with leaders, hung left from 11th, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up before 3 out
with leaders, led 11th, hit next, ridden 2 out, headed, hung left and weakened flat
mistakes, in touch, blundered 6th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 10th
held up, hit 13th, headway 14th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last
held up, headway 4th, hit 11th, ridden 12th, hit 4 out, hard ridden and every chance when fell 2 out
in touch, mistake 8th, hit 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway 6th, mistake 10th, blundered 12th, soon outpaced, hit 3 out, rallied 2 out, led flat, stayed on
led, hit 5th, pushed along 10th, headed 11th, hit 13th, one pace when hampered 2 out
mid-division, mistake 2nd, lost place 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
Nonrunner
In what is a most competitive looking affair on paper, only a narrow vote goes to King Killone over a whole host of challengers including He's The Guv'nor, Bob Bob Bobbin and Lord Olympia. King Killone has been brought along steadily through the ranks, and ran against useful opposition over hurdles before embarking on a chase career at Market Rasen in November. He ran well that day before falling at the last, but showed that his confidence was not dented by going on to win two of his next three outings. Sandwiched in between was a run in the 'Dipper' at Cheltenham on New Years Day, in which subsequent Festival winner Star De Mohaison was third, and Harry Hogarth has every faith that his six-year-old has the brightest of futures. The ground will not phase him and he is the pick. He's The Guvnor won over the course-and-distance in December but has since been put in his place by Bob Bob Bobbin at Chepstow, and the latter has himself been turned over at Lingfield. Trainer Colin Tizzard resisted the temptation of running Bob Bob Bobbin in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, and while that was a good move, his penalty here makes him no good thing. Lord Olympia let his supporters down at Towcester and sometimes puts in the odd poor jump but he still makes more appeal than those at the bottom end of the handicap. The one with more to offer than most though is King Killone and he can continue on an upward curve here.
Bob Bob Bobbin 6-1 (11-8) Led, jumped slowly 5th, narrowly headed 7th, left in clear lead 10th, hard pressed from 12th, narrowly headed well before 3 out, beaten when pecked badly 2 out, jumped left last, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Montgermont (11-4) at Lingfield 3m nov.
Mount Clerigo (IRE) 5-1jt-fav (11-12) Always behind and pulled up 3 out in race won by Eric's Charm (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft, 13 ran.
Lord Olympia (IRE) 8-11fav (11-10) Chased leader, hit 5th, hit 3 out, soon led, hit and headed 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Waltzing Beau (10-3) at Towcester 2m 3f nov chs (3) hvy.
Lost Time (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders on inner, 5th halfway, 6th 4 out, kept on same pace from next, 8th of 12, 9l behind Solar System (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m 3f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Jan.
He's The Guv'nor (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Mid-division, hit 6th, headway 9th, mistake 10th, chased winner 4 out, ridden when blundered 2 out, kept on flat, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Our Armageddon (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Lord Rodney (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led 5 out, clear from next, won at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb beating Twenty Degrees (10-11) by a distance, 14 ran.
Simon 4-1co-fav (11-6) Led 2nd to 5th, with winner until outpaced 3 out, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Bannister Lane (10-3) at Haydock 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Precious Bane (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Led to 17th, led again and mistake last, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Calvic (11-8) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
Rowley Hill 15-8 (11-3) With winner, hit 4th, ridden and hit 3 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 3, 7l behind Nadover (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Jan.
King Killone (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) In touch, joined leader 11th, led 4 out, ridden 2 out, hard pressed when left alone last, won at Newcastle 3m nov chs (2) hvy in Feb beating Wild Cane Ridge (11-12) by a , 5 ran.
