mid-division, headway approaching 6, ridden and weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out
led until after 6th, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, some headway 6th, soon ridden, beaten when slightly hampered 2 out
mid-division, ridden, headway after 3 out, stayed on from last
tracked leaders, stuggling when fell 3 out
mid-division until clipped heels and fell after 3 out
tracked leaders, led after 6th, ridden and headed last, faded
tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, soon behind
tracked leaders, ridden, weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from last, not reach leaders
held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from last, never troubled leaders
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, headway next, stayed on flat
keen early, tracked leaders, close 3rd and going well enough when stumbled and fell 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, close up when mistake, slightly hampered 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on
Withdrawn
Another wide open handicap hurdle with plenty in with chances but the main protagonists appear to be Ouninpohja , Alph and Liberate and the vote is given to the frustrating Ouninpohja. The selection was a fair second behind Emmpat when last seen. He remains on a fair mark considering his ability and as he may be best when caught fresh, he looks the one to be on. Alph rates the main danger as he is race fit and he beat Liberate last time out. However he looks vulnerable under top weight. Liberate is another that is sure to have his supporters on these revised terms and on this faster ground it would be no surprise to see him go close. Special Envoy will make a bold bid to make all but his very best form is on stiffer tracks and he is opposed with this in mind. Cloone River is sure to have come on for his latest run and if he does not bounce he could go well at a price. Kanad won well last time out when beating Nawamees but this looks tougher. Of the remainder Tessanoora could go well off her light weight but for the winner we return to the enigma which is Ouninpohja.
Alph 25-1 (11-0) Held up, headway from 3 out, went 2nd well before 2 out, challenged and hit 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Kempton 2m hdl (2) gd in Oct beating Liberate (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Liberate 6-5fav (11-0) Led, ridden well before 2 out, pressed 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Alph (11-0) at Kempton 2m hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Special Envoy (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden and weakened 2 out, 6th of 14, 13l behind Don't Push It (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Ouninpohja (IRE) 3-1fav (10-13) Chased leaders, led 3rd, hit 5th, not fluent 4 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Emmpat (10-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr.
Altilhar (USA) 11-2 (10-4) Held up in touch and keen, ridden after 4 out, hit 3 out, one pace, 4th of 8, 8l behind Emmpat (10-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr.
Diego Cao (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from last, 2nd of 22, 1l behind Kings Quay (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Cloone River (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, kept on without threatening from after 3 out, 5th of 7, 9l behind Salford City (11-4) at Tipperary 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Amour Multiple (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Held up in touch, lost place before 7th, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 19l behind Rio De Janeiro (10-7) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Turtle Soup (IRE) 50-1 (10-1) Always in rear, 23rd of 28, 27l behind Burntoakboy (9-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Chased leader to 3rd, ridden after 6th, weakened approaching last, 4th of 10, 8l behind Country Escape (10-10) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Sept.
Mister Benedictine 8-1 (11-3) Held up, headway into 5th halfway, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, ran on strongly from last to lead on line, won at Limerick 2m 2f 4yo hdl gd in Oct beating Head Waiter (11-6) by a shd, 10 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden and staying on when badly hampered 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 8th of 19, 8l behind Knowhere (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Rio De Janeiro (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, ridden and headway after 5th, weakened after 3 out, 16th of 20, 36l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Kanad 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division, closer to leaders 5th, led slightly right approaching 2 out, led when not fluent last, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct beating Nawamees (11-6) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Tessanoora 10-3 (11-4) Tracked leaders, hampered 7th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Enlightenment (11-5) at Stratford 2m 1f nov chs (4) gf in Sept.
Platin Grounds (GER) 15-2 (10-1) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, led approaching last, driven and held on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct beating Rajeh (10-9) by a nk, 14 ran.
Chivalry 40-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, ridden after 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 10th of 17, 23l behind Pigeon Island (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
