held up in touch, hard driven approaching 3 out, soon under pressure, weakened before last
in touch, not fluent 7th, driven to challenge when mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, effort before 2 out, soon no impression
mid-division, headway when fell 4 out
tracked leader, jumped left 5 out, hard driven approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden when fell 2 out
made all, clear 3 out, soon driven, stayed on strongly, ridden out
held up in touch, pushed along approaching 11th, soon weakened
raced in rear, mistake 4th, detatched approaching 12th, pulled up 4 out
chased leaders, mistake 11th, ridden 13th, weakened after 3 out, behind when hampered next
mid-division, blundered 9th, headway 13th, weakening when hampered 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, stayed on under pressure approaching last, went 2nd flat, never reached winner
held up in touch, mistake 4th, chased leaders 8th, effort 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, never on terms
mid-division, hard driven approaching 4 out, soon lost place
behind, soon pushed along, weakened before 9th, tailed off, pulled up after next
mid-division, hampered 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
raced in rear, struggling 9th, some late headway, never nearer
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
In recent years this race has been dominated by second-season chasers and that's a trend we expect to continue, with MAD MAX marginally preferred to his stablemate Long Run at the prices; Great Endeavour, Sunnyhillboy and Catch Me are all considered too. Our selection may well have gone close to winning the Arkle here were it not for a blunder at the penultimate fence and made up for that with a superb performance at Aintree, even allowing for the second horse running a shade below par. Reportedly fresh and well at home and free of the breathing issues that have in the past troubled him, the pick may just sneak under the radar with the focus on his companion Long Run. The latter is an exciting prospect whose performance in winning the Feltham last Christmas will live long in the memory but he will need to jump better than he did in the RSA Chase to win this and perhaps now is the time to take him on. Great Endeavour won well at the Festival and remains of interest despite a 7lb rise but the feeling with him is that three miles will suit better and for that reason he's opposed along with the horse he beat that day, Sunnyhillboy, who had previously looked far from a natural over fences and we'd like to see him attack them again before wading in. Catch Me looks the pick of the Irish brigade although former Jewson winner Finger Onthe Pulse isn't discounted while last year's second Poquelin can't be ruled out having improved beyond measure throughout the last 18 months.
Poquelin (FR) 7-2 (11-6) Tracked winner, challenged 2 out, outpaced when switched right between last 2, challenged again and every chance last, ridden flat, kept on, held near finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Monet's Garden (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (4yo+) (1) gs in Oct.
Long Run (FR) 11-4 (11-3) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway after 8th, hit 12th, not fluent 15th or 4 out, led 3 out, headed soon after next, no impression on winner last, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Weapon's Amnesty (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Mad Max (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Led from 2nd, made rest, joined 3 out, challenged next, drew clear from last, won at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Apr beating Somersby (11-4) by 9l, 6 ran.
Tchico Polos (FR) 3-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, hit 1st, not fluent 6th, challenged 2 out, soon led, driven flat, held on, won at Exeter 2m 1f Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (4yo+) (1) gs beating Twist Magic (11-10) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Soon disputed lead, left in lead 4 out, headed before next, back in lead before straight, joined 2 out, headed last, dropped to 3rd near finish, 3rd of 18, 4l behind Alfa Beat (10-10) at Listowel 3m chs (1) gd in Sep.
Gwanako (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, disputing close 4th when fell 2 out, in a race won by Edgbriar (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct, 17 ran.
Little Josh (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Led, clear from 3 out, ridden approaching last, started to tire flat, joined on line, won at Carlisle 2m 4f Intermediate Chase (5yo+) (2) sft in Oct deadheating with Weird Al (11-10), 5 ran.
The Sawyer (BEL) 66-1 (9-11) Pressed leader until after 4th, soon ridden, lost place next, behind after 8th, closed from 3 out, no impression, 5th of 9, 14l behind Tchico Polos (10-4) at Exeter 2m 1f Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (4yo+) (1) gs.
Can't Buy Time (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 15th, soon no impression, 8th of 13, 49l behind Massini's Maguire (11-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Edgbriar (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Prominent, chased leader 6th, challenged 2 out, narrow lead last, edged right and kept on under pressure flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct beating Chaninbar (11-8) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Catch Me (GER) 11-4 (11-1) Raced in 3rd, struggling from before straight, soon no impression and kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 8l behind Captain Cee Bee (11-12) at Naas 2m chs Grade 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Dancing Tornado (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Soon mid-division, progress travelling well straight, 4th 2 out, ridden in 3rd and jinked right before last, switched left to rail run-in, ran on well, just held, 2nd of 14, shd behind Sweet Shock (10-6) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Oct.
Great Endeavour (IRE) 18-1 (10-1) In touch, headway 12th, challenged 3 out, led before next, ridden last, held on under pressure flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar beating Sunnyhillboy (10-0) by 1 1/4l, 24 ran.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 6-1fav (10-0) Held up behind, blundered 10th, headway 13th, 5th 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure to chase winner towards finish, 2nd of 24, 1 1/4l behind Great Endeavour (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Passato (GER) 15-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, hit 11th, reminders next, struggling soon after, no chance when hampered 2 out, 7th of 17, 28l behind Edgbriar (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Awesome George 7-1 (11-9) Disputed 2nd, blundered 5 out, chased easy winner next, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 22l behind Stagecoach Pearl (10-11) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Oct.
Door Boy (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged 4 out, weakened next, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Little Josh (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f Intermediate Chase (5yo+) (2) sft in Oct.
Pigeon Island 6-1 (11-10) Held up in 5th and off the pace, not fluent and reminders 5th, driven along from 3 out, stayed on to poor 3rd after last, 3rd of 6, 30l behind Kilmurry (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (2) gd in Oct.
Gonebeyondrecall (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders, jumped well until mistake 5 out, dropped to 4th, ridden in moderate 2nd entering straight, kept on one paced, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Beau Michael (11-5) at Tipperary 2m 4f nov chs (1) in Oct.
Rory Boy (USA) 8-1 (10-10) Towards rear, headway 11th, chased leaders 4 out, weakened after next, 6th of 17, 11l behind Edgbriar (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
