never going well in rear, driven along from 5th, tailed off 10th
chased leader to 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, soon tailed off
chased leaders, lost place 10th, moderate rally under pressure from 3 out
soon tracking leaders in 4th, went 2nd 4 out, led approaching last, driven out
led, not fluent 9th, headed before mistake 11th, weakened pulled up approaching 3 out
in rear, steady headway 10th, ridden next, weakened from 4 out, blundered last
held up, hit 10th, steady headway to track leading duo 11th, went 2nd briefly 4 out, weakened after next
not fluent, tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd 8th, led approaching 11th, headed before mistake last, one pace run in
blundered 1st, in touch when fell 7th
All of these have something to prove at present but equally all are capable of winning a race of this nature. The vote is awarded to Misty Dancer. The selection may just have needed February's run at Warwick to blow away the cobwebs but the underfoot conditions may not have been to his liking either. True, he's been off for a while since but his stable continues to fire in the winners and this winner of three of his ten chase starts has his ideal conditions. Kalca Mome, Mister Quasimodo and Priors Dale could all take a hand if finding their best form, Major Euro is capable on his day as he showed last time but is hard to predict, King Louis looks good on his day but has thrown in a couple of stinkers, Tidal Fury is out of form and has shown his best form under testing conditions, Helen Wood hasn't looked in love with the game of late whilst Its Crucial is fairly consistent but struggles to win. An open heat and Misty Dancer couldn't be regarded as a confident selection.
Kalca Mome (FR) 33-1 (11-0) In touch, not fluent and lost place 5th, jumped slowly next, behind from 8th, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Natal (10-1) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Priors Dale 16-1 (11-7) Led to 2nd, stayed prominent, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 11th of 13, 33l behind Palomar (9-13) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Mister Quasimodo 12-1 (11-0) Chased leader, led 8th until next, prominent when blundered 4 out, soon weakened, 11th of 17, 36l behind Tiger Cry (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
King Louis (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Hit 2nd, mistake 5th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Tidal Bay (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd, 8 ran.
Tidal Fury (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Reaced wide, led from before 5th, headed 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Schindlers Hunt (11-6) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp chs gs in Mar.
Misty Dancer 4-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway after 9th, weakening when mistake 12th, 5th of 7, 49l behind Bagan (10-9) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Helen Wood 16-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway when hampered 12th, soon ridden, weakened next, 9th of 15, well behind Strawberry (10-12) at Newbury 2m 6f mrs hcp chs (1) sft in Mar.
Its Crucial (IRE) 3-1fav (10-8) Led, headed and bumped 3rd, led again 4th, hit 7th, headed next, weakened 4 out, no chance when mistake last, 5th of 8, 18l behind Edmo Yewkay (11-2) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Major Euro (IRE) 11-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, led 9th until 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead flat, pushed clear flat, won at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Mar beating Coach Lane (11-5) by 7l, 8 ran.
