led, soon pressed, 15 lengths clear after 3rd, headed 3 out, weakening when stumbled on bend before next
in touch, chased leaders 7th, hampered 2 out, hard ridden and stayed on under pressure to lead post
tracked clear leaders, blundered 3rd, soon lost place, rallied after 6 out, led 3 out, hard ridden and no extra when headed last stride
behind, struggling 7th, headway 2 out, never nearer
always behind
behind, not fluent 2nd, headway after 6th, chased leaders next, blundered and unseated rider 2 out
pressed leader, soon 15 lengths clear of remainder, not fluent 2nd, mistake 6th, weakened approaching last
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Crookstown only beat two rivals last time at Taunton and is held by Gores Island on earlier running at Wincanton. The latter never figured over further at Cheltenham but is respected back over this trip. Bullet Street and Formal Bid are hard to fancy racing from out of the handicap, however, while Turn Over Sivola is thoroughly exposed. He also looks held by Top Gamble on the form book, though did finish fifth in the Grand Annual when CHRIS PEA GREEN fell. But Harry Haynes' mount was in touch and still going well when coming to grief having been hampered earlier. He could be well handicapped in this so gets a tentative vote ahead of Un Ace and Royal Regatta.
Top Gamble (IRE) 13-8 (11-4) Led, mistake 4 out, ridden and headed last, kept on and no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Vibrato Valtat (11-7) at Warwick 2m nov chs G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Un Ace (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, jumped left 1st, ridden before 2 out, beaten when mistake last, weakened flat, 13th of 23, 13l behind Darna (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Royal Regatta (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Behind, mistake 4th, struggling when hit 9th, never reached leaders, 5th of 11, 33l behind Sound Investment (11-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Feb.
Chris Pea Green 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, hampered 7th, headway before 9th, chasing leaders when fell 4 out, in a race won by Next Sensation (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) sft, 20 ran.
Turn Over Sivola (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake and hampered 4 out, headway before next, ridden and effort 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 5th of 20, 7l behind Next Sensation (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) sft.
Crookstown (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st or 4th, hit 6th, mistake 3 out, effort when not fluent 2 out, rider had issue with right iron briefly, led last, stayed on well, clear towards finish, won at Taunton 2m nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb beating Whispering Harry (10-12) by 3l, 3 ran.
Bullet Street (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Towards rear, pushed along before 10th, went 4th before 4 out, no impression, 4th of 6, 40l behind Gallery Exhibition (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Gores Island (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Mid-division, blundered 4 out, soon lost place, weakened before 2 out, 10th of 20, 29l behind Irish Cavalier (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed nov hcap ch (1) gs.
Formal Bid (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Always 4th and last, struggling 5th, tailed off when mistake and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Three Kingdoms (11-4) at Doncaster 2m nov chs G2 (1) gs in Jan, 4 ran.
