led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on outside 6th, weakened 3 out
took keen hold, prominent until stumbled on bend and unseated rider 2nd
held up, mistake 7th, headway approaching 3 out, kept on flat, nearest finish
held up, headway on outside when not fluent 3 out, went 2nd last, kept on, no impression on winner
chased leaders, mistakes 3rd, kept on same pace from 2 out
mid-division, jumped slowly and lost place 6th, in rear after
chased leaders, ridden 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, joined leader 6th, every chance 3 out, no extra flat
mid-division, no headway from 3 out
mid-division, no progress from 3 out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off
prominent, driven along approaching 7th, hit 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
chased leaders, close up 3 out, went 2nd briefly and not fluent last, stayed on one pace flat
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, lost place before next
mid-division, headway 6th, mistake 7th, chased winner 2 out until approaching last, one pace flat
mid-division, short lived effort 6th, soon struggling, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden along after 6th, weakened after 2 out
held up, headway approaching last, never going pace to trouble leaders
held up in touch, hampered on bend after 2nd, lost place before 3 out, no impression when blundered 2 out
always in rear
held up, still going well, plenty to do approaching 3 out, headway from 2 out, jumped right last, kept on, nearest finish
held up, effort 3 out, never on terms
held up, progress from 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon not much room, no impression after
held up, mistake 2nd, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on approaching last, one pace flat
held up in touch, went prominent when not fluent 5th, led 3 out, kept on strongly from 2 out
in rear, driven along after 4th, no response
mid-division, some progress 6th, no impression 3 out
An open renewal as the betting suggests, however we will take a chance on Gary Moore's Verasi who has been in good form of late, with a shortlist made up of Powerstation, Burntoakboy, Copsale Lad, and Mister Hight. The selection was only beaten a length last time out behind Taranis in a Grade Three contest at Sandown and was a decent fifth in this race last year. He handles the ground well and has appreciate the step up from two miles to today's trip in recent outings. Dusky Lord is an interesting outsider as he was still in touch before falling last time out at Fontwell. Powerstation is game and consistent and was second in last year's Brit Insurance behind Black Jack Ketchum. He certainly looks capable of winning off this mark of 139 and looks a live danger. Burntoakboy won in decisive fashion at Leicester on soft ground and whilst that wasn't a decent contest, a mark of 128 still looks feasible. Copsale Lad was a ready winner last time out when back over these smaller obstacles and certainly rates a threat off this mark. Mister Hight wasn't disgraced in the Triumph last year and wasn't beaten far behind Heathcote in the Trophy Hurdle at Newbury last month. Ross River showed little last time out but if this has been the plan for a while, he must be of interest stepping back up in trip and at a big price he warrants a close look, however for the winner we will return to Gary Moore's Verasi. The stable continue in good form and he can improve on last-year's fifth in this race and get his head in front.
Emotional Moment (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Led, ridden and strongly pressed after 3 out, headed after 2 out, no extra from last, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Sweet Kiln (10-11) at Navan 2m 5f hdl Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Redemption 8-1 (11-1) Held up, hit 3rd, headway after 8th, weakened quickly after 9th, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Nozic (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off, 11th of 17, well behind Verasi (10-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Mister Hight (FR) 20-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on approaching last, 5th of 20, 4 1/2l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Powerstation (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, closer in 3rd approaching 2 out, ridden before straight, 2nd from last, kept on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Druids Castle (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Feb.
Dusky Warbler 12-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden after 6th, mistake 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 17, 20l behind Wellbeing (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Royals Darling (GER) 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden out of 3 out, weakened next, 15th of 16, 40l behind Taranis (10-3) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Verasi 9-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden and every chance after 2 out, kept on, no extra flat, 3rd of 16, 1l behind Taranis (10-3) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Oulart (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Attempted to make all, headed last, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 17, 1l behind Contessa Messina (9-13) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Feb.
Copsale Lad 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 8th, led after 9th, in command from 2 out, comfortably, won at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb beating Minella Tipperary (10-10) by 5l, 16 ran.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 25-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and not fluent 3 out, soon one pace, 7th of 14, 13l behind Overstrand (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders and keen, blundered 5th, lost place after 7th and outpaced, chased leaders 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Darrias (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Supreme Prince (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Made most to 7th, stayed prominent, ridden from 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 20l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft.
Baron De Feypo (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden in 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Benefit Night (11-8) at Naas 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Royal Paradise (FR) 10-3 (11-2) Prominent, chased winner from 2nd, ridden approaching 3 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 4, 11l behind Private Be (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f beg chs (4) sft.
Oscatello (USA) 15-2 (11-12) Soon driven along in rear, never in contention, 6th of 13, 18l behind Maharbal (10-5) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
All Star (GER) 15-2 (11-10) Held up last, hit 8th, good headway 9th, every chance when blundered badly 4 out, not recover, last of 4, 30l behind Ursis (11-3) at Wincanton 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Golden Bay 6-1co-fav (10-11) Prominent, headway and chased leaders 7th, led approaching 2 out, ridden when fell 2 out in race won by Beau Michel (10-11) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb, 12 ran.
Nathos (GER) 6-1co-fav (11-2) Held up last, headway 7th, left in lead 2 out, hard ridden flat, headed close home, no extra, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Beau Michel (10-11) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Rayshan (IRE) 15-8fav (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon outpaced, chased winner approaching 2 out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Through The Rye (11-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Turtle Soup (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) With leader, ridden after 8th, kept on same pace from next, 5th of 14, 11l behind Overstrand (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Dusky Lord 2-1fav (9-13) In touch, mistake 3rd, pushed along and hung left after 5th and fell 3 out in race won by Fenix (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Hills Of Aran 15-2 (11-4) In touch, chased leaders 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Chief Dan George (11-11) at Haydock 2m 7f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
The Spoonplayer (IRE) 3-1fav (10-9) Close 3rd, dropped to 5th 2 out, headway on outer approaching last, 2nd when drifted left early run-in, every chance, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 14, 1/2l behind First Row (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Dec.
Ross River 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outer, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 24th of 30, well behind Spring The Que (10-3) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan.
Burntoakboy 9-2 (11-5) Held up, headway on inside 4th, led approaching 3 out, drew well clear, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan beating You Do The Math (10-12) by 19l, 10 ran.
Dangerously Good 14-1 (10-13) Behind, hit 8th, lost touch 4 out, never dangerous, 14th of 16, 44l behind Accordello (10-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Nov.
Nation State 8-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, steady progress after 7th, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on flat, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Overstrand (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
