chased leaders on inside, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in, not quite pace to challenge
towards rear, never involved, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear, tailed off and eased after 3 out
towards rear of mid-division, ridden and struggling before 3 out, plugged on run-in, never involved
always towards rear, tailed off when blundered 3 out, soon pulled up
never travelled and soon well in rear, lost touch after 2nd, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, plugging on in well held 8th and no chance when mistake last
mid-division, pushed along in 5th and one pace before 2 out, driven and stayed on same pace run-in
in touch, weakened after 3 out, pulled up soon after
held up towards rear, headway and pushed along before 2 out, driven and kept on run-in, never going pace to threaten
never better than mid-division, pushed along and weakened on long run before 2 out
held up in mid-division on inside, headway after 3 out, chase leading pair before 2 out, one pace when not fluent last, stayed on run-in
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, weakened quickly on long run to next, soon pulled up
mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, weakened and eased before 2 out, pulled up soon after
ran without hind shoe, chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, pulled up soon after
always behind, never a factor
mid-division, pushed along after 3rd, weakened before 3 out
chased leader, ridden to challenge before 2 out, driven into lead before last, stayed on gamely run-in
led, ridden and headed before the last, rallied gamely run-in, always just held
mid-division when mistake 5th, pushed along and weakened on long run before 2 out
held up towards rear, plugged on approaching 2 out, driven and no extra between last two
in touch, weakened 5th, well behind and struggling 3 out, pulled up soon after
towardxs rear, mistake 4th, tailed off and pulled up soon after 3 out
Anything that the Pipe stable run in this has to be taken seriously and the yard will be eyeing up that £100,000 bonus again for any horse that wins this Grade 3 and then scores at next week's Cheltenham Festival. BIDOUREY (NAP) can follow in the footsteps of Gaspara and Ashkazar by winning this as a four-year-old. He's unbeaten in three runs over timber and, though this is a big step up in class, connections have given the handicapper little to work with so he could still be well treated. Calipto and Arzal were fourth and sixth in the Betfair Hurdle but have plenty of weight. West Wizard has failed to land the odds three times in a row while A P McCoy's mount Zip Top has a bit to find on Newcastle running against Fascino Rustico who, along with Chieftain's Choice, fell in the Betfair. But Thistlecrack looks progressive so could make the frame and Royal Guardsman returned to form with a vengeance last time and isn't badly treated. Meadowcroft Boy could also figure if the ground continues to dry out.
Camping Ground (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 4th, headed 13th, led again 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on well, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft in Feb beating Al Alfa (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Calipto (FR) 13-2fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, switched right before 2 out, driven and one pace in 6th after 2 out, kept on into modest 4th run-in, 4th of 23, 13l behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Hint Of Mint 9-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, went 3rd and stayed on from 2 out, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Blue Heron (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Desert Cry (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, reminders after 4 out, headway before 2 out, no impression, 5th of 7, 18l behind The New One (11-12) at Haydock 2m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Arzal (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division when badly hampered and dropped to rear 4th, stayed on again after 2 out, kept on run-in, 6th of 23, 15l behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Wicklow Brave 9-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, plugging on on inside when badly hampered 2 out, no chance after, 11th of 23, 21l behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Heath Hunter (IRE) 15-8fav (11-11) Prominent on inside, driven 3 out, ridden to chase leading pair 2 out, stayed on to lead flat, all out, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan beating Albert Bridge (11-11) by 3l, 9 ran.
Thistlecrack 10-3 (11-7) Raced wide, took keen hold, tracked leader until approaching 3rd, last pair after next, dropped to last approaching 4 out, rallied before 2 out, switched left before last, closed in 3rd last, led run-in, quickened clear, won at Ascot 2m nov hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Saint Charles (11-7) by 4l, 5 ran.
Fascino Rustico 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders before 2 out, disputing 3rd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb, 23 ran.
Some Buckle (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway after 2 out, 5th and one pace last, no impression, 5th of 9, 8l behind Ordo Ab Chao (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Chieftain's Choice (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Led until fell 4th, in a race won by Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb, 23 ran.
Gassin Golf 14-1 (10-5) Last pair and struggling before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bayan (11-5) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Bidourey (FR) 1-3fav (11-7) Made all, clear before 2 out, very easily, won at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Ride On Time (11-3) by 15l, 8 ran.
West Wizard (FR) 4-5fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, tracked leaders next, challenged 2 out, ridden between last 2, not fluent last, well held flat, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Minella Rocco (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Meadowcroft Boy 9-2 (11-3) Led to 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Glingerburn (11-3) at Kelso 2m 2f hdl (2) gs in Feb.
First Avenue 14-1 (11-2) Held up in last trio, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, ridden and beaten before next, never involved, 7th of 8, 17l behind Sleepy Haven (11-6) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Ascendant 13-2 (11-5) Pressed leader, led 4th, headed before 3 out, soon led again, edged right after 2 out, driven flat, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb beating Mad Jack Mytton (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Ebony Express 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, staying on just on heels of leaders when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb, 23 ran.
Rayvin Black 8-1 (9-13) Led and set decent pace, ridden and headed 2 out, no extra in 4th under pressure between last two, outpaced into 5th run-in, 5th of 8, 9l behind Baradari (10-4) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Midnight Game 25-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders and keen, chased winner from 4 out, kept on same pace from next, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Dark Dune (10-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
Zaidiyn (FR) 16-1 (10-10) In rear, effort 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 5th of 11, 7l behind Retrieve (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Feb.
Zip Top (IRE) 11-8fav (11-8) Prominent, led after 4th, headed 3 out, 5 lengths down when left well clear 2 out, won at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating North Country Boy (11-2) by 19l, 13 ran.
Raven's Tower (USA) 4-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, 4th and one pace next, weakened last, 5th of 9, 29l behind Tornado In Milan (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Royal Guardsman (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Always prominent, upsides 3 out, driven to lead between last 2, ridden and kept on flat, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Feb beating Kiama Bay (11-9) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
