towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, headway 5 out, no further progress
mid-division, headway 4 out, in touch approaching 2 out, soon ridden and effort, no extra flat
in touch, headway to chase leaders 5 out, effort approaching 2 out, weakening when blundered last
chased leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, no extra under pressure
towards rear, headway 5 out, went 2nd between last 2, soon ridden and effort, one pace flat
led until fell 3rd (Chair)
always behind
towards rear, struggling from 9th
mid-division, headway and in touch 4 out, ridden and effort last, kept on same pace
towards rear, never dangerous
always behind
mid-division, headway 12th (Canal Turn), effort after 3 out, one pace
always behind
mid-division, headway 12th (Canal Turn), weakening when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
prominent, with leader from 5th, led approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on one pace
in touch, fell 10th (Bechers Brook)
towards rear, fell 3rd (Chair)
towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 12th (Canal Turn)
towards rear, blundered badly 3rd (Chair), tailed off when fell 14th
prominent, left in lead 3rd (Chair), mistake 8th, mistake 12th (Canal Turn), headed approaching 2 out, faded
tracked leaders, hampered 3rd (Chair), close up when fell 5th
mid-division, outpaced from 12th (Canal Turn)
mid-division, headway 12th (Canal Turn), led between last 2, ran on strongly
in touch, weakened 12th (Canal Turn) behind when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, never dangerous
Nonrunner
Le Duc loves this time of year but as surprising as it sounds in a Hunters' Chase there might be a more progressive rival and it is the eight-year-old AGUS A VIC who can make the journey from Ireland worthwhile; onto the shortlist go Distant Thunder, Having A Cut, Trust Fund and Sonevafushi. Pat Martin's gelding comes here after a convincing win at Leopardstown in February. His excellent record at Leopardstown will set him in good stead for this race and assuming he handles these fences (normally a very good jumper) then he may take some beating. Trust Fund landed a touch at Chepstow recently and he stays all day; the drop in trip therefore is probably against him and he also made a couple of bad blunders during that win. Distant Thunder warmed up for this with a win between the flags and his earlier reappearance behind Limerick Boy reads well. Sam Waley-Cohen knows these fences more than any other jockey in the line-up (won this race in 05 and 06 with Katarino) and therefore the former Ditcheat inmate Blu Teen cannot be discounted especially as he rides him in preference to Mel In Blue who he knows well. Mr S McGonagle takes time off from Hogwarts to ride Backstage for Gordon Elliott, whilst Christy Beamish won this race last year and a return to this track will suit more than Cheltenham last time. Having A Cut looks progressive and could become the youngest winner of this race for a long long time, whilst former Gold Cup third Take The Stand comes here in good form and although the trip is on the short side he is not to be ruled out. A flat track suits recent winner Jurado Express so he is another who must be considered but in the trickiest of races it is Agus A Vic who can lead them home.
Agus A Vic (IRE) 11-4 (12-0) Mid-division, headway to 5th 7 out, 3rd 5 out, improved to 2nd 2 out, challenged approaching last, ridden to lead run-in, kept on well, won at Leopardstown 3m hts chs sft in Feb beating Carronhills (12-0) by 4l, 16 ran.
Backstage (FR) 4-6 (12-0) Ww, gd prog 3out, eff 2out, not get to wnr, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Top Twig (12-0) at Oldcastle 3m ire ptp in Mar.
Ballybough Jack (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Held up in last place, headway 14th, chased winner before 3 out, ridden next, soon beaten, virtually walked over line, 2nd of 6, 24l behind Cool Roxy (11-9) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Oct.
Blu Teen (FR) 4-6 (12-7) (tt) hdwy 9; led 13; rdly, won at Ston Easton 3m ptp in Mar beating Celestial Dragon (12-0) by 5l, 6 ran.
Brooklyn Breeze (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, mid-division 8th, hit 4 out, weakening when hit 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Character Building (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Christy Beamish (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) In touch, lost place when hit 8th, behind from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Cappa Bleu (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
De Luain Gorm (IRE) 8-1 (11-13) Led at good pace, ridden, joined 15th, narrowly headed bypassing last, found no extra, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Jurado Express (11-11) at Kempton 2m 4f hts chs (4) gd in Mar.
Distant Thunder (IRE) 13-8 (12-0) Disp frm 13; lft clr 2 out; ro wl, won at Larkhill 3m ptp in Mar beating Who Else Knew (12-0) by 15l, 9 ran.
