with leaders, led 5th until headed 15th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before last
towards rear, mistake 4th, struggling from 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway approaching 12th, tracked leaders next, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up, pushed along 7th, headway approaching 10th, blundered 14th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always behind, blundered badly 12th, tailed off when pulled up before next
led until headed approaching 3rd, weakened aproaching 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway halfway, every chance 3 out, ridden and slightly hampered next, no extra approaching last
held up, headway halfway, every chance 3 out, ridden and slightly hampered 2 out, kept on same pace from last
close up, led approaching 3rd, headed 5th, pushed along approaching 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened quickly approaching 2 out, in 5th and beat when mistake and unseated rider last
held up in touch, blundered 10th, ridden after 4 out, weakened after next
in touch, headway approaching 6th, reminders after 12th, led 15th, weakening when headed 2 out
tracked leaders, behind when blundered 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
prominent, hampered 10th, struggling from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, hampered 10th
in touch, headway 11th, pecked 15th, ridden to challenge 3 out, led and jumped left 2 out, driven out
Nonrunner
Colourful Life is 8lbs higher than when successful in this contest at Doncaster 12 months ago and the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding may now be a shade high in the weights so preference is for King Harald, who gets the vote ahead of the progressive Sonevafushi. The last mentioned has shown improved form since being stepped up in trip of late but the handicapper has taken note and he may now have the grip of the eight-year-old. Too Forward has gone up another 3lbs for his brave effort behind Fondmort at Cheltenham last time and Mark Pitman's gelding may now be a shade high in the weights, while Europa has yet to prove himself over this far. Nicky Henderson's Aristoxene is less exposed than most and, given his connections, has to be respected. Henry Daly's Jakari showed signs of a return to form last time and is another to consider but the vote goes to King Harald. The winner of the Jewson Novices' Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival probably needed the run on his reappearance and the stable of Mark Bradstock was out of form when he disappointed in the Hennessy subsequently. Better than he showed that day, King Harald is taken to resume winning ways off what looks a fair mark.
Sonevafushi (FR) 7-2fav (12-5) Made all, jumped well, quickened clear approaching 3 out, unchallenged, won at Taunton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs beating Brave Spirit (11-8) by 6l, 10 ran.
Royal Emperor (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Led, headed 5 out, ridden and blundered 3 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Mouseski (10-1) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs (B) gs in Feb.
Too Forward (IRE) 17-2 (10-9) Held up rear, sooth headway 4 out, chased winner over 4f out, staying on and just denied, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Fondmort (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gs.
Horus (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, tailed off when fell at the 17th in race won by Graphic Approach (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs, 14 ran.
Colourful Life (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, struggling when blundered 5 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Trabolgan (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Nov, 19 ran.
Scots Grey 25-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, ridden after 13th, pecked 4 out, weakening when hampered 3 out, 9th of 16, 21l behind Sir Oj (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Dec.
Keltic Bard 9-4 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway halfway, mistake 10th, effort 3 out, left in lead 2 out, stayed on, won at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr '04 beating Thisthatandtother (11-10) by 7l, 7 ran.
Europa 16-1 (10-4) Ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on, never reached leaders, 5th of 16, 11l behind Sir Oj (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Dec.
King Harald (IRE) 17-2 (10-9) Chased leader until 13th, mistake 14th, 6th and struggling when blundered and unseated rider at the 15th in race won by Trabolgan (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Nov, 19 ran.
Aristoxene (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Schuh Shine (11-7) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Our Armageddon (NZ) 5-1 (11-4) In touch on outside, led 4th to 8th, chased leaders until ridden and weakened 4 out, 7th of 11, 37l behind Be My Better Half (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (2) hvy.
Mixsterthetrixster (USA) 14-1 (11-10) In touch, slow jump 11th, ridden and mistake 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 13, 31l behind Lord Maizey (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Jakari (FR) 22-1 (11-4) Prominent, chased leader from 7th, led 10th to 3 out, rallied 2 out, no impression last, 3rd of 14, 5l behind Graphic Approach (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs.
Polar Red 50-1 (11-7) Always behind, struggling 4th, soon tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Verasi (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) hvy in Dec, 19 ran.
A Glass In Thyne (IRE) 33-1 (9-8) Chased leaders, pecked 14th, 3rd when mistake 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 7th of 16, 20l behind Innox (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
Limerick Boy (GER) 16-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden last, weakened over 2f out, 5th of 13, 19l behind Fondmort (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gs.
