chased leaders, joined leader 15th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, ridden after 16th, one pace from 2 out
mid-division, headway 16th, ridden after 3 out, disputing close 5th when hit 2 out, stayed on same pace
always in rear, tailed off
mid-division, hit 16th and 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
hit 12th, hampered 2 out, always towards rear
never fluent, always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division until 12th, soon behind
mid-division, mistakes 6th and 14th, weakened 16th
held up towards rear, headway 10th, hit 12th, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, mistake 9th, not fluent 15th, soon ridden and lost place, headway when hit 3 out, went 3rd last, stayed on under pressure to lead near finish
mid-division, reminders after 1st and 8th, headway 12th, ridden and every chance 2 out, stayed on
mistake 9th, never travelling in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
in touch until lost place after 4 out, headway under pressure after 3 out, no further impression from last
chased leaders until 16th, soon weakened
in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, headway 11th, hit next, mistake 15th, challenging when hit 2 out, soon led, ridden after last, no extra when caught near finish
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
led, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra
held up behind, creeping closer when fell 2 out
mid-division, pecked 3rd, mistake 9th, headway next, ridden in close 5th when blundered badly 2 out, weakened
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
The presence of Star De Mohaison at the head of the weights ensures that there are some intriguing horses under eleven stone; one of those is POSSOL and as long as the ground doesn't deteriorate too much then he can plod on to victory at the main expense of Wichita Lineman, Maljimar and Patsy Hall. Horses that are held up can often be favoured in this handicap and Possol is not likely to be too near the early pace-setters. It is interesting that the cheek-pieces are applied for the first time but he is a horse of some ability and he deserves to go close off a mark of 145. Simon stays all day and is one of the older brigade who warrant attention, joining Reveillez and Lacdoudal as dangers. Hobbs Hill needs to improve markedly on two come-back efforts, whilst Millenium Royal was the best of these over hurdles and whilst he doesn't look entireley straight-forward, it would be unwise to take his challenge lightly. Comply Or Die's stable won the race last year with An Accordion but two runs this season have been woeful; he is expected to fare better with the blinkers back on but Aintree may be the main plan once again for the Grand National winner. Golden Flight is a real unknown, and more straightforward may be Wichita Lineman. This lightly-raced gelding seems to be getting the hang of things over fences and he does have a fine record here. Maljimar strikes as an interesting horse; he comes here fresh after a break and if he lasts home then he should not be far away. Patsy Hall looks well-treated as he was fourth in this race last season and if the blinkers work then he is a major player. The one worry with him is the rain, but whilst that is also not ideal for Possol, we will stick with Henry Daly's charge.
Ollie Magern 66-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, no extra before next, 5th of 20, 13l behind Nacarat (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Comply Or Die (IRE) 28-1 (11-11) In touch until 10th, soon struggling in rear, gradually lost touch from 13th, tailed off, 11th of 15, well behind Mon Mome (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Dear Villez (FR) 3-1fav (11-6) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 10, 19l behind Cloudy Lane (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Millenium Royal (FR) 8-13fav (11-8) Settled in close 4th, went 2nd 11th, narrow lead going well 2 out, pushed along and quickened to assert flat, won at Plumpton 3m 2f nov chs (3) hvy in Feb beating Pangbourne (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Cailin Alainn (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Chased leaders early, lost place before halfway, headway 4 out, challenged 3 out, ridden in 3rd 2 out, stayed on to narrow lead approaching last, kept on well, won at Thurles 2m 4f chs Grd 2 hvy in Jan beating Glenfinn Captain (11-8) by 2.
Reveillez 28-1 (10-13) Blundered 11th, always in rear, tailed off and pulled up 5 out in race won by The Sawyer (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Fundamentalist (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Towards rear, blundered 12th, some headway after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 6th of 15, 25l behind New Little Bric (10-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Possol (FR) 9-1 (10-9) Towards rear, ridden 9th, headway 12th, ridden on outside after 4 out, stayed on well from next, went 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 20, 9l behind Nacarat (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Golden Flight (FR) (10-8) Early mistake, never in contention, 3rd of 12, well behind Mid Dancer (10-8) at Auteuil 3m 5f chs Grd 1 (1) in May '07.
Simon 15-2 (11-5) Led until after 17th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 15, 32l behind Mon Mome (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Wichita Lineman (IRE) 15-8 (11-7) Held up behind leading pair, nudged along after 13th, went 2nd after 4 out, switched right after 3 out, went left next, switched right again approaching last, shaken up to lead flat, won at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) hvy in Dec beating Panca.
Nenuphar Collonges (FR) 17-2 (11-4) Mid-division, chased leaders from 5 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 16, 20l behind Rambling Minster (11-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Hot Weld 16-1 (11-12) Always behind, struggling from 7th, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Church Island (10-13) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb, 12 ran.
Lacdoudal (FR) 12-1 (10-8) Never going well, always rear division, 8th of 20, 29l behind Nacarat (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Billyvoddan (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next, 9th of 20, 30l behind Nacarat (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Oedipe (FR) 16-1 (10-8) Behind, reminders 11th, weakened soon after 4 out, 10th of 20, 32l behind Nacarat (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Maljimar (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway after 11th, ridden when awkward 2 out, stayed on same pace, 7th of 19, 22l behind Imperial Commander (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Tot O'Whiskey 85-40fav (11-5) Chased winner until approaching 4 out, outpaced, 3rd of 4, 26l behind Will Be Done (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
The Sawyer (BEL) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leader to 2nd, raced in 3rd, mistake 7th and soon dropped to last, no chance after, last of 4, 30l behind Voy Por Ustedes (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs Grd 1 (1) hvy in Feb.
Patsy Hall (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) In rear, no impression from 3 out, 8th of 12, 19l behind Handfull Of Euros (10-7) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Feb.
Wind Instrument (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Chased leader 2nd to 11th, ridden and struggling from 13th, tailed off, 3rd of 4, 46l behind Millenium Royal (11-8) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov chs (3) hvy in Feb.
Star De Mohaison (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Held up, smooth headway after 17th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened quickly, finished very tired, 4th of 8, 38l behind Joe Lively (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Hobbs Hill 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 11th, driven to chase leaders approaching 4 out, weakened from next, 8th of 15, 29l behind New Little Bric (10-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Lothian Falcon 7-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, led after 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 14, 33l behind Arctic Wings (10-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
