chased leaders, not fluent and lost place 3rd, mistake 6th, hit 9th, mistake 12th, behind 16th, soon pulled up
soon led, headed 2nd, tracked leaders, lost place after 12th, mistake next, weakened 18th, hampered 3 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, closed 5th, not fluent 15th, went 2nd 18th, every chance 3 out, lost 2nd and no impression from next, plugged on
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, hampered 8th, headway after 16th, jumped right 18th, went 2nd after 2 out, stayed on, no impression on winner
in touch, went 2nd 16th until 18th, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
fell 1st
tracked leaders, lost place 9th, closed 13th, led after 18th, clear 2 out, stayed on
towards rear and mistakes, hampered 8th, soon hampered again by loose horse, well beaten before 3 out
in touch in mid-division, lost place 2nd, not fluent 6th or 7th, hampered and unseated rider next
held up, hampered 8th, headway 11th, lost place before 13th, left 5th and outpaced 3 out, no impression
prominent, led 8th, clear briefly 14th, headed after 18th, 5th and losing place when fell 3 out
prominent, led 5th until 8th, hit 16th, lost place 17th, weakened before 3 out
led early, prominent, led 2nd until not fluent 5th, ridden after 14th, mistake next, outpaced 17th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up in mid-division, fell 8th
chased leaders, not fluent 14th, hit 17th, disputing 2nd when mistake 2 out, no impression on winner, 3rd and one pace after
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, hampered next, mistake 10th, jumped right 15th, headway next, outpaced before 3 out, plugged on from next, no impression
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
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A fitting end to a terrific week of National Hunt racing but there is no David Pipe runner contesting this marathon this year, which complicates matters - the master of Nicholshayne has won the last four renewals. Benbane Head and Ballyoliver are scheduled to be the first to put Cheltenham form under scrutiny but neither pulled up any trees at The Festival on Thursday. Most of these are thorough stayers and old Carruthers will ensure a strong gallop. Bob Ford won over 3m4f at Ffos Las in January, when subsequent Ludlow winner Global Power was pulled up, but this may be too far for Carlisle scorer Knock A Hand. Shotgun Paddy hasn't really fired this term but is still closely matched with Hawkes Point on Warwick running in January. Summery Justice was second in the Eider at Newcastle so enters the equation along with Irish raider Raz De Maree and Goonyella but Wychwoods Brook may be best watched back over fences. Catching On is sure to be among the favourites after back-to-back victories at Huntingdon and Exeter but has a penalty to carry. WOODFORD COUNTY had every chance in the Eider until trying to take the second-last by the roots. He's 14lb better off here with Summery Justice, taking into account Ciaran Gethings claim, and won't be far away with a clear round. Samingarry looks to have been laid out for this and could go very well at inflated odds but Foxbridge might struggle at this level.
Shotgun Paddy (IRE) 11-2fav (11-12) Mid-division, towards rear whem unseated rider 16th, in a race won by Milborough (10-8) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
Bob Ford (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Made most, drew clear from 3 out, unchallenged after, left alone last, won at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan beating Gorgehous Lliege (10-3) by well, 10 ran.
Hawkes Point 15-2 (10-12) Prominent, lost a few places when not fluent 8th, closed 10th, challenged 16th, pecked 4 out, led before 2 out, driven flat, stayed on, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan beating Theatrical Star (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
Raz De Maree (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along in 4th before 2 out, no impression in 5th approaching last, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 7l behind Embracing Change (10-6) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcap ch sft in Feb.
Wychwoods Brook 3-1 (10-12) Made all, hit 3 out, in control from 2 out, kept on strongly run-in, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Rock The Kasbah (10-12) by 4l, 5 ran.
Global Power (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) In touch, led 6th, ridden and clear after 2 out, easily, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Feb beating Five Star Wilsham (10-7) by 4l, 9 ran.
Goonyella (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Rear of mid-division, progress into 8th after 5 out, ridden next, no impression entering straight, moderate 4th last, kept on to 3rd close home, 3rd of 17, 27l behind Djakadam (11-10) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp chs hvy in Jan.
Bertie Boru (IRE) 5-1fav (10-10) Held up in rear, headway approaching 12th, 7th when blundered and unseated rider 15th, in a race won by Le Reve (10-13) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Summery Justice (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) In rear, pushed along 5th, headway 6 out, ridden to chase winner and not fluent last, kept on, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Milborough (10-8) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Feb.
Rebeccas Choice (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division, not fluent 13th, headway 17th, weakened before 5 out, tailed off, 9th of 19, well behind Emperor's Choice (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Samingarry (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, bumped 1st, not fluent 4th, pushed along 9th, mistake next, struggling 12th, 6th of 12, 33l behind Wayward Prince (10-2) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Feb.
Rigadin De Beauchene (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Prominent, mistake 17th, soon weakened, pulled up, in a race won by Lie Forrit (11-6) at Haydock 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Cadeau George 2-1fav (11-9) Led, hit 9th, narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner, mistake last, rallied run-in, always just held, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Foxbridge (11-6) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Catching On (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Confidently ridden and held up in rear, smooth headway approaching 15th, 2nd before 3 out, led on bit 2 out, hard held, won at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy beating Coolking (10-5) by 9l, 13 ran.
Woodford County 14-1 (10-1) Chased leader, went 2nd before 4 out, blundered 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 18, 20l behind Milborough (10-8) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Feb.
Foxbridge (IRE) 11-4 (11-6) Held up in last pair going well, steady headway 8th, tracking leaders 13th, 2nd soon after, led 2 out, driven out, won at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb beating Cadeau George (11-9) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Knock A Hand (IRE) 4-1fav (11-10) Made all, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Feb beating Big Water (11-11) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Ikorodu Road 4-1fav (11-1) In touch in 4th, ran in snatches and pushed along, outpaced before 11th, kept on from last, went 3rd towards finish, never dangerous, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Aachen (10-2) at Doncaster 3m hcap ch (2) gs in Feb.
Benbane Head (USA) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, in touch when fell 4 out, in a race won by The Package (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f amat hcap ch (2) gd, 24 ran.
Carruthers 7-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, headway from 15th, ridden 17th, outpaced before 4 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 14, 29l behind Hawkes Point (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Ballyoliver 66-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, lost place when mistake 16th, behind from 5 out, tailed off, 11th of 24, well behind The Package (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f amat hcap ch (2) gd.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 5-4fav (12-2) Made all, clear from 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Kelso 3m 2f hts chs (6) gs in Feb beating Railway Dillon (11-9) by 30l, 6 ran.
