mid-division, outpaced 3 out, ridden and kept on from last, never near leaders
with leader, hit 4th, led next, headed 4 out, lost place next, soon ridden and weakened
behind, some headway into mid-division 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before last
in touch, driven 3 out, lost place next, weakened last
in touch, headway to challenge 3 out, led next, soon clear, ridden and stayed on well flat
towards rear, struggling 15th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
towards rear, some headway into mid-division 7th, struggling 16th, soon behind, tailed off
always behind, struggling from 13th
tracked leaders, led narrowly when hit 4 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace before last, no impression with winner
mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 3 out, soon ridden, no impression from next
led to after 2nd, in touch, lost place 16th, soon behind
towards rear, headway into mid-division 7th, chased leaders 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression from next
in touch, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leading pair before next, one pace when edged right flat, lost place final 100 yards
in touch on inside, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, 4th next, staying on when carried right flat, chased leading pair final 100 yards, lost 3rd post
mid-division, lost place 10th, behind from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mistake 1st, always behind
mid-division, lost place 12th, soon behind
tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, lost place next, soon outpaced, weakened last
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
in touch on outside, ridden and weakened after 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, 5th 2 out, switched outside before last, carried right flat, stayed on to take 3rd post, not reach front pair
always towards rear, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
led after 2nd to 5th, in touch, mistake 12th, lost place when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
The Jonjo O'Neill stable has won this three times in the last six years and Jackdaws Castle has two entries this year. Lost Legend looks a better bet than Dursey Sound but may be too high in the weights now. A P McCoy might have struggled to do the weight on Dursey Sound and instead rides Pendra for his retainer. Charlie Longsdon's gelding was third in the novices' handicap at this meeting last year and has only had the one run this season so will be fresher than most. Denis O'Regan has won twice on Ned Stark this season but he's closely matched with all-the-way Newbury winner Gevrey Chambertin on a line through Kaki De La Pree. Monbeg Dude is an out-and-out stayer and so is Mendip Express while Annacotty seems better over shorter, though does like it here. GALLANT OSCAR has had just the six starts over fences but has shown some decent form, winning the Leinster National at Naas around this time last year. He was sent off favourite for the Thystes Chase at Gowran back over the larger obstacles in January and wasn't disgraced. There's a chance he's still on a decent mark so he gets the nod but it would be no surprise to see The Druids Nephew thereabouts off the back of a good run over timber and Lamb Or Cod and According To Trev are others who could figure while Barrakilla won over 3m between the flags.
Black Thunder (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Led, headed 14th, not fluent 3 out, 4th and beaten next, 5th of 6, 9l behind Many Clouds (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Annacotty (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden to close 2 out, soon went 2nd, not much room after last, switched left and 2 lengths off leader, stayed on well, led close home, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan beating Big Fella Thanks (10-13) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Mendip Express (IRE) 8-11fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, challenged 4 out until before next, soon ridden, no impression from 2 out, 2nd of 4, 11l behind Beast Of Burden (11-4) at Bangor 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Theatre Guide (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Led, reached for 4th, headed 4 out, lost 2nd and weakened after next, 4th of 5, 28l behind Balder Succes (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f chs G1 (1) sft in Feb.
The Druids Nephew (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up, took keen hold, mistake 6th, jumped slowly 9th, headway 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 6, 16l behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
No Planning 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 8th, close 3rd when carried left 4 out, beaten after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 7, 25l behind Spookydooky (10-9) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Feb.
Cape Tribulation 50-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, 10th of 16, 26l behind Bygones Sovereign (9-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Monbeg Dude (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden before 4 out, headway next, kept on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 20l behind Lie Forrit (11-6) at Haydock 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb.
Grand Jesture (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, ridden and no extra 2 out, 12th of 26, 28l behind Living Next Door (10-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcap ch hvy in Dec.
Ned Stark (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway 5 out, went 2nd from 4 out, led 2 out, all out towards finish, won at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) sft in Jan beating Kaki De La Pree (11-0) by nk, 7 ran.
What A Warrior (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Led, ridden and headed 16th, weakened rapidly, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Many Clouds (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 19 ran.
Lost Legend (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division, hit 10th, chased leaders 5 out, soon outpaced, no impression from 3 out, 5th of 14, 29l behind If In Doubt (10-11) at Doncaster 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Jan.
Pendra (IRE) 3-1 (10-10) Chased leading pair, 2nd 12th, 2 lenghts down and coming under pressure when blundered 2 out, soon no chance with winner, lost 2nd at the last, weakened and lost 3rd run-in, 4th of 8, 13l behind No Buts (10-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov.
Indian Castle (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, closed 6th, close 3rd and ridden 3 out, switched left before next, stayed on same pace flat, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Knock A Hand (11-10) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Feb.
Lamb Or Cod (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, mistake 9th, headway on inside before 17th, ridden and weakened before 4 out, 7th of 10, well behind Benbane Head (9-11) at Cheltenham 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Made all, ridden between last two, stayed on well run-in, won at Newbury 3m nov hcap ch (3) gs in Dec beating Kaki De La Pree (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
According To Trev (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd and next, soon behind and struggling, pulled up after 6th, in a race won by Royal Player (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Barrakilla (IRE) 9-2fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced when slightly hampered 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Niceonefrankie (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Smart Freddy 6-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, last 5th, closed and went 4th before 4 out, no impression on leaders, no extra from next, left 3rd last, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Southfield Theatre (11-5) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Shangani (USA) 7-1 (10-9) Held up in touch in last trio, mistake 1st, jumped slowly and reminder 8th, mistake 11th, pushed along in 5th after 14th, soon no impression, mistake 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, 39l behind Carole's Destrier (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb.
Gallant Oscar (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Held up towards rear early, mid-division halfway, progress into 4th before straight, ridden 3 out, no impression next, left moderate 3rd last, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 17, 28l behind Djakadam (11-10) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp chs hvy in Jan.
Dursey Sound (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway before 9th, pushed along 5 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, well behind Global Power (11-3) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Feb.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 9-1 (10-6) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 13th, slight stumble 4 out, plugging on in 6th and no impression when mistake last, 6th of 14, 31l behind Rocky Creek (11-11) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb.
Azure Fly (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Led until 2nd, led next, slowed into 6th, headed 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, rallied flat, went 2nd towards finish, unable to trouble winner, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Desert Joe (10-8) at Leicester 2m 7f nov hcap ch (3) gs in Feb.
