mid-division, mistakes, headway 13th to track leaders, weakened 3 out, hampered when beaten 2 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, ridden 15th, weakened next
always in rear, mistake 12th
in rear, mistake 2nd, pulled up before 9th
in touch, mistakes, weakened 10th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, blundered 9th, pulled up before 11th
mid-division, mistakes, jumped slowly 10th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, mistake 11th, never better than finishing position
mid-division, pecked 3rd, ridden when mistake 10th, behind 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
led and awkward 1st, headed briefly when hampered by loose horse 8th, ridden when headed 2 out, weakened last
never going, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
in touch, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened next
tracking leaders when unseating rider 7th
mid-division, took closer order when mistake 15th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened last
always in rear, hampered 9th, mistake 10th, behind from 13th
tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, weakened 14th, behind when unseated rider 2 out
mid-division, mistake 12th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, stayed on from 3 out, chased winner in vain last, kept on
in touch, ridden 3 out to chase leaders 3 out, one pace from last
mid-division, mistake 14th, soon dropped rear and behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, mistake 8th, hit 11th, headway 15th, tracked leader 4 out, led and clear 2 out, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden 15th, weakened 3 out, beaten when fell 2 out
towards rear, mistakes, some progress after 12th, beaten 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, weakened 4 out
Noir Et Vert is taken to win this for the in form Ferdy Murphy yard to give him a second win in this race since Stop The Waller took victory in the nineties. Others to note are Officer De Reserve and My Immortal in this amateur riders handicap. Noir Et Vert has not been seen this season but that should not put punters off as he has run well fresh in the past. He was last seen at last years Punchestown Festival when second to American Jennie and must have had problems getting himself fit for his return. This will be though as it is highly competitive but with the yard in such good form any market support should be noted. Officer De Reserve will have the disadvantage of carrying top weight and although this lightly raced France bred has scored twice from his five runs he is still in effect a novice. He won nicely at Newbury on his penultimate run and was not totally discredited behind a back to form Vodka Bleu here back in Janurary. Having said that he is weighted accordingly and will have to be at this very best if he is to score up the Cheltenham hill. My Immortal is possibly better on a sound surface as he was doing all his winning on fast ground during last summer. He did run well though on a soft surface at Sandown when second behind Gungadu last time though which although was a defeat could be nominated as his career best to date. He has a top amateur booked so has to be noted in the betting market. But for the winner we return to Noir Et Vert.
Officier De Reserve (FR) 7-2fav (11-2) In touch, lost place 4th, reminders 7th, never on terms, 6th of 14, 14l behind Vodka Bleu (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Jan.
Idle Talk (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Close up, hit 11th, weakened 5 out, 7th of 16, 47l behind Miko de Beauchene (11-12) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Joes Edge (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) Held up when mistake and unseated rider at the 12th in race won by Cloudy Lane (11-9) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd, 7 ran.
Ardaghey (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Behind, headway 5th, progress to join leaders next, led 13th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, 24l behind Gungadu (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Bob Bob Bobbin 13-2 (11-5) Not fluent, in touch, led 10th, headed 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Harmony Brig (10-12) at Newcastle 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Newbay Prop (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Held up, headway when stumbled 18th, chased leaders 5 out, one pace from next, no impresssion, 4th of 18, 36l behind Comply Or Die (11-12) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Beat The Boys (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Led to 2nd, chased leader, led 4 out, edged right from approaching 2 out, pressed when left clear last, won at Warwick 3m 2f nov chs (3) gs in Feb beating Beau Michel (11-1) by 17l, 5 ran.
Run For Paddy 12-1 (10-10) Mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 23, 17l behind Hot Weld (9-9) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Whispered Secret (GER) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, keen hold, not fluent 7th, some headway approaching 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 11, 13l behind Nadover (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Royal Man (FR) 7-1 (9-13) Led when slow jump 1st, prominent after, 3rd 7 out, soon lost place and weakened, completely tailed off, 9th of 18, well behind Preists Leap (10-2) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs hvy in Jan.
Innox (FR) 9-1 (10-9) In touch, went 2nd at 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, lost 2nd flat, no extra, 3rd of 8, 28l behind Carruthers (11-8) at Bangor 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Ma Yahab 5-4fav (10-11) Held up, ridden, outpaced 11th, headway approaching 5 out, chasing leader when mistake last, rallied and led post, won at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) gs in Feb beating Stolen Moments (10-12) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Back To Bid (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, led and disputed after 3rd, clear lead before 5 out, challenged before 2 out, headed before last where mistake, no extra run-in, 2nd of 18, 2l behind Ballytrim (11-0) at Down Royal 2m 4f hdl hvy in Feb.
Noir Et Vert (FR) 7-2fav (10-11) Always prominent, 2nd halfway, led 6 out, strongly pressed after 2 out, joined after last, kept on well, headed on line, 2nd of 14, shd behind American Jennie (11-7) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 gd in Apr.
Celtic Son (FR) 11-4 (11-7) Slowly jump first, reminders and towards rear, ridden after 4th, went moderate 4th after 3 out, never troubled leaders, 4th of 11, 14l behind White On Black (11-9) at Taunton 2m 1f clm hdl (5) sft in Feb.
St Matthew (USA) 28-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along after 4th, lost place 6th, stayed on approaching last, no chance with first 2, 3rd of 10, 17l behind Smoothly Does It (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
My Immortal 12-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, stayed on from next, went 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Gungadu (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft in Feb.
Openide 25-1 (10-11) Led until after 6th, dropped rear after 9th, stayed on again from 2 out, 5th of 11, 6l behind Arrayou (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
Burntoakboy 13-2 (9-13) Mid-division, lost place 12th, soon beaten, 7th of 15, 11l behind Gungadu (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Feb.
Nykel (FR) 7-1fav (11-9) Prominent when fell in race won by King Harald (11-8) at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Feb, 19 ran.
High Chimes (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) In rear, short-lived effort on outside approaching 16th, soon struggling, well behind when pulled up at the 17th in race won by D'Argent (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Oscar India (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Held up, progress into 8th after halfway, 6th 5 out, 4th 4 out, soon no extra, 5th of 15, 33l behind Chelsea Harbour (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp chs hvy in Feb.
Jaunty Times 7-2 (11-10) Held up, hit 19th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 6, 7l behind The Luder (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Undeniable 25-1 (10-6) Mid-division, outpaced 5 out, never on terms, 8th of 18, well behind Comply Or Die (11-12) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