Hambaphambili 11-2 (11-5) Prominent, reminder after 7th, edged left after 2 out, one pace, jumped right last, 3rd of 17, 11l behind Baby Run (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gs in Feb.
Having A Cut (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, headway in 2nd before straight, led passing 3 out, soon challenged, ridden and kept on well from before last, won at Down Royal 2m 4f hts chs sft in Mar beating Top Twig (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 18 ran.
Herecomestanley 9-2 (11-13) Held up in rear, ridden 12th, jumped left 4 out, stayed on from next, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Brer Bear (11-5) at Newbury 3m hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Jurado Express (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Mistake 1st, chased winner throughout, challenged from 14th, led bypassing last, kept on well, won at Kempton 2m 4f hts chs (4) gd in Mar beating De Luain Gorm (11-13) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Le Duc (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway after 9th, hampered 14th, hit 16th, tracking leaders from 3 out, weakened flat, 9th of 24, 24l behind Character Building (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Man From Highworth 3-1 (12-0) Led & fell 2 out, in a race won by Distant Thunder (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp in Mar, 9 ran.
Marcus Du Berlais (FR) 3-1 (12-0) Mostly 4th till 5th 5out, 4th next, fair 3rd 3out, not qkn in 4th from 2out, ko onepcd, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Twilight Trix (12-0) at Ballyragget 3m ire ptp in Mar.
Maurice (FR) 7-1 (12-0) Hdwy 13; led flat; rdn out, won at Bangor-on-dee 3m ptp in Mar beating Adams Wine (12-0) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Mcevoy (IRE) 9-4fav (12-6) With leader, led 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m hts chs (6) gs in Mar beating Man From Highworth (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Mel In Blue (FR) 15-8 (11-12) Soon in touch racing keenly, mistake 9th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by You Do The Math (11-11) at Stratford 2m 7f hts chs (5) sft in Apr '08, 9 ran.
Menchikov (FR) 4-5 (12-7) Ap; lft in ld 15; all out, won at Garthorpe 3m ptp in Mar beating Cheyne (12-0) by 1/2l, 3 ran.
Royal Hector (GER) 7-1 (11-7) In touch until weakened after 12th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Cava Bien (11-7) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Sonevafushi (FR) 2-5 (12-7) Led app 4; rdly, won at Brocklesby Park 3m ptp in Mar beating The Hookie Bookie (12-7) by 5l, 8 ran.
St Matthew (USA) 6-1 (12-0) Mid div, tr ldrs 3out, not qckn bef 2out, ko, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Top Twig (12-0) at Oldcastle 3m ire ptp in Mar.
Strong Weld 11-2 (11-7) Led, headed approaching 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 10, 12l behind Coolefind (12-0) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) gs in Mar.
Take The Stand (IRE) 15-8fav (12-1) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th until 11th, blundered next, 2nd again after 13th, led after 3 out, mistake 2 out, drew clear, won at Warwick 3m 2f hts chs (6) gd in Mar beating Wild Is The Wind (11-13) by 13l, 8 ran.
Theatre Knight (IRE) 4-5 (12-7) (cp) led to last; rallied flat; jnd ldr post, won at Parham 3m ptp in Mar deadheating with Elenas River (12-0), 5 ran.
Trust Fund (IRE) 7-4fav (12-3) In touch, chased leaders 5th, joined leader 14th, led 4 out, clear 2 out, ran on well, won at Chepstow 3m 5f nov hts chs (5) gd in Mar beating Holly Walk (10-9) by 16l, 20 ran.
Twilight Trix (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Mod 2nd till closed 10th, ld bef 4out, 1L ld 2out, chall strongly flat, kow, jnd cl home, won at Ballyragget 3m ire ptp in Mar deadheating with Where Now (12-0), 8 ran.
Where Now (IRE) 7-4 (12-0) Ran 3rd, went 2nd 3out, prog to chall & mstk last, kow flat to close nr fin, won at Ballyragget 3m ire ptp in Mar deadheating with Twilight Trix (12-0), 8 ran.
Whistling Straits (IRE) 7-2fav (12-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 7th, ridden 4 out, stayed on from last, 3rd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Coolefind (12-0) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) gs in Mar.
City Affair 1-4 (12-7) Went 2nd 7; led 15; v easy, won at Howick 3m ptp in Mar beating Lough Ennel (12-7) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
