chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, mistake 9th, led and mistake 11th, blundered 4 out, headed next, weakened and mistake 2 out
mistakes, held up in rear, hit 8th, ridden and hit 11th, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, went 2nd and hit next, weakened last
patiently ridden in rear, headway approaching 2 out, closed on leader to challenge after last, driven and stayed on gamely flat to lead towards finish
led 3rd until after 11th, led 3 out, about 3 lengths clear approaching last, strongly pressed flat, kept on well until headed towards finish
always behind, struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, ridden 8th, outpaced 4 out, rallied after 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, not reached leading pair
chased leaders, ridden and behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, headway to track leaders 7th, ridden and weakened before 2 out
mistakes, led to 3rd, blundered 4th and 7th, in touch until blundered and weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Nonrunner
IRISH GUARD jumped well en-route to victory at Towcester and off a mark of 110 he is taken to see off the more-fancied Tarotino, Fire And Rain and Mister Potter. Andrew Thornton produced the selection perfectly at his fences to win convincingly at Towcester. This is a different track but the way that he ran on up the hill lends one to think that he might enjoy this test and a big run is anticipated. Tarotino comes here chasing the hat-trick; Alan King's gelding has started to progress well of late winning at Doncaster and Kempton and it would be no surprise to see him run well off a mark of 130. Mount Benger was a drifter before his last start and ran below-par; the fact that he lost second to a 95-rated rival would have to be a worry. Saphir Des Bois was well-held when last seen at Haydock in desperate ground but he had previously won well on his UK debut and he cannot be overlooked, along with Mister Potter who may be high enough in the weights now after some consistently good efforts but at least you get a run for your money. Pancake is not always the most consistent and the blinkers didn't seem to have too much effect in the Jewson's, Fire And Rain is regally bred and as a horse who jumps out to his left he should enjoy this, whilst Golden Child has claims as he journeys into Novice company again. Hivikos is not trustworthy and we will side with Irish Guard
Pancake (FR) 25-1 (10-9) Prominent, hampered 1st, led 8th, headed after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 20, 31l behind Chapoturgeon (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Ordre de Bataille (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 10th, headway next, led approaching last, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Our Jasper (10-13) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Mount Benger 11-4 (11-4) Led until approaching 3rd, chased leader, led again before 4 out, ridden, headed 2 out, hung right, lost 2nd, weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 9l behind William Bonney (11-4) at Ludlow 2m nov stks (3) gd.
Saphir Des Bois (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Held up, blundered 4th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 42l behind The Vicar (11-4) at Haydock 2m 4f nov chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Mister Potter 13-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, driven 3 out, ridden and kept on under pressure from next, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Storymaker (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Mar.
Golden Child (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up, not fluent 6th, headway 9th, ridden after 10th, chased winner after 4 out, every chance 3 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Double The Trouble (10-2) at Towcester 2m 3f nov chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Project Gallery (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) In touch, headway to chase leaders 8th, not fluent and ridden 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 11, 16l behind Dont Tell The Wife (10-11) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
Hivikos (FR) 12-1 (11-12) In rear, unseated rider after 3rd, in a race won by Mr Big (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd, 14 ran.
Irish Guard 7-2 (11-0) Made all, drew clear approaching 2f out, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Towcester 2m 6f beg chase (4) gd in Mar beating Maraafeq (11-0) by 14l, 8 ran.
Tarotino (FR) 7-4fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led briefly 9th, led again 11th, ridden 2 out, ran on, won at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Mar beating Soixante (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.
Back Among Friends 4-1 (11-0) Led, headed 4 out, weakened from last, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Razor Royale (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f beg chase (4) gs in Feb.
Fire And Rain (FR) 2-1fav (10-6) Led to 4th, chased leader to 6th, prominent until jumped left 9th, mistake 14th, rallied from 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, went left, stayed on strongly flat, won at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar beating Mizen Raven (11-8) by 12l, 9 ran.
