mid-division, towards rear whem unseated rider 16th
chased leaders, fell 6th`
behind, hampered 6th, pushed along before 17th, never dangerous
mid-division, reminders 13th, headway before next, ridden before 4 out, one pace in 4th
mid-division, headway before 6 out, led before 3 out, kept on well
towards rear, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, pushed along before 15th, soon weakened pulled up before 4 out
led, headed before 14th, unseated rider 6 out
in rear, pushed along 5th, headway 6 out, ridden to chase winner and not fluent last, kept on
chased leader, went 2nd before 4 out, blundered 2 out, one pace
chased leaders, ridden before 6 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden before 4 out, never a factor
mid-division, blundered 2nd, ridden after 5 out, eased before 4 out
mid-division, ridden before 4 out, no impression
chased leaders, led before 14th, headed before 3 out, weakened from next
prominent, mistake and unseated 8th
mid-division, riden before 4 out, never a factor, pulled up before last
in rear, outpaced from 16th
Those in the top half of the handicap have done well in this in recent years including the winners of the last two renewals, Wyck Hill and Portrait King. Both face a stiffer task off higher marks this time round but arrive in good form. Recent Newbury winner Knockanrawley also has a shout if coping with a 7lb rise but SHOTGUN PADDY is preferred. Emma Lavelle's charge made a bold bid to repeat last year's victory in a Grade 3 handicap at Warwick last month and a repeat of his third to Hawkes Point should see him go close. Scotswell won over 3m6f at Catterick last time when just getting the better of Herdsman with previous Carlisle winner Milborough pulled up but Woodford County never threatened in the Welsh Grand National last time having won at Newbury before that. Alpha Victor showed signs of a resurgence when runner-up at Wetherby three weeks ago and Beforeall ran well from out of the weights at Sandown last time and could also go well at a price.
Shotgun Paddy (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inside, led 8th, mistake 15th, hit 17th, misake 3 out, headed before next, lost 2nd and no impression on winner 100 yards out, one pace, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Hawkes Point (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Wyck Hill (IRE) 5-4fav (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leader, flattened 1st, led narrowly 6th, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and narrowly headed approaching next, pressed winner and every chance last, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Mackerye End (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Portrait King (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, led briefly after 3rd, slow and headed next, 2nd halfway, led 4 out, strongly pressed and headed approaching last, soon no impression on easy winner, kept on run-in, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Embracing Change (10-6) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcap ch sft.
Knockanrawley (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair, mistake and reminder 5th, awkward 8th, steady leadway 13th, pushed along in 5th after 13th, edging left from 3 out, chased leading pair next, challenged and went left last, led run-in, hung left, driven out, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec beating Back In June (10-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Milborough (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Fell 1st, in a race won by Scotswell (10-9) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
Alpha Victor (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, led before 3 out, headed 3 out, ridden to regain last, kept on and headed run-in, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Join The Clan (10-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Herdsman (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway before 3 out in 4th, chased winner after last, held near finish, 2nd of 12, nk behind Scotswell (10-9) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Count Guido Deiro (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Chased leaders, mistake 13th, ridden after 4 out, 2nd travelling well enough before mistake 3 out, chased leading pair, one pace when mistake and lost 3rd 2 out, hung right under pressure before last, kept on run-in, 4th of 11, 14l behind Unioniste (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft in Jan.
Summery Justice (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, ridden after 3 out, 3rd when not fluent next, soon one pace, no impression with front pair before last, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Lie Forrit (10-10) at Kelso 3m 2f hcap ch (2) hvy in Jan.
Woodford County 8-1fav (10-3) Mid-division, in touch briefly after 7th, weakened before 5 out, 7th of 19, 24l behind Emperor's Choice (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Beforeall (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Slight lead until 6th, chased leader until 16th, chased leading pair until ridden and outpaced into 4th before 3 out, rallied on inside last, went 3rd run-in and closed on 2nd near finish but no chance with winner, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Le Reve (10-13) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft in Jan.
Wicklow Lad 10-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, ridden and outpaced from 5 out, plugged on from 4 out, never dangerous, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Yes Tom (11-8) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft.
Scotswell 5-1fav (10-9) Made all, ridden before last, held on well towards finish, won at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan beating Herdsman (11-4) by nk, 12 ran.
Fill The Power (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Close up, weakened before 5 out, 5th of 9, 30l behind Clondaw Knight (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Sharney Sike 15-2 (11-8) Made all, stayed on well from 2 out, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy beating The Orange Rogue (10-7) by 8l, 7 ran.
Rattlin 20-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 7, 35l behind Ned Stark (11-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Tutchec (FR) 10-3fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, lost place before 5th, pulled up after 9th, in a race won by Clondaw Knight (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Neptune Equester 5-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, pushed along 20th, went 4th before 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led before last, kept on well, driven out, won at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec beating Scotswell (10-11) by 9l, 10 ran.
