mid-division, headway from home bend, ridden and stayed on same pace last
mid-division, in touch 3 out, lost place after 2 out, well beaten last
mid-division, not fluent 6th, hampered 2 out, led after home bend, joined last, soon headed, stayed on same pace final 75 yards
held up in mid-division, headway approaching last, stayed on same pace final 150 yards
mid-division, headway 2 out, challenged flat, led inside final 100 yards, stayed on
held up towards rear, headway after home bend, challenged last, soon led, headed inside final 100 yards, stayed on, just held
mid-division, in touch 4th, ridden after 2 out, one pace last
held up in rear, some progress final 100 yards, never involved
reluctant to line up and whipped round to the left, slowly away, always in rear
led 1st, ridden and headed after home bend, faded
prominent until 1st, chased leaders, ridden and every chance last, stayed on same pace flat
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd or 2 out, led briefly after home bend, still close up last, stayed on same pace flat
tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden after 2 out, weakened flat
led until 1st, tracked leader, not fluent 2 out, weakened before last
hampered start and slowly away, behind, hit 5th, mistake 2 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway on outside before 2 out, one pace and no impression before last
NonRunner
It's not getting any easier for punters with another big field set to face the starter. Nicky Henderson is responsible for the top three in the weights but jockey bookings suggest Might Bite is the stable selection. He's unbeaten over hurdles and won the opening novice event on this card 12 months ago, though is just on the cusp of becoming difficult to place now in handicaps. Vivant Poeme did well last year but hasn't been seen since August. Theo's Charm is high enough in the weights judged on his fifth at Ascot in January and Matorico needs to rediscover his best form but Kayf Blanco ran a blinder in the County Hurdle here last month and can't be ignored. Drumlee Sunset has never had much luck here in the past and like The Gipper, Kerisper and DOUBLE W'S (NAP) steps out of novice company but the latter could be well treated. He certainly wasn't winning out of turn at Haydock and travelled very strongly for a long way here in November when third on his only previous try in a handicap.
Might Bite (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 2nd going well on long run to 2 out, soon led and went clear, ridden before last, kept on well flat, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar beating Simply A Legend (11-8) by 8l, 17 ran.
Bear's Affair (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Mid-division when brought down 8th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Laurium 20-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, mistake and unseated rider 4th, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Kayf Blanco 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, driven after last (usual 2 out), ridden and kept on under pressure on extended flat, never reached leaders, 7th of 26, 10 1/4l behind Superb Story (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Matorico (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up rear of mid-division, not fluent 6th, not clear run bend after next, no impression when badly hampered normal 2 out, 11th of 24, 23 1/4l behind Ibis Du Rheu (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Zarib (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, effort 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 22, 37 1/2l behind Agrapart (10-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Drumlee Sunset (IRE) 8-13fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 2nd, clear before 2 out, easily, won at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Mar beating Crickel Wood (11-6) by 17l, 12 ran.
Vivant Poeme (FR) 11-2 (10-4) Held up in last pair on outside, steady headway 3 out, tracked leading pair before next, ridden and one pace between last 2, stayed on to take 2nd near finish, no impression with winner, 2nd of 11, 3 3/4l behind Mister Fizz (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Theo's Charm (IRE) 7-1cfav (10-7) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, outpaced next, stayed on well closing stages, 5th of 17, 13 1/4l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
The Gipper (IRE) 1-5fav (11-13) Jumped left, made all, soon clear, reduced lead after 4th, clear again from 3 out, easily, won at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Mar beating Bennys King (11-1) by 6l, 7 ran.
Kerisper (FR) 4-1 (11-1) Made all, not fluent 1st, kept on well from last, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Mar beating Preseli Rock (11-1) by 6l, 8 ran.
Hedley Lamarr (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, closed after 4 out, close 3rd 3 out, one pace next, 3rd and well held last, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Goodbye Dancer (11-4) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Double W's (IRE) 1-2fav (11-0) Chased clear leader, hit 4th, hit 2 out, soon riddden, closed approaching last, driven to lead run-in, stayed on well, won at Haydock 2m (4) gd in Mar beating Altruism (11-12) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Masterplan (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Made most before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 13th of 16, dist behind Murrayana (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Quinlandio (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, hit 4 out, chased leaders next, outpaced in 4th approaching 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd flat, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 9, 12 1/4l behind Remiluc (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gs in Feb.
Muhtaris (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up behind when badly hampered and brought down 5th, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Millanisi Boy 9-2 (10-7) In touch, not fluent 3rd, effort 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Count Guido Deiro (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
