chased leaders, under pressure before 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, pushed along 8th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 7 out
held up in mid-division, weakened 10th, soon beaten
held up in touch, slow 11th, chased leaders approaching 5 out, blundered next, soon under pressure, kept on
always in rear, under pressure 10th, behind when pulled up before 5 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 12th, under pressurre 4 out, soon weakened
behind, mistake 3rd, blundered and unseated rider 9th
mid-division, headway 12th, chased leaders next, pushed along 5 out, hard ridden to challenge 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead close home
raced in rear, headway 12th, chased leaders next, pushed along 5 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 12th, chased leaders 4 out, soon hard ridden, stayed on same pace
led, headed 9th, led again 12th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before last
prominent, led 9th, headed 12th, led again before 3 out, hard ridden last, headed and no extra closing stages
tracked leader, slow 4th, lost place 8th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
always behind, pulled up before 3 out
Quazy De Joie is a leading contender having won on a good ground over C&D three weeks ago. He should go close if reproducing that effort on today's softer surface, while Clifden Boy has also been in fine form on faster going of late. WITCH'S HAT made a promising chase debut at Leicester in January when staying on well to grab fifth place behind Three Chords. The latter and the runner-up have both won since and Jim Old's charge gets the vote today. Warwick winner Quiet Bob could prove best of the rest with a recent pipe-opener at Ffos Las under his belt.
Clifden Boy (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Led, bumped 1st, headed and ridden after 12th, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 9, well behind Bynack Mhor (10-0) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jul.
Elton 11-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on inside, mistake 1st, weakened after 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Canal Bank (11-3) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Oranger (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leading pair, ridden 6th, lost 3rd before 8th, behind when went right and blundered 10th, blundered 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 10, 36l behind Mister Wiseman (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Feb.
Quazy de Joie (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 4th, driven 3 out, 3rd approaching last, stayed on under strong pressure flat to lead near finish, won at Chepstow 3m Conditional Handicap Chase (0-100) (5yo+) (4) gd in Mar beating Ukrainian Star (11-2) by nk, 11 ran.
Witch's Hat (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders outpaced after 5 out, soon lost place, ridden 2 out, rallied sfter last, never troubled leaders, 5th of 10, 6l behind Three Chords (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jan.
Loco Grande (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, went 2nd after next until approaching 4 out where not fluent, weakened 3 out, 7th of 13, 33l behind Extreme Impact (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Top Tide (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Led 10 til tried to rn out collided w rails & ur bend app 14, in a race won by Hereweareagain (12-0) at Bishops Court 3m ptp gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Our Columbus (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) In touch, mistake 5th, ridden 10th, 5th and beaten when blundered 3 out, 5th of 11, 25l behind Quazy De Joie (11-0) at Chepstow 3m Conditional Handicap Chase (0-100) (5yo+) (4) gd in Mar.
Miss Fleur 4-1 (10-2) Chased leading trio until dropped to rear after 4th, remiders after 6th, lost touch 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Rapid Increase (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 6 ran.
Quiet Bob (IRE) 9-4fav (10-11) Held up in 6th, slow 3rd, reminders after 5th, mistake 9th, ridden in 5th on inside before 4 out, beaten next, 5th of 6, 19l behind Marias Rock (10-9) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
The Humbel Monk (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place halfway, soon beaten, 4th of 6, 13l behind Cold Harbour (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m Conditional Handicap Chase (0-100) (5yo+) (4) gd in Mar.
Billy Murphy 9-1 (11-2) In rear, jumped slowly 2nd, 7th and ridden 14th, weakened after 4 out, 7th of 12, 27l behind Tuskar Rock (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Ballymorn (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 5th until next, led 7th until after 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 16, well behind One More Dinar (11-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd in Feb.
Just Unique 50-1 (10-11) Towards rear and in touch, took keen early, hit 9th, pushed along before 5 out, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 6, 19l behind Lord Villez (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f beg chase (4) sft in Mar.
