prominent, led 12th, ridden approaching last, edged right flat, headed and no extra towards finish
in touch, hit 10th, outpaced 15th, rallied approaching last, one pace flat
hampered 9th, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 13th, ridden approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish
keen, mid-division, mistakes 3rd and 12th, ridden after 16th, weakened after next
mid-division, fell 9th
held up and jumped right, headway 10th, ridden after 2 out, weakened last
tracked leaders, lost place 13th, rallied after 2 out, edged left approaching last, kept on
mid-division, hampered 9th, hit 15th, ridden next, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
in touch, lost place 4th, soon behind, mistake 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
behind, ridden after 2 out, headway approaching last, ran on strongly to lead before finish
always behind
prominent, mistakes 12th, hit and weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, pushed along after 11th, weakened after next
jumped right, towards rear, kept on from 2 out, never dangerous
hit 3rd, always behind
mid-division, headway 11th, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last
led to 12th, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, mistake last, weakened flat
behind, kept on from 2 out, never dangerous
mid-division, headway 11th, ridden after 16th, weakened after next
Nonrunner
Moulin Riche and Alderburn have deservedly attracted ante-post support for this competitive affair, but we will take a chance on Juveigneur, Irish Hussar and Fork Lightning are two others to keep on the right side. Nicky Henderson's nine-year-old landed last season's Kim Muir over the same trip, before ending the campaign with runners up spot in the Betfred Gold Cup. He hasn't hit those dizzy heights yet this campaign, but he will no doubt have been well prepared by his astute handler and it is amazing how often previous Cheltenham winners do return to form at the next festival meeting. Stable companion of the selection Irish Hussar has had plenty of problems but will be all the better for a recent spin in the Racing Post Chase . If he can get back to his best he is weighted to go close. Fork Lightning was pulled up in that Sandown contest after returning to the racecourse with an excellent effort behind Joacci here in January. He does save his best for Prestbury Park and cannot easily be disregarded. Moulin Riche should be spot on for this following an excellent second behind King Bee at Haydock, while Alderburn is improving all the time and gets in here on a very nice weight. At the prices on offer they don't appeal as betting propositions which leads us back to Juveigneur, who could be the value in a wide open contest.
Irish Hussar (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Towards rear, lost touch 12th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Innox (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Seebald (GER) 66-1 (11-4) Always behind, ridden and struggling 10th, tailed off, 13th of 15, well behind dhtrs Horus (10-9) & Cornish Sett (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) gf.
Europa 14-1 (11-4) Never going well in rear, under pressure 7th, blundered 11th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by dhtrs Horus (10-9) & Cornish Sett (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) gf, 15 ran.
Juveigneur (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Mistakes, behind, headway 11th, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Our Armageddon (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb, 13 ran.
Made In Japan (JPN) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leader, blundered 8th, went 2nd 11th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, 10th of 15, 23l behind dhtrs Horus (10-9) & Cornish Sett (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) gf.
A Glass In Thyne (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) In touch, headway 11th, pecked 15th, ridden to challenge 3 out, led and jumped left 2 out, driven out, won at Southwell 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Jan beating Europa (11-1) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Fork Lightning (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) In touch, mistake 15th, weakened 17th, blundered 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Innox (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Model Son (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Led, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 15l behind Ossmoses (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Moulin Riche (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Held up, headway 11th, chance approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind King Bee (10-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Korelo (FR) 7-2fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 16th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, stayed on well under pressure flat, 3rd of 17, 2l behind Philson Run (11-6) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Alderburn 9-4fav (11-7) Held up in touch, left in lead 13th, clear last, ran on, won at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb beating Compo (9-13) by 5l, 7 ran.
Dun Doire (IRE) 9-4fav (9-10) Held up in rear, smooth headway 4 out, 4th next, ridden to lead 2 out, bad mistake last, kept on well, won at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs (1) gs in Jan beating Coljon (10-1) by 1 1/2l, 18 ran.
Shardam (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) In touch, slightly hampered 13th, weakened 15th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Eurotrek (10-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Made most to 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 5th of 17, well behind Philson Run (11-6) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Classic Capers 5-1 (11-1) Held up, ridden 5 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Briery Fox (11-0) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (C) gd in Dec.
Black de Bessy (FR) 5-2 (10-6) Ridden 14th, hit next, weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by All In The Stars (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
No Half Session (IRE) Evensfav (10-0) Moderate 5th, 4th and progress 3 out, 3rd and no impression next, kept on from last, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Dead Sound (10-6) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Feb.
Mixsterthetrixster (USA) 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, behind when blundered 11th, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by A Glass In Thyne (10-12) at Southwell 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Jan, 15 ran.
Bob The Builder 5-2fav (11-6) Jumped left, made all, jumped badly left 2 out, mistake last, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Feb beating Spring Lover (11-9) by 1l, 12 ran.
Desailly 16-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 13th, led 2 out, ridden, headed last, no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Harris Bay (10-10) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Va Vavoom (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) With leader, led 10th, headed 13th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 7, 21l behind Alderburn (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Feb.
Little Big Horse (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, lost touch 12th, tailed off, last of 5, well behind You're Special (10-9) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gs in Dec.
