chased leader until approaching 9th, soon weakened
held up, headway 7th, hit 9th, every chance when pecked 2 out, 4 lengths 2nd and beaten when blundered last
held up in touch, badly hampered 7th and lost place, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
not jump well, prominent to 3rd, no chance when bad blunder last
held up, headway 7th, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, eased near finish
chased leaders, jumped violently left 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
held up, hampered and fell 7th
led, mistake 4 out, headed when fell 2 out
held up and behind lost touch 6th, tailed off from 7th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Lik Wood Power never got into the race at Worcester won by Luneray last time but that should have increased his confidence following a fall at Southwell previously and Richard Guest's gelding is given a chance to make amends here at the main expense of Ebinzayd and Cobbet. The last mentioned lost no caste in defeat behind Master Rex at Wincanton last time and should appreciate the faster surface today, while top weight Palua has claims on the form shown at Doncaster in January but he struggled at Cheltenham subsequently and may be a shade high in the weights now. Odagh Odyssey is a consistent performer and can be expected to run his usual good race although a bigger threat is likely to come from Len Lungo's Ebinzayd, who is unexposed over fences. Martin Pipe's Made In France cannot be dismissed with Tony McCoy taking the ride but the vote goes to Lik Wood Power, who is taken to resume winning ways.
Palua 50-1 (10-7) Chased leader to 7th, soon behind, 19th of 24, well behind Fota Island (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Old Marsh (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, weakened from 6th, 6th of 15, 24l behind Fota Island (11-10) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Apr.
Emperors Guest 33-1 (11-4) Chased leaders to 9th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Andreas (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Ghadames (FR) 100-1 (10-4) Always behind, 15th of 30, well behind Cregg House (10-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gs in Apr.
Made In France (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Raced freely, led, driven and headed approaching 3 out, weakened rapidly before next, 6th of 10, 27l behind Full House (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Apr.
Ebinzayd (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden approaching 4 out, chased winner 2 out, blundered last, one pace, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Locksmith (11-7) at Ayr 2m nov chs (C) gd in Apr.
Duke of Buckingham (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Held up behind, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Fota Island (11-10) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Apr, 15 ran.
Cobbet (CHR) 16-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, ridden and effort 4 out, left 2nd last, kept on flat, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Master Rex (11-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec.
