held up, headway 5th, ridden after 4 out, weakened next
towards rear when mistake and unseated rider 3rd
prominent, bumped 2nd, chased winner after 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace
always behind
always towards rear, never dangerous
prominent to 6th
always towards rear, no chance when blundered 4 out
behind, headway 3rd, led 7th, ridden clear when hit last, ran on
jumped left, in touch, mistake 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch until weakened after 8th
chased leaders to 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always behind
mistakes, behind from 4th
held up, headway 8th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, slightly hampered 5th, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led, jumped left 2nd, headed 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
Nonrunner
Ivanoph is the choice here, with the main dangers rated as Lindsay, Jazz Night, Stormhill Stag, Viscount Bankes, Hot Plunge and Prince Dundee. Currently rated 127, Ivanoph looks to be head and shoulders above most of his rivals and, if he is straight enough after a break since last May, holds a very good chance. Imago II won from a mark of 89 under Rules in the summer, so can be afforded a chance, while Jazz Night has won over course and distance and was second in a similar course and distance contest last March. Hot Plunge is another that showed up well at this level last spring, while Gaiac showed some promise in France and could well have benefited from his first run in Britain, which came on his last outing. Epsilo de la Ronce remains competitive at this level, although his wins have been gained over longer trips, while Lindsay could be very interesting. He showed winning form in France before coming to Britain. He was then runner-up on his debut in March and then unseated his rider when last seen in May of last year. If at or near his best, he should go well. Nev Brown is also one that needs to be considered based on his form of last spring, and another to seriously consider is Prince Dundee, who returned from a two-year absence to run well behind Mouseski at Cheltenham. Of the others, Stormhill Stag could be fancied if getting back to his winning form under Rules of December 2003, and Viscount Bankes is closely matched with Jazz Night based on their course and distance runs of 11 months ago. Finally Macaroni Beach put in a fair effort in a similar race at Exeter in the spring, although that was over further. Once again, then, we return to the selection, which is Ivanoph.
Imago II (FR) 3-1 Led, jumped right 6th and 7th, headed 3 out, mistake 2 out, weakened, last of 4, 25l behind Kew Jumper at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Oct.
Ivanoph (FR) 6-1 pulled up in race won by Polar Flight at Buckfastleigh 3m ptp gd in Feb, 14 ran.
Jazz Night 6-1 Not fluent 3rd, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Nousayri at Leicester 2m hts chs (H) sft, 10 ran.
Baden Vugie (IRE) 100-1 Prominent to 5th, behind from 7th, tailed off and pulled up at the 13th in race won by Parisian Storm at Southwell 3m 2f nov chs (E) gd in Aug, 6 ran.
Classic Revival 14-1 6th of 16, 19l behind Art Virginia at Garnons 2m 4f ptp gd.
Colombe d'Or 66-1 Prominent, mistake 3rd, mistake and lost place 4th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Nousayri at Leicester 2m hts chs (H) sft, 10 ran.
Epsilo de La Ronce (FR) 7-1 In touch to 12th, outpaced next, kept on again flat, 4th of 5, 6l behind Gadz'art at Leicester 2m 4f hts chs (H) sft.
Hot Plunge 7-2jt-fav Led to 1st, stayed prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, every chance when badly hampered and brought down at the last in race won by Nousayri at Leicester 2m hts chs (H) sft, 10 ran.
Jo Maximus 12-1 Always prominent, ridden over 2f out, one pace, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Mammas F-C at Folkestone 7f stk 0-55 (F) frm in Jul '99 (Flat).
Lindsay (FR) 6-1 6th of 10, well behind County Derry at Black Forest Ldg 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Nev Brown (IRE) 9-1 Prominent, chased leader until weakened 8th, lost touch 4 out, last of 4, well behind Good Lord Louis at Hereford 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf in Sept.
Rooneyran 16-1 8th of 14, 46l behind Jackson at Brampton Bryan 3m ptp gs.
Stormhill Stag 33-1 Prominent, mistake 10th, ridden approaching 12th, weakened when mistake 15th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Tribal Run at Towcester 3m hts chs (H) sft, 8 ran.
Viscount Bankes 8-1 Prominent, led 7th, ridden and slight lead when ran out at the last in race won by Nousayri at Leicester 2m hts chs (H) sft, 10 ran.
Waggy (IRE) 100-1 Keen, in rear, not jump well, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Jabiru at Taunton 3m hts chs (H) gs, 10 ran.
Macaroni Beach 66-1 Held up, lost touch from 10th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Red Brook Lad at Wincanton 2m 5f hts chs (H) gs, 9 ran.
Gaiac (FR) 12-1 3rd of 14, 25l behind Stretching at Eyton-On-severn 3m ptp gd in Feb.
Prince Dundee (FR) 8-1 3rd of 12, 14l behind Mighty Montefalco at Tweseldown 3m ptp gd in Feb.
