never travelled in rear, not fluent 1st, in rear and struggling when blundered 15th, pulled up after 3 out
behind, mistake 4th, struggling 13th, never involved
held up towards rear, slightly hampered 2nd, no real impression when hampered 4 out
jumped left, always towards rear, never involved, tailed off
held up in mid-division, steady headway 13th, pushed along and in touch when fell 4 out
chased leaders, led 12th until 14th, weakened soon after 4 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, blundered and stumbled 3rd, lost place approaching 11th, plugged on from 3 out, never able to get on terms
chasing leaders when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 14th, led 4 out, driven before 2 out, idled badly flat, headed final 120 yards
held up towards rear, good headway on outside to chase leaders 8th, tracked leader after 3 out until dropped to 3rd soon after 2 out, rallied under pressure last, stayed on to head idling leader final 120 yards
chased leaders, outpaced 13th, plugged on again from 3 out, no threat
mistake 1st, chased leaders, went 2nd 8th until 10th, led 14th, ridden and headed 4 out, chased leaders under pressure until weakened before 2 out
never going in rear, struggling 10th, pulled up before next
chased leadrs, went 3rd before 2 out, 2nd soon after, challenged and every chance when went left last, stayed on same pace in 3rd flat
jumped left, led 2nd, headed 12th, soon lost place, behind when went left 14th and next, pulled up before 4 out
led until 2nd, chased leader until 8th, went 2nd again 10th, chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out
always in rear, mistake 4th, slow and driven 11th, tailed off
David Pipe won this last year with Massini's Maguire and father Martin also landed the contest on several occasions. The stable is represented this year by Qulinton, who won a Listed handicap at Market Rasen in July and was second at Cheltenham earlier this month, as well as the lightly-weighted Gentle Ranger. Eoin Griffin saddles 2009 winner The Last Derby off a 7lb higher mark, while Ireland is also represented by Muirhead and BIDEFORD LEGEND, first and second in the Munster National. The latter can reverse that form on 8lb better terms and land this nice prize as he had very little luck in running at Limerick having been well backed. Improving Huntingdon winner Ostland and Cheltenham scorer Balthazar King probably need to find a bit more to follow up here, but Razor Royale and Air Force One are both very well treated on their best form and it would be no surprise to see Promising Anshan step up again this season.
Quinz (FR) 14-1 (10-8) In touch, lost place 12th, behind when pulled up before 15th (chair), in a race won by Ballabriggs (11-0) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Niche Market (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 21st (foinavon), led 23rd (valentine's), headed 3 out, ridden and lost place approaching last, weakened flat, 5th of 40, 24l behind Ballabriggs (11-0) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Muirhead (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Impeded 1st, waited with towards rear, progress from halfway, chased leaders 4 out, closed before straight, led travelling well before last, asserted run-in, comfortably, won at Limerick 3m hcp chs beating Bideford Legend (11-8) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Qulinton (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 9th, every chance 2 out, switched right approaching last, stayed on flat, held by winner, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Paint The Clouds (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gf.
Bideford Legend (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Waited with towards rear, closed to chase leaders 4 out, got on on terms travelling well approaching last, soon headed, kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 15, 1 3/4l behind Muirhead (11-2) at Limerick 3m hcp chs.
Ostland (GER) 4-1 (11-5) Led until 4th, led approaching 9th, not fluent 11th, mistake 14th, clear approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, easily, won at Huntingdon 3m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gf beating Spock (10-5) by 48l, 7 ran.
Balthazar King (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Made all, 3 lenghts clear when wandered flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf beating Definite Dawn (10-1) by 3l, 6 ran.
Dover's Hill 15-8fav (11-5) Made all, clear approaching 3 out, ran on well, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov chs (3) gd in Apr beating Helpston (10-12) by 12l, 4 ran.
Razor Royale (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Chased leaders on inside when jinked right and unseated rider approaching 12th, in a race won by Bensalem (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 19 ran.
Exmoor Ranger (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Towards rear, behind when blunderd badly and almost unseated rider 12th, no chance after, tailed off 20th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Poker De Sivola (10-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gf in Apr, 18 ran.
The Last Derby (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 6th approaching straight, soon no extra and kept on same pace, 6th of 14, 27l behind Ongenstown Lad (10-13) at Gowran Park 3m hcp hdl gd in Sep.
Golden Kite (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Prominent, bad mistake and unseated rider 6 out, in a race won by Muirhead (11-2) at Limerick 3m hcp chs, 15 ran.
Air Force One (GER) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division,pushed along 13th, hit 14th, behind from 19th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Church Island (10-5) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr '10, 19 ran.
Promising Anshan (IRE) 2-11fav (10-11) Made all, jumped mainly right, ridden clear approaching bypassed 2 out, ran on, won at Fakenham 3m beg chase (4) gs in Feb beating Springfield Raki (11-0) by 21l, 6 ran.
Free World (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway 5th to chase leaders, ridden to lead before 2 out, headed 2 out, 3 lengths down in 3rd when left 2nd and hampered last, one pace, 2nd of 17, 4l behind Kristoffersen (11-3) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Aug.
Gentle Ranger (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Chased leader, led 5th until 10th, mistke 12th, lost 2nd next, went left 14th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 20th, in a race won by Poker De Sivola (10-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gf in Apr, 18 ran.
Life Of A Luso (IRE) 7-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway after 3 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat, keeping on close home, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Billie Magern (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf.
