held up in mid-division, driven and outpaced 3 out, ridden next, stayed on under pressure flat, no impression
in touch, ridden and outpaced 3 out, soon lost place, weakened before last
left tracking leader 1st, lost place 9th, outpaced 4 out, rallied to chase winner when wandered approaching 2 out, soon ridden, held flat
held up in mid-division, headway to track leader 9th, led when pecked 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on well flat
hampered 1st, 5th when blundered and unseated rider 4th
behind, headway on inside 3 out, effort approaching next, one pace last, no chance with leading pair flat
in rear, lost touch 6th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out
tracked leader, fell 1st
led, headed 3 out, ridden and lost place before next, one pace last
Nigel Twiston-Davies had a fantastic time at the festival last month and his runner here, Its Crucial, has every chance of giving him another Cheltenham winner having scored well at Newbury recently but the faster ground today is a concern for the son of Beneficial and a better bet looks to be the unexposed CALUSA CRYSTAL, who gets the vote ahead of De Boitron. Ferdy Murphy's gelding won well on good ground at Doncaster last month and a 6lb rise for that success is perfectly fair but this does look a better race and he may have to settle for minor honours. Neil King's Russian Flag was pulled up in the Grand Annual last time but had been in good form prior to that, although he now seems too high in the weights, while David Arbuthnot's Dominican Monk could probably do with some help from the handicapper. Gary Moore's Vinmix de Bessy is capable but inconsistent and a better bet looks to be the Philip Hobbs-trained Calusa Crystal, who should appreciate the better ground today having disappointed on soft ground at Newbury last time and he looks well treated at the weights.
Stan (NZ) 20-1 (10-11) In rear, hampered and reminders 4th, ridden and struggling 8th, 6th of 16, 34l behind Chaninbar (10-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Russian Flag (FR) 25-1 (10-1) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Pigeon Island (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar, 19 ran.
Calusa Crystal (FR) 3-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching 12th, led 13th until 3 out, switched right before next, no impression when lost 2nd and not fluent last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 18l behind Double Hit (10-0) at Newbury 2m 6f mrs lst nov hcp chs (5yo+) (1) sft in Mar.
De Boitron (FR) 4-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, hit 3rd, pushed along 7th, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, led approaching last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Mar beating Doctor David (11-10) by 6l, 7 ran.
Dominican Monk (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Keen close up, ridden and every chance when mistake last, stumbled on landing, rallied to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 4, 1l behind King Brex (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Vinmix De Bessy (FR) 9-4fav (11-5) Close up, mistake and rider lost iron 8th recovered iron after next, went 2nd 3 out, ridden to lead next, headed flat, kept on, 3rd of 4, 2l behind King Brex (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Jigsaw Dancer (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, led 8th, driven clear approaching 3 out, strongly challenged next, hard ridden last, headed and all out towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Alesandro Mantegna (11-3) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Ormello (FR) 18-1 (11-4) Chase leaders, outpaced 2 out, 4 lengths down in 4th when hit last, stayed on to go 3rd flat, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Kilmackilloge (11-12) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Its Crucial (IRE) 2-1fav (10-10) Chased leader, closed when jumped right 5th, led next, jumped right 9th, clear when blundered 2 out, easily, won at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Mar beating Kew Jumper (11-8) by 16l, 5 ran.
