in touch, went 3rd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, switched left between last 2, not fluent last, stayed on
left in lead 1st, headed 5th, led again before 8th, headed 12th, stayed pressing leader, stayed on well under pressure to lead close home
always prominent, not fluent 8th, hit 11th, led next, ridden 2 out, headed close home
mid-division, progress 8th, went 2nd briefly after 13th, hit 4 out and pecked, weakened from 3 out
held up in last, headway 13th, weakened after 3 out
left pressing winner 1st, led 5th, headed before 8th, jumped slowly 13th, soon lost place, stayed on from 2 out
led until slowed up, jumped right and blundered 1st, rider lost both irons, not recover, pulled up before 3rd
in rear, ridden after 9th, jumped slowly and lost touch from next
held up towards rear, lost touch 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Withdrawn
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
Private Be can give weight away all round to the likes of Its Crucial, Alrafid, You Do the Math and Black Hills. Most of these have shown something to recommend them at one time or another this season, including Private Be who has been very consistent, making the first two in nine of his 11 starts. In fact his only poor effort was when he was down the field in the totesport Hurdle at Newbury in February, but that was on extremely testing going. Since then the Philip Hobbs-trained eight-year-old has won two of his three subsequent outings over fences, the latest of which came in a Class 2 contest at Aintree. He won there despite hanging badly, and with Richard Johnson back on board today, will get the strong handling he needs in his follow-up bid. There are certainly plenty of dangers, not least Its Crucial, an unexposed sort that bolted up on his last start at Huntingdon in February. Unlike the selection, he takes a step up in grade but is one to note. Alrafid won a shade cosily at Lingfield last time but steps up in trip here, while of the Alan King duo Il Duce and You Do The Math, preference is for the latter with his low weight. Agan though, he needs to step up a gear, and of the remainder, Black Hills caught the eye staying on strongly at Newbury last time, but is creeping up the weights. Nevertheless, he can be fancied to reach the frame at decent odds, but Private Be is the pick to defy topweight.
Il Duce (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Prominent, led 2nd until 5th, stayed prominent, ridden after 4 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 15l behind Bible Lord (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Mar.
Ofarel D'airy (FR) 11-2 (10-2) Held up in rear, hit 3rd, mistakes 8th and 10th, stayed on from 3 out, kept on flat, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Flying Enterprise (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan.
Black Hills 7-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led 4th, joined and hit 2 out, mistake and narrowly headed soon after last, stayed challenging and strong challenge near finish, just held, 2nd of 7, hd behind Always Waining (11-4) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) g.
Dunsfold Duke 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 7th to 4 out, stayed chasing winner, no chance from 2 out, kept on well for 2nd, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Bible Lord (11-9) at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Alrafid (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Settled in 4th, headway 6th, went 2nd 8th, challenging when mistake 3 out, led narrowly last, shaken up and in command run-in, cleverly, won at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Cossack Dancer (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Borora 25-1 (10-0) Blundered 4 out, always behind, 17th of 23, 42l behind Andreas (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Which Pocket (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Led, ridden, headed soon after last, no extra, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Aztec Warrior (11-10) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) gf.
Its Crucial (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Led 2nd, soon clear, in command from halfway, 20 lengths clear 3 out, jumped left last, unchallenged, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb beating Inishturk (11-5) by 29l, 9 ran.
You Do The Math (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, challenged from 6th, chased leader from 8th, upsides early flat, driven to lead just inside final furlong, hung left and kept on well, won at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb beating The Hardy Boy (10-10) by.
Easter Present (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Held up, lost touch approaching 11th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Don't Push It (11-0) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Oct, 12 ran.
Private Be 12-1 (10-10) With leader, led from 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, hung left and kept on under pressure from last, won at Aintree 2m 4f amt nov hcp chs (2) gd beating Bob Hall (11-7) by 3l, 10 ran.
Dream Alliance 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders until 13th, stumbled on bend after next, soon struggling but in touch, one pace from 3 out, 6th of 7, 13l behind Inaro (10-3) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs (3) gd in Mar.
Reach For The Top (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and some headway 11th, weakened after 13th and pulled up 3 out in race won by He's The Gaffer (10-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar, 13 ran.
