close up, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened from 8th
mid-division, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on one pace
mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, weakened before 8th, tailed off
held up mid-division on inner, weakened from 4 out
held up, headway on inner before 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, kep ton well, ridden out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 9th, weakened after 3 out
towards rear, headway 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, kept on one pace
in touch, headway approaching 7th, led before 3 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on
led, headed before 3 out, chased leader, weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear on outer, in rear from halfway, never dangerous
towards rear, not fluent 7th, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, kept on
Nonrunner
Heathcliff stays forever but needs the mud while it's difficult to envisage conditional Chris Davies succeeding where Richard Johnson failed in getting the reluctant Zakatal to put his best foot forward. Sangfroid and Wolf Moon are more than capable of getting involved off their current marks, however, while Kauto The Roc is fancied to reverse C&D running with Pie At Midnight on 5lb better terms. WILLIAM HOGARTH has been running better than his form figures suggest since upped in distance and could be a bit of value in an open race, though Stagecoach Opal is chasing a hat-trick after victories at Catterick and Market Rasen and is still well handicapped on his form over fences. Cloudy Spirit won at Huntingdon earlier this month and may prove the pick of the remainder.
Ouzbeck (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden and struggling towards rear when blundered 17th, no chance after, 9th of 14, 42l behind Meanus Dandy (9-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Nov.
Liberate 11-1 (11-8) With leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed between last 2, no extra approaching last, 6th of 16, 13l behind Elzahann (10-5) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May '09.
Merrydown (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, weakened after 4 out, 9th of 13, 47l behind Skippers Brig (11-11) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Sangfroid 13-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, reminders 5th, struggling 4 out, soon weakened, 11th of 12, well behind Stow (10-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Ernst Blofeld (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leading trio, dropped to last pair before 5th, ridden along next, stayed on to modest 3rd 3 out, never any chance with leading pair, 3rd of 8, 26l behind Superior Wisdom (10-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Nov.
Wolf Moon (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Mid-division, lost place 8th, soon behind, no danger after, 11th of 19, well behind Bensalem (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Cloudy Spirit 11-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway to tracked leaders after 5th, led on inner approaching 3 out, blundered last, eased last 100 yards, readily, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs beating Be My Light (10-6) by 4l, 8 ran.
Kauto The Roc (FR) 11-4 (10-12) Held up in 4th, went 3rd when not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, chased winner after 2 out, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Pie At Midnight (11-0) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
William Hogarth 16-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, kept on under pressure from next, no impression, 4th of 12, 11l behind Stow (10-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Larks Lad (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division in touch, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, 9th of 12, well behind Stow (10-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Pie At Midnight 5-2fav (11-0) Made all, reminders on paddock bend after 6th, not fluent 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft beating Kauto The Roc (10-12) by 2l, 6 ran.
The Shy Man (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) In rear, some headway on long run to 2 out, never nearer, 7th of 10, 23l behind Stagecoach Opal (10-3) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Zakatal 4-1fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway and hit 6th, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Mickmacmagoole (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Stagecoach Opal 9-2 (10-3) Tracked leaders, tracked leader 5th, led 9th, made rest, clear last, ran on, won at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd beating Pegasus Prince (11-12) by 8l, 10 ran.
Heathcliff (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, chased winner from 8th, every chance run-in, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Knockara Beau (11-12) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
