held up towards rear, mistake 11th, headway before 12th, went 4th before 4 out, chased winner before 2 out, kept on and no impression
led, headed 6 out, weakened before 4 out
tracked leaders, lost place before 12th, pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 4 out, led 3 out, clear before last
with leader, led 6 out, headed 3 out, weakened 2 out
in rear, outpaced before 6 out, headway before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd place run-in
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Sego Success made all here in December but fell at the second at Warwick the following month and still looks a risky proposition. Drop Out Joe seems much better on a faster surface but The Last Samuri arrives in winning form and, though raised 9lb since Kempton, should give a good account again. The Druids Nephew has a touch of class but connections wouldn't welcome a rise in the weights ahead of next month’s Grand National. BAND OF BLOOD is the interesting one as he was fourth in last year's Irish Grand National off a similar mark and is sure to have benefitted from last month's run at Warwick, his first for Richard Newland who excels with his staying chasers. Just A Par has been out of sorts this season while Seventh Sky has looked in the handicapper's grip for a while.
The Druids Nephew (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, ridden after 18th, some headway when mistake, slithered on landing and hampered 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, dist behind Aachen (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Drop Out Joe 11-1 (11-6) Chased leaders until outpaced and dropped towards rear approaching 13th (water), blundered 16th, rallied next, went 2nd under pressure 3 out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov beating Royal Palladium (10-0) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Seventh Sky (GER) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, jumped left 12th, lost place 18th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Le Reve (11-4) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
The Last Samuri (IRE) 9-2jfav (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 14th, switched right approaching 3 out, went 2nd before last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Viva Steve (10-8) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Sego Success (IRE) 7-1fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, fell 2nd, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Band Of Blood (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Held up, outpaced 11th, mistake and weakened 13th, 5th of 7, 26l behind Taquin Du Seuil (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Just A Par (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Behind, mistake 14th, never on terms, 9th of 15, 33l behind Carole's Destrier (11-10) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Ikorodu Road 16-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 15, 22 3/4l behind Ziga Boy (10-0) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
