towards rear, hit 6th, fell 9th
mid-division, headway 17th, 7th when fell next
led, 2nd to 4th, stayed prominent, ridden in 6th when mistake and unseated rider 17th
never better than mid-division
mistake 13th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
hampered 9th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
in touch, lost place 4th, stayed on from 2 out, not reach first 2
towards rear, headway 13th, led 18th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
blundered and unseated rider 1st
in touch, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 11th, ridden 13th, weakened 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
mid-division, mistake 8th, soon lost place and behind
in touch, headway 18th, ridden and every chance last, no extra towards finish
mistake and unseated rider 5th
in touch, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
led to 2nd, led again 4th to 18th, soon ridden, weakened 4 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
behind, hit 10th, some headway when hampered 17th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders to 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
always towards rear, never troubled leaders
mid-division, headway 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway 11th, blundered 15th, weakened 17th, behind when fell 2 out
mistake 7th, always behind, tailed off when fell 17th
There have been doubts about the participation of Lord Atterbury, but David Pipe's charge is reported to be raring to go and is hard to oppose, with Never Compromise, Arctic Times and old Earthmover likely to slug it out for a place. Lord Atterbury was the best novice-hunter chaser last season apart from the mighty Kingscliff, and will line up having only tasted defeat once in seven hunter chasers and point-to-points. There is no doubting his stamina after his somewhat easy success over four miles and a furlong at Cheltenham last April, and of course he jumps well, a fact he proved when scoring at Aintree last year. This exciting eight-year-old was under a cloud after making a winning reappearance between the flags in January, but has been pleasing more and more in recent work, so expectations are high that he can give owner David Johnson another Festival win. Ted Walsh knows all about Cheltenham and you can be sure that Never Compromise will have been prepared well. He beat annual yardstick Spotthedifference at Leopardstown last month, and although making hard work of it, there is no doubting his ability. Fellow Irish raider Arctic Times looks held by the selection on Aintree running, while Earthmover, successful in this event six years ago and placed last year, seems to have renewed vigour since teaming up with Rilly Goschen and should at least hold County Derry on last year's form. One or two shrewdies have backed Bright Approach at big odds and he also made the frame last year, but a bigger danger may be Red Brook Lad who impressed when scoring at Sandown last time. He will run well and makes more appeal than Upham Lord whose long unbeaten run has come to an end. With the experienced Ashley Farrant, current favourite for the men's title on board, Lord Atterbury is going to take some beating and has a favourite's chance.
