led, jumped right, headed before 2 out, weakened flat
held up in last, mistake 9th, blundered 11th, soon pushed along, mistake and well beaten from 3 out
held up in rear, headway on outside after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, led flat, pushed out, readily
tracked leaders, close up 3 out, lost place next, weakened last
mid-division on outside, headway approaching 8th, went 3rd after last, stayed on, no impression on leading pair
tracked leaders on inside, close up from 7th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, 2nd briefly 11th, still close up 3 out, not much room and lost place before next
held up in mid-division, mistake 4th, headway 9th, led before 2 out, driven and headed flat, stayed on, no impression on winner towards finish
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway on outside 2 out, never a threat
tracked leader until 7th, dropped rear next, not fluent and well held 3 out, tailed off
mid-division on inside, closed 10th, 3rd briefly last, no impression on leading pair, stayed on one pace final 150 yards
Sew On Target was third and Astracad fifth when John's Spirit won this last year en route to landing the Paddy Power Gold Cup. A few of these will have that race as an early-season target including the classy Champion Court, though the top weight was well behind Bennys Mist when that one was second in the Topham Trophy over the Grand national fences at Aintree in April. Persian Snow had Bennys Mist behind when winning at Warwick in February but he didn't impress in two runs here in the spring. Workbench won easily at Fontwell earlier this month and is only 7lb higher but he won't be able to take any chances with the fences here. Claret Cloak may have stamina limitations but ERICHT will stay and he may be worth another chance having been pulled up when favourite for a Listed handicap here at the Festival in March. He did a lot better at Punchestown subsequently so that setback obviously left no ill-effects.
Champion Court (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 12th (canal turn), soon under pressure, weakened from 2 out, 9th of 30, 25l behind Ma Filleule (11-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Claret Cloak (IRE) 6-4fav (11-6) Held up in last pair, steady headway into 4th 7th, went 3rd before 3 out, held when blundered 2 out, blundered last, weakened into 4th run-in, 4th of 7, 17l behind Australia Day (11-3) at Kempton 2m hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, blundered 15th, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 17, 27l behind Duke Of Lucca (10-7) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
Bennys Mist (IRE) 33-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, 5th approaching last, stayed on to take 2nd final 100 yards, no impression with winner, 2nd of 30, 8l behind Ma Filleule (11-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Ericht (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, progress into 3rd before 3 out, no extra after 2 out, weakened, 6th of 14, 28l behind Operating (10-7) at Punchestown 2m 5f nov hcp chs in May.
Astracad (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Mid-division on inside, tracked leaders after 4 out, kept on same pace, weakened 2 out, 8th of 12, 13l behind Mart Lane (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Ackertac (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, one pace before next, weakened, 9th of 10, 42l behind Mon Parrain (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Persian Snow (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, hit 8th, driven 10th, outpaced 13th, well beaten after 3 out, 7th of 10, 47l behind Buywise (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Croco Bay (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Held up on outside, closed after 9th, challenged 3 out until flat, one pace final 150 yards, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Able Deputy (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf in Aug.
Sew On Target (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Prominent, led before 5th, headed next, lost place 8th, well beaten 4 out, 10th of 16, 26l behind Parsnip Pete (10-10) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Workbench (FR) 15-8 (10-7) Took keeen hold, held up in last pair, headway chasing leading pair approaching 2 out, every chance last, weakened final 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Henryville (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd.
