held up towards rear, switched wide and headway approaching 4 out, ridden along in 4th 2 out, no extra closing stages
in rear, not fluent 4th and 5th, jumped left 8th, brief headway into mid-division before 4 out, weakened home straight
chased leader, headway and led briefly 6 out, headed and chased leader 5 out, pushed along and pressed leader 4 out and 3 out, every chance when not fluent 2 out, outpaced approaching last, stayed on
tracked leader, made challenge 3 out, ridden along and every chance 2 out, a length down in 2nd last, ran on strongly run-in and led on the line
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, stayed on after 2 out but never involved
led, briefly headed 6 out, led 5 out, pressed 4 out, ridden along and responded for pressure when met with strong challenge 3 out and 2 out, 1-length lead last, ran on gamely after the last but headed dying strides
in rear, unseated rider 3rd
mid-division, ridden along 3 out, disputing 5th last, weakened after the last
in rear, ridden after 11th, struggling before 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, niggled along 5 out, mistake 4 out, weakened 3 out
towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, weakened 4 out, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden along briefly 5 out, pushed along 3 out, weakened after 2 out
MR PALMTREE shrugged off a penalty to win easily at Hereford last time. He has a further hike in the weights to defy but looks on the upgrade and the hat-trick beckons. Auld Sod finished a long way behind the selection at Huntingdon earlier but Peter's Portrait won nicely at Ludlow last month and can figure again. Volcano is fitted with headgear having failed to show and improvement at Hereford while both Uisce Ur and Anndarrow return to action with the latter debuting over fences.
Mr Palmtree (IRE) 4-1fav (11-8) In rear, steady headway into midfield 9th, hampered slightly 10th, progress to chase leaders 11th, travelled strongly to lead before 4 out, clear 3 out, lead reduced before last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (5) gs in Nov beating Ector (10-0) by 3l, 15 ran.
Whitley Neill (IRE) 200-1 (11-4) In rear, tended to jumped left throughout, tailed off from 3 out, 5th of 6, dist behind William Henry (11-4) at Hereford 3m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Peter's Portrait (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Jumped left at times, tracked leaders, chased clear leader 14th, 6 lengths down when left in lead 4 out, ridden out, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) gd in Oct beating The Happy Chappy (11-8) by 5l, 8 ran.
Volcano (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Towards rear, some way adrift of leaders 12th, hit 13th, virtually tailed off 3 out, stayed on strongly from 2 out, took 3rd close home, 3rd of 6, 16 3/4l behind William Henry (11-4) at Hereford 3m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Uisce Ur (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Mid-division, plugged on into remote 3rd 3 out, 3rd of 10, dist behind Summit Like Herbie (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Jimmi Chew (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Led, hard ridden when lost position 3 out, outpaced before 2 out, weakened after last, 13th of 17, dist behind Tipalong Tyler (10-8) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Anndarrow (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Waited with, soon towards rear, 11th from 6th, soon headway, 3rd when stumbled badly after 2 out, one pace after, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Celtic Dancer (10-13) at Limerick 2m 4f hcp gd in Jul.
Auld Sod (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, went modest 3rd before 2 out, 3rd of 9, 19 1/4l behind Mr Palmtree (10-13) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Battlefield (IRE) 66-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, unseated rider 3rd, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Bignorm (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Behind until fell 11th, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (5) hvy in Feb.
Rock On Aussie (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Bit keen chasing leaders, mistake and weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, 36 1/4l behind Wye Aye (11-8) at Huntingdon 3m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Shanroe Smooch (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Always in rear, never a factor, 4th of 6, dist behind The Brothers (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Oct.
