mid-division, headway 5 out, left chasing leaders next, one pace 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, hampered 15th, under pressure when badly hampered and brought down after 4 out
tracked leaders, driven 5 out, lost place when hampered and brought down after next
always behind, hit 11th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, hampered 4 out, soon chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, went 3rd after last, kept on flat, not reach front pair
mid-division, badly hampered after 4 out, not recover weakened next, tailed off
mid-division, hampered 4 out, soon chased leaders, outpaced after next, weakened 2 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, left 3rd 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression in 4th from after last
disputed lead to after 12th, remained close up until badly hampered and brought down after 4 out
tracked leaders, left 2nd 4 out, led before 2 out, driven clear between last 2, ridden out, stayed on well
tracked leaders, in touch when fell 15th
mid-division when blundered and unseated rider 7th
mid-division, lost place after 12th, behind from next, tailed off when pulled up before 17th
behind, hampered and unseated rider 15th
held up in rear, still last 5 out, headway after next, chased leaders on outside 2 out, went 2nd before last, ridden and kept on flat, never able to reach winner
tracked leaders, in touch when fell 4 out
held up in rear, some headway after 4 out, struggling next, never near leaders
mid-division, driven to chase leaders on outside before 3 out, no impression in 6th when blundered 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, hampered 4 out, soon chased leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms
with leaders, went 2nd after 12th, led after 5 out, 4 lengths clear when fell next
chased leaders, mistake 6th, lost place when mistake 16th, behind from 5 out, tailed off
behind, headway into mid-division 5 out, under pressure when hampered next, weakening when went left 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, in touch when hampered 4 out, soon driven to chase leaders, ridden after next, weakened 2 out, tailed off
made most to after 5 out, left in lead again next, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon no impression with winner, lost place approaching last, weakened flat
Spring Heeled's victory last year was Ireland's first in this in more than 30 years but they'll have high hopes of a quick double with Gold Bullet. Crack amateur Derek O'Connor is on board but he does have his stamina to prove and there are similar concerns surrounding a whole host of his rivals including Garrahalish, Champagne James, Ericht and Heaney. Guess Again has a lengthy absence to overcome and The Nephew and Bless The Wings are also returning from a break while Tap Night seems to take one step forward and two back and could also run out of steam on the final circuit. Jamie Codd rode the winner of the four-miler here on Tuesday and could get a tune of THE PACKAGE, who has been placed at the last two Festivals off higher marks. He's in the veteran stage now but this tends to be a race for the more experienced chasers. Will Biddick is a good booking for Just A Par and he can reverse Exeter running with Masters Hill on 11lb better terms. Paul Nicholls' charge looks a solid each-way selection and the handicapper is starting to relax his grip on Vintage Star, though he's not fared too well here in the past.
Grandads Horse 8-1 (11-3) Held up behind, struggling 5 out, never dangerous, 8th of 14, 35l behind If In Doubt (10-11) at Doncaster 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Jan.
Masters Hill (IRE) 5-2 (11-1) Prominent, led 4 out, clear 2 out, stayed on well, eased towards finish, won at Exeter 3m grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Feb beating Just A Par (11-8) by 9l, 4 ran.
Across The Bay (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened after 4 out, 14th of 16, well behind Bygones Sovereign (9-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Clondaw Knight (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Chased winner, led 6th until 9th, led again 12th, 2 lengths ahead 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra between last two, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Carole's Destrier (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb.
Buddy Bolero (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 5 out, soon tailed off, 15th of 16, well behind Bygones Sovereign (9-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Just A Par (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Led, niggled along from 8th, reminder 14th, headed 4 out, no impression on winner from next, hanging left after 2 out, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Masters Hill (11-1) at Exeter 3m grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Feb.
Gold Bullet (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, closer 4 out, short of room after 2 out and ridden to go 3rd last, no impression run-in, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Los Amigos (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 5f chs in Jan.
Grand Vision (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Led, often jumped really well, not fluent 3 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Sego Success (11-0) at Warwick 3m lst nov chs (1) sft in Jan.
The Nephew (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, blundered 15th, lost place when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last, in a race won by Charingworth (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f am hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
The Package 20-1 (11-4) Towards rear, mid-division 6th (chair), hampered after 10th, lost place 15th (canal turn), behind when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Oscar Time (10-12) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Dec, 25 ran.
Guess Again (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 2nd, reminder and in rear 4th, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th close home, 4th of 13, 7l behind It's A Gimme (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Jul.
Benbens (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Towards rear, ridden and headway before 4 out, mistake 3 out, no impression, 7th of 12, 32l behind Lie Forrit (11-6) at Haydock 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb.
Vintage Star (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Mid-division, soon chased leaders, pushed along before 10th, led 4 out, headed before 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 12, 25l behind Samstown (10-5) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Garrahalish (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Towards rear, not fluent 1st or 7th, headway on outside 10th, lost place 13th, mistake and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Generous Ransom (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Towards rear, headway before 10th, held in 3rd when blundered 2 out, no impression, 4th of 7, 20l behind Darna (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Benbane Head (USA) 12-1 (10-11) Slowly away, in rear, not always fluent, struggling 17th, well behind 18th, pulled up after, in a race won by Hawkes Point (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Champagne James (IRE) 9-2fav (10-10) Mid-division when slow jump 1st, a little slow 2nd, jumped slightly left 3rd, 11th after 5th, improved on inner 10th, 5th before straight, chased winner 2 out and slight mistake, jumped slightly left last, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Empire Of Dirt (10-4) at Naas 2m 4f nov hcp chs in Feb.
Ericht (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway 13th, 4th and one pace when jumped left 2 out, no extra, 8th of 13, 20l behind Splash of Ginge (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
Heaney (IRE) 33-1 (9-13) Mid-division on inner, awkward head-carriage, 6th 4 out, ridden in 6th on inner 2 out, went 3rd at last, kept on run-in, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Foxrock (11-8) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs sft in Jan.
Sixty Something (FR) 11-2 (11-10) Led until 3rd, led 5th, headed 7th, not fluent 9th, blundered 14th, mistake 4 out, stayed on same pace from next, no impression on winner, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Saint Are (11-7) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Feb.
Ballyoliver 8-1 (10-10) Not fluent 1st, in touch, chased leaders on outside 5 out, outpaced next, soon ridden and no impression, 6th of 12, 24l behind Soll (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcap ch (2) gs in Feb.
Tap Night (USA) 8-1 (10-1) Mistake 1st, towards rear when blundered badly and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Rocky Creek (11-11) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
The Ould Lad (IRE) 11-8fav (11-6) Held up in touch, raced wide, closed 5th, challenged 4 out, led next, headed soon after last, lost 2nd when no extra towards finish, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Desert Joe (10-8) at Leicester 2m 7f nov hcap ch (3) gs in Feb.
Standing Ovation (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) With leader, led before 3rd until 4th, stayed close 2nd until fell 3 out, in a race won by Benbane Head (9-11) at Cheltenham 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
