held up in rear, slow 5th, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra from last
prominent, hit 3rd, pushed along when not fluent 4 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out
prominent, pushed along 3 out, ridden before next, every chance last, kept on flat
led, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on one pace flat
midfield, mistake 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, faded next
midfield, went fourth after 6th, pushed along approaching 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on well flat
towards rear, headway 14th, ridden before 3 out, soon beaten
chased leaders, lost place after 6th, pushed along and dropped to rear 11th, struggling next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, blundered 14th, ridden before 3 out, never dangerous
midfield, pushed along before 4 out, made no impression from next
A wide-open renewal but Irish Prophecy is having a first run since November and Romain De Senam is not the force of old. Storm Control has pulled up in both starts since an excellent second in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster but Ashington arrives in good form, though there would be stamina concerns over this trip. Topham fourth Francky Du Berlais is also a doubtful stayer but Back On The Lash won twice here last summer and was successful over 3m6f on Cheltenham’s cross-country course in the autumn. CAPTAIN TOMMY won this last year when 2lb higher and Lilly Pinchin is taking off a further 5lb. He hasn’t been beaten far the last twice and is back in form. Tide Times is on a hat-trick, however, after scoring twice at Ludlow while The Golden Rebel is still relatively unexposed and Lord Accord is better than he showed at Ayr at the start of the month.
Irish Prophecy (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, lost touch 15th, ridden 17th, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Back On The Lash 22-1 (11-4) Prominent and led a few times, lost place and mistake 24th, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 6f (2) hvy in Mar.
Romain De Senam (FR) 125-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 9th, weakened before 4 out, 10th of 40, dist behind Noble Yeats (10-10) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Storm Control (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Led, not fluent 14th, headed 18th, pushed along after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Lord Accord (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Prominent, midfield 6th, not fluent 8th, towards rear 11th, mistake 13th, ridden in rear 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Francky Du Berlais (FR) 28-1 (10-0) Midfield, not fluent 7th, pushed along and headway after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on from last, took 4th before elbow, stayed on, 4th of 29, 14l behind Mac Tottie (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
The Golden Rebel (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Led, not fluent 8th, ridden and headed before 4 out, faded before last, 4th of 8, 13 1/2l behind Dusart (11-12) at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Ashington 6-5fav (11-10) Raced wide throughout, close up, led 5th, headed and ridden briefly before next, lost place and outpaced after 6th, led again before 3 out, headed after 3 out, rallied to lead 2 out, stayed on from last, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar beating Zafar (11-1) by 10l, 5 ran.
Tide Times (IRE) 5-4fav (10-8) Chased leaders, hit 5 out, pressed leader 4 out, led narrowly 3 out, jumped left and hit 2 out, soon ridden and pressed, wandered and jumped left last, stayed on gamely, just held on, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Bobhopeornohope (11-10) by shd, 5 ran.
Captain Tommy (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Close up, headway to lead 4 out, ridden 2 out, headed next, lost 2nd final strides, 3rd of 6, 2l behind I See You Well (11-9) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
