mid-division, headway 10th, weakened approaching 19th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, not fluent and reminders 5th, mistake 10th, headway next, weakened after 16th, pulled up before next
in rear, jumped slowly and reminders 12th, always behind, pulled up after 18th
held up in rear, mistake and hampered 2nd, steady headway 14th, went 2nd after 20th, jumped left 4 out, led 2 out, not fluent last, driven out
not fluent 4th, always towards rear, pulled up after 18th
pressed leader, hit 13th, ridden after 15th, weakened approaching 17th, pulled up after 18th
in touch, mistake 2nd, led 14th until next, remained prominent until after 20th, weakened 4 out
mid-division, lost place 12th, headway approaching 18th, weakened before next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, hit 3rd, lost place when hit 5th, mistake 7th, behind 13th, tailed off when pulled up after 18th
in rear, soon niggled along, reminders 9th, behind 14th, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, challenged 10th, weakened after 20th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in rear, not fluent 1st, jumped right and not fluent 7th, struggling before 17th, pulled up after 18th
fell 2nd
mid-division, mistakes, blundered 14th, soon lost place, pulled up after 18th
tracked leaders, not fluent and reminders 7th, lost place before 9th, weakened next, pulled up before 12th
led until 14th, led next, headed 3 out, still challenging when not fluent last, stayed on gamely, held towards finish
in rear, headway approaching 18th, weakened next, tailed off in 4th when pulled up before 2 out
Kornati Kid should love this ground and is a player with the stable on a high, however FORTIFICATION has proven that he's a tough front-runner to pass and is selected here ahead of Iris De Balme, Giles Cross and Sherwoods Folly. The selection has improved no end for tackling fences this season, winning his first four starts on the bounce. On his latest assignment in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock he could never get near the lead (normally front-runs) but he may get an easier chance here and he still looks capable of winning off this mark of 135. Giles Cross is a lovely novice and he has done little wrong; Plumpton last time would not have been his ideal track and he may rise to the challenge here now upped in trip. Iris De Balme clattered most of his fences in a competitive Doncaster handicap earlier in the month but this former Scottish National still ran ok in the circumstances and is not to be dismissed here on ground that suits, especially off a 4lb lower mark. Synchronised has never completely convinced but it is hard to argue with any of his form over hurdles or fences and he should run a big race now upped in trip. Le Beau Bai is a confirmed stayer and despite a lofty mark he is still considered, Halcon Generlardais hasn't been at his best this season but this is an easier race, whilst Miko De Beauchene has a little to prove after his fall at Haydock last month. Kornati Kid's form as a novice reads well and he wasn't unfancied when pulled up in the Welsh National. This ground will help him see out this longer trip and along with Ballydub and Mark The Book he gives trainer Phillip Hobbs a strong hand. Oscar Park and Gypsy George are starting to look well-handicapped, a comment that might apply to Badgerlaw and Inoma James. Both come over from Ireland for this prize but the English handicapper looks to have been pretty stern with the latter. At the bottom of the weights, the confirmed stayers L'Aventure (lovely mare, may need it soft however), Morgan Be (also excelled in the mud before) and Sherwoods Folly (hit and miss profile) are all to be considered, however in a competitive renewal the nod is given to Fortification.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 14th, in 5th when fell 17th, in a race won by Silver By Nature (10-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
Kornati Kid 14-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, mid-division after 6th, under pressure 14th, behind when pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Dream Alliance (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 18 ran.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 5-1fav (10-13) Towards rear, mid-division approaching 14th, chased leaders approaching 5 out, went 3rd 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 14, 20l behind Silver By Nature (10-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Synchronised (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Chased leading pair to 3rd, not fluent next, dropped to last 9th, hit next, outpaced and no danger from 11th, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Over Sixty (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
Iris De Balme (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, weakened from 13th, 11th of 14, well behind Wogan (10-2) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd.
Fortification (USA) 8-1 (9-12) Mid-division, mistake 6th, headway 7th, blundered next, lost place when mistake 12th, behind after, 8th of 12, 35l behind Our Vic (11-3) at Haydock 3m hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Giles Cross (IRE) 13-8 (11-4) Led, increased pace from 13th, pushed along after 3 out, 1 length ahead when pecked last, headed and not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Mobaasher (11-4) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Badgerlaw (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, last and driven along 6 out, some progress approaching 3 out, moderate 5th from 2 out, 5th of 8, 20l behind War Of Attrition (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f hdl G2 sft in Feb.
Inoma James (IRE) 16-1 (9-5) Mid-division, headway in 6th 8 out, 2nd next, led before 4 out, ridden clear before 2 out, kept on strongly, eased close home, comfortably, won at Punchestown 3m 4f Ext hcp ch hvy in Jan beating Hume River (10-10) by 7l, 19 ran.
Gypsy George 9-1 (10-5) Prominent, weakened approaching 13th, 8th of 14, 42l behind Wogan (10-2) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd.
Mark The Book (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) In touch, mistake 12th, chased leaders after 5 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Richard's Sundance (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan, 15 ran.
Oscar Park (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Held up towards rear, in 7th and going well when fell 14th, in a race won by Silver By Nature (10-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
Ballydub (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leaders in 3rd, hit 3 out, outpaced approaching 2 out, rallied last, stayed on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Emperor Concerto (11-0) at Doncaster 3m beg chase (4) sft in Feb.
Lorum Leader (IRE) 8-1 (9-13) Led hit 12th, blundered 15th, ridden and headed 3 out weakened quickly, 8th of 13, 22l behind Monkerhostin (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Sherwoods Folly 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, reminders before 9th, driven 17th, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Boris The Blade (10-4) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
L'Aventure (FR) 16-1 (10-0) Prominent, lost place and outpaced from 10th, no impression from next, 5th of 14, 23l behind Silver By Nature (10-11) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Morgan Be 25-1 (10-4) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Our Vic (11-3) at Haydock 3m hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Halcon Genelardais (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, lost place 13th, soon behind, 7th of 18, 37l behind Dream Alliance (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
