tracked leaders, slow 4th, ridden and outpaced after 16th, stayed on into 3rd before 2 out, no impression, lost 3rd towards finish
prominent, led 10th, headed before omitted 3 out, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace
held up in mid-division, headway on outside 14th, 8th normal 4 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, pecked 9th, rider having tack problems and lost irons from after 11th until 13th, ridden and struggling after 15th, pulled up after next
mid-division, lost place before 10th, tailed off 14th, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, mistake 10th and 15th, never any chance
mid-division, closed from 6th, 2nd before 15th, led before omitted 3 out, soon clear, stayed on well
prominent, pressing for 3rd normal 4 out and before last, no chance with winner, plugged on
mid-division, struggling when mistake 13th, pulled up after 4 out
in rear, not fluent 7th, headway before 16th, 6th normal 4 out, went 3rd towards finish, no chance with winner
towards rear, last when slow 4th, not fluent next or 10th, well behind 14th, soon pulled up
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway 14th, lost place next, pulled up after 16th
towards rear, well behind 11th, pulled up before 13th
in rear, behind when mistake 12th, well behind 14th, soon pulled up
mid-division, mistake 13th, headway next, pressing for 3rd before last, no impression, no extra flat
led until mistake 2nd, chased leaders, lost place after 9th, blundered and unseated rider 11th
held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, headway 14th, 3rd before 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, mistake last
prominent, led 2nd, headed 10th, mistake and pecked 12th, weakened and pulled up after 16th
Stamina is always at a premium in this and a few of these might not get home in the conditions. There may be some doubts about the staying power of Rowland Meyrick winner Get On The Yager but Back To The Thatch was going well when falling in the Eider at Newcastle in which West Of The Edge finished second ahead of Hainan and Milansbar. Henry Daly also runs The Artful Cobbler, who is receiving weight all round and seeks a four-timer. Alfie Spinner was just caught in the Welsh Grand National last time but isn’t getting any younger and is on a long losing run. Silsol has a touch of class but the weight to match and this may be too competitive for the likes of Regal Flow and Plus Jamais. WESTERN CLIMATE is still a novice but the way he ploughed through the mud at Exeter on New Year’s Day suggests he’ll relish a test like this. Still improving, he has the added bonus of James Bowen’s claim in his favour and can go close at a working man’s price. Ballymalin stays well and is potentially well treated but the fences keep getting in the way.
Silsol (GER) 5-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 1st, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Milansbar (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Led, headed before 4 out, soon outpaced, 5th of 17, 33l behind Baywing (11-3) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Get On The Yager 6-4 (11-10) Tracked leaders in 4th jumped right and went 3rd 11th, pushed along before 3 out, 2nd before 2 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Two Swallows (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f (4) sft in Feb.
Hainan (FR) 11-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 17th, led before 4 out, headed before 2 out, one pace in 3rd, 4th of 17, 20l behind Baywing (11-3) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Benbens (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, pushed along and lost place before 12th, weakened next, 9th of 14, 28 1/4l behind Buywise (10-8) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Western Climate (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Not always fluent, tracked leaders, no extra and hanging left 2 out, 4th of 5, 11 1/4l behind Ms Parfois (10-12) at Warwick 3m lst (1) sft in Jan.
Regal Flow 4-1fav (11-1) Chased leaders, closed 12th, led after 15th, clear from 3 out, eased close home, won at Taunton 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Mar beating Theatrical Star (10-10) by 3l, 7 ran.
Alfie Spinner (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, led 13th, headed 2 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 20, 6l behind Raz De Maree (11-1) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
West Of The Edge (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway before 11 out, led before 2 out, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 17, 4l behind Baywing (11-3) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Ballymalin (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Mid-division on outside, headway before 17th, 4th lengths 3rd 4 out, weakened 3 out, fell 2 out, at Musselburgh 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Bob Ford (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) In touch, chased winner from 5 out until about 3 lengths down in second place when fell 4 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Back To The Thatch (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Towards rear, tracked leaders halfway, fell 16th, at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Themanfrom Minella (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) In touch, pushed along and outpaced before 6 out, no impression, pulled up, at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Plus Jamais (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Takingrisks (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Krackatoa King 4-1fav (12-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced from 3 out, plugged on to take 3rd run-in, 4th of 11, 10 1/4l behind Jennys Surprise (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Russe Blanc (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 5 out, soon pulled up, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Billy Bronco 11-2 (11-1) Towards rear, headway 4 out to chase leaders, chased winner from 2 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 9, 15l behind I Just Know (11-10) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
The Artful Cobbler 13-2 (11-3) Pressed leader, jumped left 5th and 7th, led 12th, jumped steeply next, joined 3 out, clear when dived last, driven and stayed on gamely run-in, won at Lingfield 3m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Petite Power (11-10) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
