towards rear of mid-division, pushed along and struggling after 14th, never involved
blundered 1st, mid-division, headway chasing leaders 7th, ridden and weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, 3rd 2 out, ridden and one pace between last two, soon dropped to 4th, went 3rd again towards finish
mid-division, mistake 15th, driven and stayed on from 2 out, driven between last two, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
always towards rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up soon after
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division approaching 10th, weakened approaching 16th, pulled up 2 out
always towards rear, never involved, pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, led 10th until 13th, chased leader until driven before 2 out, soon switched left, weakened soon after 2 out
took keen hold, tracked leaders on outside, lost place soon after 16th, struggling 3 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, pushed along and one pace in 5th before hit 2 out, plugged on
chased leaders, 2nd before 2 out, led after 2 out, clear before last, stayed on well
led until 10th, pressed leader, led again 13th, driven before 2 out, headed soon after 2 out, chased winner but held when lost 2nd at the last, lost 3rd towards finish
in rear, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up
towards rear, plugged on run-in, never involved
never fluent towards rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
What A Warrior is yet another of last year's winners on this card bidding to stage an encore and top weight Houblon Des Obeaux won this in 2013. But the former was well behind Pendra, recent Bangor winner Lost Legend and NED STARK in a similar race at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The latter started favourite that day and would probably have finished closer but for being short of room coming down the hill and again on the turn for home. Alan King's seven-year-old has been dropped 2lb since and should have more to offer. Fox Appeal ran well at Cheltenham last week and shouldn't be far away again if jumping a little better while Virak kept good company last season, though ran poorly when odds-on here in February. Le Reve was third in the bet365 Gold Cup in the spring but tends to reserve his best for Sandown. Bennys Mist would enter calculations if the heavens opened.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Towards rear, fell 12th, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Virak (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Always handy, challenged 3 out, left in lead next, clear last, stayed on well, won at Haydock 3m hcp (2) sft in Apr beating Carrigdhoun (10-13) by 6l, 12 ran.
Fox Appeal (IRE) 7-1fav (11-9) Towards rear and keen, not fluent 1st, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out and mistake, kept on to take 3rd place towards finish, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Whats Happening (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Double Ross (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Prominent, not fluent 4th, ridden before 12th, lost place soon after, weakened before 3 out, 11th of 14, dist behind Uxizandre (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar.
Le Reve (IRE) 8-1fav (10-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd 13th, led 2 out, joined last, headed final 135 yards, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 20, 4l behind Just A Par (10-3) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Royal Player 22-1 (10-11) Behind, blundered 14th, weakened before 5 out and pulled up, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Present View 3-1fav (11-0) Held up in touch, went 3rd from 3 out, mistake 2 out, kept on, 4th of 9, 9l behind Astracad (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Lost Legend (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Close up, plundered 6th, headway 3 out, jumped right and pressed leader next, ridden to lead last, ran on, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Open Hearted (11-12) by 10l, 6 ran.
Bennys Mist (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, outpaced when hampered by loose horse and unseated rider approaching 3 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Ned Stark (IRE) 6-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, 8th of 24, 19 3/4l behind The Druids Nephew (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Pendra (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) In touch, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leading pair before next, one pace when edged right flat, lost place final 100 yards, 5th of 24, 8 1/2l behind The Druids Nephew (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
What A Warrior (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Led to after 2nd, in touch, lost place 16th, soon behind, 15th of 24, 27 1/4l behind The Druids Nephew (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Leo Luna 3-10fav (11-10) Made most to 10th, pressed leader, 4 lengths down and outpaced approaching 4 out, rallied to regain lead next, clear when hit last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 3m 2f (4) gd in Apr beating Midnight Oscar (11-4) by 3 3/4l, 3 ran.
Cantlow (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Rear of mid-division, progress to chase leaders at 7th, 5th when fell 9th, at Listowel 3m hcp hvy in Sep.
No Buts 7-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd or 13th, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Seventh Sky (11-8) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
