held up in rear, headway after 4 out, stayed on same pace approaching 2 out
always in rear, struggling afer 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 18th
behind, in rear at 18th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, jumped slowly 16th, behind 18th, pulled up before 19th
held up in rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, kept on from next, not able to reach leaders
mid-division,pushed along 13th, hit 14th, behind from 19th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, went 2nd 9th, led before 14th, made most after, joined 4 out, asserted from 3 out, clear last, stayed on strongly
behind, headway 10th, blundered 15th, pulled up before 19th
led at fast pace, headed before 14th, weakened rapidly, pulled up before 17th
mid-division, headway 17th, chased leaders 4 out, weakened before 2 out
towards rear, headway 14th, blundered 17th, tailed off 19th, pulled up after 4 out
towards rear, headway 17th, chased leaders 20th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
always front rank, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, dropped to 3rd flat
towards rear, blundered 8th, 8th and no chance when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, lost place 10th, under pressure 13th, tailed off 19th, soon pulled up
chased leaders, chased winner 14th, challenged and every chance 3 out, weakened from 2 out
chased leader until pushed along before 14th, handy until weakened 19th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always rear-division, slow jump 14th, pulled up before 19th
behind, headway 19th, weakened from 3 out
Nonrunner
The market leaders - Fairoak Lad, Just Amazing, THE PACKAGE and Kilcrea Castle - have obvious claims whilst, of those at bigger prices, My Will may just surprise a few and it's to David Pipe's runner that we turn for the winner. The Package didn't convince everyone with his attitude last season and that stance looked justified on his first run of the campaign at Ludlow where he refused to go past an inferior rival. However, opinions have had to be revised following a productive campaign that has seen him make the frame in three valuable handicaps. He still looks to be up on the upgrade but there is a worry that this race is only an afterthought following an unsuccessful tilt at the Grand National. In contrast, the novices Fairoak Lad and Just Amazing appear to have been saved for this contest and Just Amazing is able to race from his old mark having impressed the handicapper at Cheltenham but this is a very different test and he only has one handicap win to his name thus far. Fairoak Lad is preferred by Richard Johnson to former winners Lacdoudal and Monkerhostin and his mount makes more appeal than his West Country rival as he looks tailor made for this test and the form of his one run in a chase handicap is rock solid. Kilcrea Castle made a promising debut for this yard in January but was most disappointing on his only subsequent outing in the Racing Post Chase; the ground was really testing that day so he may be worth another chance but he has something to prove. Air Force One hasn't enjoyed much luck since his second in the Hennessy two seasons ago but his mark has dropped as a result and Charlie Mann retains the faith whilst My Will has made the frame in each of his four runs at the track and isn't badly treated these days. It may be expecting too much to expect him to get the better of the young bucks though and The Package is preferred.
Monkerhostin (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division on inside 22nd, jumped slowly and lost place 24th, weakened from 3 out, 14th of 16, 40l behind A New Story (9-7) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gs in Mar.
My Will (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Behind when fell 4th, in a race won by Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 40 ran.
Nozic (FR) 40-1 (11-3) Behind, hampered 2nd, blundered 10th, hampered and unseated rider 20th, in a race won by Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 40 ran.
Tamarinbleu (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway and in touch 10th, went 2nd 5 out, challenged 3 out, switched inside approaching last, ridden and one pace when carried left and switched outside flat, held near finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Chief Dan George (11-3) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Feb.
The Package 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division when blundered and unseated rider 19th, in a race won by Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 40 ran.
Air Force One (GER) 11-10fav (10-11) Chased leader, keen hold, closed up from 4th, led after 11th, fell 5 out, in a race won by One Cool Cookie (11-0) at Down Royal 3m 2f chs gd in Mar, 6 ran.
Church Island (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders early, 8th halfway, lost place before 4 out, no impression before 3 out, 11th of 19, 38l behind Hoochie Mama (10-7) at Naas 3m Handicap Hurdle (80-109) (4yo+) in Mar.
Kilcrea Castle (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, mistake 12th, headway approaching 9th, soon tracking leaders, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 13, 44l behind Razor Royale (10-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb.
Piraya (FR) 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, weakened and lost place 24th (canal turn), tailed off, 13th of 40, well behind Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Just Amazing (IRE) 5-6fav (11-8) Made all, not fluent 15th or 4 out, drew clear after 3 out, ridden out flat, unchallenged, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd beating Mark The Book (11-5) by 19l, 4 ran.
Fairoak Lad (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Jumped right, tracked leading trio, went 3rd 17th, quickened to lead before 3 out, went badly right from 3 out, joined last, ridden and quickened away again from last, won at Wincanton 3m 1f nov chs (3) gd in Mar beating Gullible Gordon (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Held up, hard driven and headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened next, 4th of 8, 25l behind Eric's Charm (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Dec.
Lacdoudal (FR) 28-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, joined leader 25th, led 5 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 16, 5l behind A New Story (9-7) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) gs in Mar.
Lothian Falcon 25-1 (10-0) Mid-division, badly hampered by faller and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Merigo (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 30 ran.
Alderburn 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced approaching 14th, pushed along 5 out, kept on and no impression from 3 out, 5th of 16, 24l behind From Dawn To Dusk (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f list hcp ch (1) gd.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) In touch when fell 14th, in a race won by Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 40 ran.
Hello Bud (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Left in lead 1st, headed 5th, tracked leaders, went 2nd 24th (canal turn), driven and lost place 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 40, 35l behind Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Nostringsattached (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway when blundered 14th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by BallaBriggs (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Martys Mission (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Always behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Great Endeavour (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Killyglen (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Chased leader, left in lead 4th, headed after 11th, pushed along approaching 17th, soon weakened, pulled up 18th, in a race won by Merigo (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 30 ran.
