held up towards rear, steady headway 17th, went 2nd 4 out, left in narrow lead 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat
prominent, left chasing winner 2 out, every chance last, edged right under pressure flat, held near finish
slight lead, pecked 8th, hit 14th, narrowly headed next, in touch when blundered and fell 17th
with leader, definite advantage 15th, ridden and holding slight lead when fell 2 out
in rear, slightly hampered 17th, making some headway on outside when hampered 3 out, no chance after
in touch, hampered 15th, hit 20th and soon behind
towards rear, steady headway 17th, pecked 4 out, no impression after
in touch, losing place when blundered and unseated rider 15th
held up in rear, good headway to chase leaders 18th until blundered and unseated rider 3 out
held up in rear, mistake 9th, blundered 18th, some headway when blundered and fell 3 out
towards rear, jumped right 19th, blundered and fell next
towards rear, hampered 17th, headway 22nd, no chance when hampered 4 out, tailed off
towards rear, hit 14th and 23rd, hampered 3 out, one pace and no headway after
in touch, mistake 10th, hampered 17th, still well there when hampered and unseated rider 3 out
chased leaders, left 2nd at 17th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, headway until mid-division 6th, hampered 15th, fell 3 out
held up in rear, badly hamnpered 3 out, no chance after
chased leaders, went 2nd 22nd, still well there approaching last, weakened flat
with leaders when blundered and unseated rider 1st
Gungadu will be a prohibitive price but he should take the world of beating here with Character Building and Fair Question others to consider. The selection has one blip on his copybook this season wheh he was turned over by Boychuk at Newbury but he wasn't fully wound up that day and he has since improved. He does have a tendency to jump to the right under pressure and he does make mistakes but still sets the standard for the rest here and he is taken to land the prize. Character Building is unexposed and he won well enough last time at Market Rasen when getting the better of Ice Melted. He looks a thorough stayer and although he will need to improve to get his head in front he has to be shortlist material. Fair Question is another interesting contender because having suffered a crashing fall at Wetherby he bounced back in style to score at Plumpton last time. His jumping was perfect that day and if he can build on the then he should be capable of getting into the shake-up. Ballytrim has got some solid form but he is best on really testing ground so he is passed over today. This is another cracking contest and the vote is given to Gungadu who should have too much class for his rivals.
Butler's Cabin (FR) 25-1 (9-7) Hit 8th, behind from 10th, 10th of 12, 49l behind Exotic Dancer (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Character Building (IRE) 7-4jt-fav (11-12) Tracked leader, headway 3 out, led next, ridden, kept on well flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb beating Ice Melted (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Fair Question (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Made all, clear 3 out, ran on well, won at Plumpton 3m 2f nov chs (3) hvy in Feb beating Chamoss Royale (11-1) by 11l, 3 ran.
Gungadu 4-7fav (11-10) Made all, blundered 14th, clear when hung left after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ascot 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb beating Wee Robbie (11-4) by 4l, 7 ran.
Ballytrim (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Disputed lead, slow and headed 4 out, led again from next, clear before 2 out, strongly pressed after last, kept on well, won at Navan 2m 4f beg chs hvy beating Kipper (11-12) by 7l, 10 ran.
Garde Champetre (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Tracked leader until outpaced 3 out, rallied to take 2nd run-in, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Chief Yeoman (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) sft in Feb.
Hordago (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Held up, progress halfway, 5th 6 out, 3rd under pressure 4 out, 4th and no extra when bad mistake 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 15, well behind News Item (10-5) at Downpatrick 3m 4f hcp chs 0-123 sft in Feb.
Mac Three (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Prominent, 2nd 6 out, weakened after 4 out, left 4th next, tailed off when left 3rd last, 3rd of 7, well behind Hear The Echo (11-5) at Leopardstown 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Led 1st, headed 9th, remained in touch, challenged 4 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Heltornic (11-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Not Left Yet (IRE) 9-4fav (11-7) Held up, headway 12th, led 2 out, soon driven, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Oct beating No Guarantees (11-7) by 6l, 13 ran.
Swift Thyne (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Led, headed 8th, remained close up, ridden approaching 2 out, hit last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (4) hvy in Feb beating Hold The Bid (11-4) by 8l, 11 ran.
The Reverend (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Led, headed 7th, not fluent next, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 8, 31l behind Alright Now M'Lad (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Tobar Isaun (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Towards rear, 9th 5 out, progress 3 out, moderate 5th 2 out, kept on, 4th of 14, 14l behind Benefit Night (11-8) at Navan 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116 hvy in Feb.
Bengo (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Not fluent in rear, mistake 8th, headway from 4 out, blundered 3 out, chased winner, no impression when blundered last 2, 2nd of 11, 18l behind Lady of Scarvagh (11-10) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
High Cotton (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Held up in touch, mistake 13th, headway and effort 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Naunton Brook (10-5) at Hexham 4m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Nine De Sivola (FR) 9-1 (10-11) Held up behind, headway to chase leaders 18th, led briefly and going well 3 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 12l behind Nil Desperandum (11-12) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Petertheknot (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Mid-division, 8th 4 out, progress into 5th next, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 13, 29l behind The Roney Man (10-2) at Navan 2m 1f hcp chs 0-123 hvy.
Countess Trifaldi (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up, no extra from 6 out, beaten when pulled up 4 out in race won by Abbeytown (10-9) at Thurles 2m 6f hcp chs 0-123 gs in Feb, 18 ran.
Woodstock Lass (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Led, hit 10th, headed 4 out, blundered 3 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Petite Margot (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f mrs nov chs (4) gs.
Blue Splash (FR) 10-11fav (11-9) Made all and jumped right throughout, clear from 3 out, won at Newcastle 3m nov chs (2) hvy in Feb beating More Likely (11-5) by 14l, 5 ran.
