led until 10th, chased leaders after, lost place 4 out
held up towards rear, never jumped well, headway 9th, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on same pace
pulled hard and prominent, challenging when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
held up mid-division, mistake 9th, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leader, under pressure 5 out, chased leaders after 3rd last, weakened after next
held up in rear, driven and headway 5 out, effort approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, detached 5th, tailed off from 10th
always prominent, led 10th, hard driven and challenged 2 out, ran on well
Nonrunner
Monet's Garden put up a really admirable performance when landing the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month and the Nicky Richards-trained gelding has every chance of following up but he is unlikely to find things as easy today with VOY POR USTEDES in opposition and he gets the vote with the pick of the remainder looking to be Planet of Sound. Philip Hobbs has not had many winners this term but Planet of Sound has been one of them having beaten Cornas, who runs in the 2.05, at Exeter earlier this month and he has to be respected with the possibility of further improvement. Gwanako was a faller at Aintree in the Topham when last seen and looks best watched on his return for Paul Nicholls and of more interest may be Schindlers Hunt. Dessie Hughes has the nine-year-old fit and in form having run well behind Oscar Dan Dan at Thurles last month and he has every chance if able to reproduce the form shown when chasing home the selection at Aintree last term. Jonjo O'Neill's Albertas Run had a good season over fences two years go when completing a hat-trick when landing the Royal & SunAlliance Chase but he struggled to trouble the judge last term, although did run some decent races in defeat. A better bet looks to be Alan King's Voy Por Ustedes, who proved himself to be one of the best chasers in training last season with wins in Grade 1 races here and at Aintree sandwiched either side of a good second in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. The eight-year-old can make a winning return.
Monet's Garden (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Made all, kept on well from last, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs (1) gs in Oct beating Tidal Bay (11-9) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Voy Por Ustedes (FR) 11-8fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, hit 12th, ridden approaching 3 out, led last, held on towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 4f Grade 1 chs (1) gd in Apr beating Schindlers Hunt (11-10) by hd, 10 ran.
Gwanako (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Towards rear, fell 13th (Valentines), in a race won by Irish Raptor (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 29 ran.
Planet of Sound 4-1fav (10-9) Mid-division, headway after 8th, challenged last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grade 2 (1) gs beating Cornas (10-4) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Schindlers Hunt (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, soon disputing 2nd, left clear 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace without threatening winner from last, 2nd of 13, 15l behind Oscar Dan Dan (11-6) at Thurles 2m 6f hdl gd in Oct.
Panjo Bere (FR) 9-1 (10-4) Prominent, blundered badly and dropped rear 4th, weakened 8th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Planet Of Sound (10-9) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grade 2 (1) gs, 9 ran.
Medicinal (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Mid-division until blundered and lost place 3rd, behind when blundered and fell 5th, in a race won by Master Medic (11-6) at Ascot 2m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Albertas Run (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, pushed along 5 out, 5th before next, no extra in 6th 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Notre Pere (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f Grade 1 chs sft in Apr, 12 ran.
Striking Article (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Made all, clear approaching 2 out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct beating Nirvana Swing (10-10) by 8l, 8 ran.
