Verdict

Harry The Viking is a real battler as he showed when scoring over 3m2f at Doncaster last time. He should have no problems with the trip nor should Teaforthree, who made all and galloped on resolutely for an impressive victory at Chepstow last month and had beaten Restless Harry there in December. ALLEE GARDE is unlikely to have stamina problems as his dam is related to Clan Royal. He made a couple of mistakes when less than a length behind Medical Card in a Grade 2 at Naas but his earlier third in the Grade 1 Fort Leney looks good enough for this. Willie Mullins also saddles Soll, who looked a nice prospect when beating Harpsy Chord over 2m4f at Down Royal though that was on very heavy ground. Alfie Spinner should be suited by this marathon having ploughed through the mud to score over 3m at Chepstow but Universal Soldier made several bad errors when pulled up behind Teaforthree at Chepstow, though jumped like an old hand at Towcester.

Formwatch

Alfie Spinner (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led, bumped 1st, narrowly headed 11th, chased leader, led again 14th, headed next, led again 4 out, headed after next, still pressing leaders 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Invictus (11-4) at Ascot 3m nov chs G2 (1) gs in Feb.

Allee Garde (FR) 9-10fav (11-5) Waited with at ordinary pace, challenged in 2nd 2 out where stumbled on landing, on terms last where awkward, soon headed but every chance run-in, kept on without matching 1st 2 closing stages, 3rd of 5, 1/2l behind Medical Card (11-5) at Naas 3m nov chs G2 (1) in Jan.

Ben's Folly (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) In touch, reminders before 7th, weakened from next, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Grand Vision (10-3) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb, 19 ran.

Blenheim Brook (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (4) sft in Feb beating Lie Forrit (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 3 ran.

Bob 'n' You (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Behind, mistakes 7th and 4 out, never a factor, 11th of 16, 30l behind Allthekingshorses (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.

Cottage Oak (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and no extra approaching 3 out, 10th of 15, well behind Spot The Boss (9-11) at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-123.

Court Red Handed (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Led, blundered 10th, about 6 lengths ahead 2 out, reduced lead and blundered last, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Clash Duff (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) sft in Jan.

Daffern Seal (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Attempted to make all, headed before 6 out, disputed lead 4 out, ridden and headed from next, kept on one paced from 2 out, 4th of 9, 6l behind Eagle's Pass (11-12) at Killarney 2m 4f nov chs gd in Aug.

Four Commanders (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Prominent, slight mistake 4 out, challenged from before last, on terms and every chance run-in, headed near finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Lion Na Bearnai (11-3) at Navan 3m nov chs G2 (1) sft in Feb.

Harry The Viking 5-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 14th, went 2nd before 4 out, challenged on inside next, soon led, ridden between last 2, hard pressed last, rallied when headed briefly flat, held on, won at Doncaster 3m 2f Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gs in Dec beating Ikorodu Road (10-12) by hd, 6 ran.

Iron Chancellor (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Towards rear, mistake 6th, ridden 11th, outpaced 4 out, rallied flat, 4th of 10, 19l behind On Borrowed Wings (11-5) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.

Leggy Lad (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Rear of mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 13th, in a race won by Portrait King (10-7) at Punchestown 3m 4f Ext hcp ch hvy in Feb, 17 ran.

Lively Baron (IRE) 11-8fav (10-12) Led, headed 11th, led again before 12th, headed 3 out, about 3 lengths down in 3rd and looking held when left in lead and clear 2 out, won at Warwick 3m nov chs (4) gd in Feb beating Chilli Rose (10-5) by 16l, 5 ran.

Our Island (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Went left 1st, tended to jump left after, chased leaders, ridden and weakened 15th, tailed off, 5th of 7, 32l behind Invictus (11-4) at Ascot 3m nov chs G2 (1) gs in Feb.

Soll 2-5fav (11-12) Prominent and led from 3rd, pushed along 2 out and kept on well to assert run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 4f beg chase hvy in Feb beating Harpsy Cord (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.

State Benefit (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along 4 out, ridden and one pace from last, 4th of 6, 7l behind Mic's Delight (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs (3) gs in Feb.

Strongbows Legend 6-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 10th, lost place 12th, pulled up before 14th, in a race won by Mac Aeda (11-2) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb, 11 ran.

Teaforthree (IRE) 8-15fav (11-7) Made all, driven when pressed 5 out, drew clear from 2 out, comfortably, won at Chepstow 3m nov chs (4) sft in Feb beating Roalco De Farges (11-7) by 9l, 3 ran.

Universal Soldier (IRE) 5-4 (11-0) Pressed leader, led 8th, drew well clear from 13th, heavily eased flat, won at Towcester 3m beg chase (4) sft in Jan beating Gritti Palace (10-7) by well, 4 ran.

Our Victoria (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders mainly 5th, chased leaders in 3rd 4 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, kept on one pace under pressure, 4th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Paddy Pub (10-7) at Naas 3m hcp hdl 8Evens30 sft in Feb.