Couleurs (FR) 15-2 (12-0) Held up in touch, closed before 12th, switched left and every chance 2 out, 4th and held flat, lost 4th close home, 5th of 23, 5 3/4l behind Seddon (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Burrows Saint (FR) 15-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, disputed lead at 7th, led 8th, headed 4 out, 4th 4 out, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, kept on one pace from next, 3rd of 7, 6 1/4l behind Longhouse Poet (11-0) at Down Royal 3m 2f hvy in Mar.
Ciel De Neige (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outer, headway to 3rd after 3 out, 3rd entering straight, ridden and no extra before last, 7th of 23, 14 1/4l behind The Goffer (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Fan De Blues (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Towards rear, 10th after 8th, weakened after 3 out, never a factor, pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Final Orders 13-2 (11-9) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, headway 2 out, went 5th flat, never troubled leaders, 5th of 19, 15 1/4l behind Maskada (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Al Dancer (FR) 5-1 (10-13) Led until 2nd, led 10th (bechers brook), mistake 5 out, jumped right last, stayed on, hard pressed close home, held on, won at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Gesskille (10-2) by ns, 14 ran.
Il Ridoto (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, switched left before 3 out, 6th and no impression from 2 out, 6th of 23, 9 1/4l behind Seddon (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Gin On Lime (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Towards rear when unseated rider 2nd, at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) sft in Mar.
Epson Du Houx (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, well held when left 7th 2 out, kept on flat, 6th of 19, 20l behind Maskada (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Ashtown Lad (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders out wide, led narrowly 4 out, headed 3 out, chased leader until not fluent next, soon ridden and weakened, went remote 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 11 3/4l behind Wakool (11-2) at Haydock 3m (1) gs in Feb.
Upping The Anti (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Ran 5th, detached before 4th, closer halfway, no impression 3 out, pushed along and went 4th early straight, kept on well run-in to go moderate 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Flame Bearer (11-1) at Thurles 2m 2f (1) sft in Mar.
Fantastic Lady (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Towards rear, headway on outside 10th, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten 2 out, 12th of 16, 31 1/4l behind Midnight River (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) In rear, reminders 1st, struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Gesskille (FR) 9-4fav (12-1) Mid-division, cajoled along at times, pushed along before 4 out, no telling impression, 6th of 9, 7 1/2l behind Senior Citizen (11-6) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Top Ville Ben (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Prominent, mistake 1st, led after next, headed 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Phoenix Way (IRE) 5-1fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders home turn, ridden 2 out and weakened last, 5th of 14, 11 3/4l behind Cap Du Nord (10-8) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Batcio (FR) 33-1 (11-2) Towards rear, improved to 4th after 7th, slightly detached after 3 out, dropped to 5th and weakened before 2 out where mistake and unseated rider, at Clonmel 2m 4f hvy in Mar.
Demachine (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pressed leader after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 11, 16l behind Cooper's Cross (10-6) at Doncaster 3m hcp (1) gd in Jan.
Kiltealy Briggs (IRE) 18-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place 3rd, well beaten before 3 out, 5th of 8, 30l behind Third Time Lucki (11-11) at Sandown 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Numitor 17-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd on inside turning in, led before 4 out, headed last, readily outpaced by winner run-in, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Heltenham (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Hereditary Rule (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, ridden and some headway into mid-division after 4 out, no impression, well beaten after 3 out, 16th of 23, 30 3/4l behind Seddon (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Hardline (IRE) 150-1 (11-7) Off the pace towards rear, never involved, tailed off, 8th of 16, dist behind Delta Work (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) sft in Mar.
Bill Baxter (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Led, disputed lead 10th, pushed along before 2 out, level approaching last, sustained duel run-in, just held on, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Mar beating Half Shot (10-6) by hd, 7 ran.
Celebre D'Allen (FR) 40-1 (10-6) Mid-division, effort 4 out, lost place and hanging left after 3 out, 10th of 23, 12 1/2l behind Seddon (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Cooper's Cross (IRE) 15-8fav (10-4) In rear, in touch, mistake 3rd, headway into 4th 3 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 7, 30l behind Moroder (10-2) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Equus Dancer (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Towards rear, jumped right 2nd, headway when mistake 3 out, switched right and led last, edged left close home, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Hitching Jacking (11-12) by nk, 10 ran.
Killer Kane (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Mid-division, pushed along and outpaced after 11th, rallied on inside before 3 out, went remote 5th 2 out, 5th of 13, 18 1/2l behind Our Power (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Dorking Lad 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division, not fluent 14th, ridden home turn, one pace and beaten when brought down 2 out, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Fantastikas (FR) 16-1 (10-5) Led after 2nd, soon headed, led 5th, headed next, stayed handy, bumped 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 12th of 23, 36 1/2l behind Corach Rambler (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Quel Destin (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Led, hit 11th, joined turning in, ridden and headed before last, rallied gamely to lead again run-in, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, nk behind Hudson De Grugy (10-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
