mid-division, driven to chase leaders 3 out, soon one pace, ridden and kept on flat, no impression
prominent until blunderd and dropped to rear 2nd, headway and in touch on outer after 7th, pressed leader next, lost place 5 out, soon ridden and lost place, rallied to take 4th towards finish
tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, every chance last, ridden and kept on flat, held towards finish
tracked leaders, lost place 5 out, soon behind, tailed off
led, headed after 5 out, regained narrow lead next, headed 2 out, one pace in 3rd last, soon ridden, rallied towads finish, just held
towards rear, headway after 13th, outpaced 4 out, never reached leaders
mid-division, tracked leaders on inside 5 out, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, held on
mid-division, lost place and behind from 12th, struggling when not fluent 12th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up behind, headway into mid-division 4th, ridden after 4 out, kept on, not reach leaders
prominent, led narrowly after 5 out to next, soon lost place, ridden before last, kept on same pace
What A Moment was always travelling when landing an amateurs' handicap at Cheltenham but has 8lb more to carry here. Boa Island was close up when falling at Exeter in a race in which Sykes finished second but has gone up a further 6lb since. Ballycross had no chance against Thistlecrack last time but had earlier finished second over 2m4f at Uttoxeter and should be winning soon over fences. KERROW has been a largely progressive hurdler over the last 12 months and a recent victory at Aintree would have been a real confidence-booster. He doesn't look badly treated on his chasing bow but the fences keep getting in the way for Fingerontheswitch. Newtown Lad has more on his plate than at Uttoxeter and You Say What may need today's experience.
What A Moment (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division on outside, headway 15th, went 2nd before 3 out, led next, clear last, ridden out flat, kept on, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Troika Steppes (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Ballycross 20-1 (11-0) Chased front pair virtually throughout, blundered 3rd, struggling 12th, tailed of 3 out, 3rd of 4, 29 3/4l behind Thistlecrack (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gs in Nov.
Tempestatefloresco 12-1 (11-5) Led, not fluent 13th (water), mistake 3 out, headed and fell 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.
You Say What (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, every chance before last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Mustmeetalady (11-8) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Boa Island (IRE) 2-1fav (10-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 4 out, close up and fell 4 out, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Kerrow (IRE) 4-1fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, not clear run and switched right before 2 out, hung left and headway between last 2nd, led last, stayed on well, clear final 100 yards, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Tantamount (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Sykes (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, chased winner from 3 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Laurium (11-8) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Forthefunofit (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Hampered 1st, held up in touch in rear, pushed along after 13th, behind after, mistake 16th, struggling and no chance when blundered 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Beware The Bear (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 11-2 (10-0) Held up in last pair, good headway tracking leading pair 17th until mistake 4 out, weakened approaching next, left poor 3rd at the last, 3rd of 7, 37l behind Gentleman Jon (10-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Newtown Lad (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Mid-division, not fluent and reminder 4th, headway 12th, led 2 out, edged left flat, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Heroes Or Ghosts (11-0) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
