mid-division, soon racing awkwardly, mistake 11th, driven approaching 16th, mistake 17th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
always behind, tailed off 18th, pulled up before 19th
mid-division, headway 6th, pushed along approaching 14th, weakened 18th, mistake 19th, tailed off when pulled up before 20th
mid-division, slightly hampered 5th, headway 18th, hampered 4 out, chased winner 3 out, every chance before 2 out, one pace and lost 2nd flat
held up, not fluent 15th, steady headway from 19th, 4th but outpaced by leading trio approaching 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, in touch 12th, weakened approaching 17th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway on outside 4 out, every chance approaching 2 out, outpaced by winner from last, took 2nd flat
mid-division, some headway when mistake and unseated rider 20th
chased leaders, lost place 16th, behind when stumbled, hampered and unseated rider 4 out
mistakes, mid-division, in touch from 16th, 3rd 19th, outpaced after 3 out, no impression after
prominent, mistakes 11th and 14th, weakened after 19th, mistake next, tailed off
led, jumped left 1st and 2nd, headed next, remained handy, mistake 11th, blundered 4 out, weakened after 3 out
in touch, reminder after 12th, mistake 15th, blundered 18th, soon lost place, behind when slightly hampered 4 out, plugged on approaching 2 out but no danger
held up, blundered 15th, stayed on from 3 out, never nearer
in rear, pushed along after 10th briefly, headway approaching 19th, weakened approaching 2 out
led 3rd, mistake 9th, went clear briefly before 15th, headed 4 out, weakened after 3 out
in touch, led 4 out, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well under pressure from last to draw clear flat
in rear, mistakes early, ridden and struggling 14th, always behind
mid-division, bumped 5th, headway 18th, disputing 4th when fell 4 out
Not Left Yet hasn't enjoyed a great deal of good fortune in the past twelve months but we're hoping that that will change this evening. He's preferred to the likes of Burntoakboy, Martha's Kinsman and Countess Trifaldi whilst Turthen also has to enter calculations. The selection's tale of woe started with a fall in the National Hunt Chase at last year's Festival and continued when he slipped up in the Welsh National and coming down when stumbling rather than falling at Warwick. On the plus side, those non-completions mean that he remains attractively handicapped and these conditions should help to bring out the best in him. Burntoakboy ran well enough in the Kim Muir to suggest that he should play a hand from just a 2lb higher mark and there's every chance that he will see out this longer trip but the selection appeals as a better handicapped horse. That is also true of Martha's Kinsman who has performed creditably in defeat this season. Turthen is considered given his trainer's strength in depth but his chance isn't that obvious on the back of his defeat in a Hunter Chase and Countess Trifaldi is of more interest. She finished third in the National Hunt Chase last year and was fancied for this year's renewal but failed to make the race. She's suited by the demands of this race and has a nice racing weight but she is still a maiden and a place remains her best hope. This can go the way of Not Left Yet.
Not Left Yet (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up and behind, progress and 6th when stumbled shortly after landing and fell at the 17th in race won by D'Argent (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Macmar (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 12th to after 4 out, stayed on well from 3 out, ran on well flat, just failed, 2nd of 9, shd behind Charlies Future (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Nykel (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 14th, soon dropped rear and behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by High Chimes (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Burntoakboy 12-1 (10-9) In touch, ridden 3 out to chase leaders 3 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 24, 11l behind High Chimes (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Turthen (FR) 9-4fav (11-11) In touch, not fluent 8th, ridden and every chance when blundered 2 out, not recover, 2nd of 11, 13l behind Bolachoir (11-7) at Sandown 3m amt chs (3) gd in Mar.
Martha's Kinsman (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Chased leading pair, ridden after 13th, soon one pace, 3rd of 6, 30l behind Charlies Future (10-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Petite Margot 2-1jt-fav (11-6) Held up last, ridden and headway to chase leader 18th, challenged to lead approaching 3 out, kept on from last, all out, won at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar beating Ironside (10-10) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Ryders Storm (USA) 25-1 (11-9) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Kew Jumper (10-13) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 16 ran.
Squires Lane (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Led to 2nd, prominent, mistake 12th, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 9, 14l behind Charlies Future (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Florida Dream (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden after 27th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 16, well behind Garde Champetre (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gs in Mar.
Bosham Mill 33-1 (10-2) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, lost place 20th, tailed off when pulled up at the 25th in race won by Garde Champetre (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gs in Mar, 16 ran.
Clemax (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) In touch, lost place after 10th, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Himalayan Trail (11-1) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Super Road Train 15-2 (11-3) In touch, led after 5 out, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Mar beating Laertes (11-10) by 6l, 11 ran.
Fine By Me (IRE) 15-8fav (10-6) Held up, headway after 15th, led on bit 2 out, soon clear, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Mar beating Nelson (10-9) by 13l, 5 ran.
Bellaney Jewel (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, outpaced 12th, soon lost place, headway under pressure 3 out, rallied to go 2nd last, kept on when not much room towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Fourty Acers (11-7) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in M.
Georges Boy (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Led, hit 5th, reminders 8th, headed 3 out, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 13l behind Appleaday (11-1) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs (3) gd.
Gaelic Gift (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Chased leaders until 6th, behind from 10th, 5th of 15, 29l behind Strawberry (10-12) at Newbury 2m 6f mrs hcp chs (1) sft in Mar.
Countess Trifaldi (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Led 1st, prominent, weakened 10th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Sporting Rebel (11-7) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
Full On 15-2 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 14th, in 3rd when blundered last, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 6l behind Killard Point (11-6) at Bangor 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Dec.
Finzi (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, with leader 3rd, challenged between last 2, led flat, driven out, won at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Feb beating Florida Dream (11-8) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
