mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent, soon hung and jumped right, led 5th, mistake 6th, hung badly right and headed at bend approaching 7th, every chance 3 out, soon lost action and pulled up and dismounted
prominent, hit 4th, ridden and every chance 3 out, hit 2 out, weakened flat
in touch, ridden after 7th, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and headway after 3 out, weakened approaching last
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
prominent, left in lead approaching 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, led and edged left flat, ran on, disqualified, placed 2nd
in touch, ridden after 6th, weakened before next
always towards rear
mid-division, headway 6th, every chance 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra flat
hit 6th, always behind
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
mid-division, headway after 6th, ridden and not much room after 3 out, led last, headed and carried left flat, ran on, finished 2nd, placed 1st
always towards rear
led, no fluent and headed 5th, mistake 8th, soon weakened
held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
always behind, blundered 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Ordre de Bataille showed ability in bumpers and again on his hurdling debut at Stratford last month but Henry Daly's gelding is not certain to appreciate the longer trip here and preference is for Bally's Bro, who gets the vote ahead of The Howardian. The last mentioned ran encouragingly on his racecourse debut when chasing home Port Of Mogan at Stratford last month and has to be respected on that evidence but the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding looks a staying chaser in the making and may he may find the selection too quick for him. Mocho is entitled to come on for his reappearance effort at Aintree but needs to, while Comber is another that may be open to further improvement and cannot be ruled out completely. Bally's Bro got within five lengths of Black Jack Ketchum at Uttoxeter last term on his only start over hurdles then and lost no caste in defeat behind Kealshore Lad, with the 108-rated Nounou well held in third on his return at Bangor last month. A reproduction of that effort may well suffice.
Aubigny (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden 8th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 11, well behind Cruising River (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Bally's Bro (IRE) Evensfav (10-11) Led, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden and headed, every chance last, ran on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Kealshore Lad (10-8) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Comber (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up and behind, stayed on steadily from 3 out, never dangerous, 4th of 11, 34l behind Here's Johnny (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Killard Point (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Held up, mistake 6th, headway 10th, soon chasing leaders, every chance from 2 out, hung left and no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Lord Bush (12-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hts chs (6) gf in May.
Mocho (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, lost place after 4 out, 5th of 8, 26l behind Wichita Lineman (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Notin Hapened (IRE) (12-0) Prominent, led 2 out, kept on gamely, won at Belharbour 3m ire ptp gs in Feb beating Champage A Gogo (12-0) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Ordre de Bataille (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, chased winner before 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Thenford Flyer (10-12) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Oct.
The Howardian (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Led to 9th, led again 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, rallied and still every chance after last, not quicken near finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Port Of Mogan (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Oct.
