tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching last, no extra flat
mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway after 3 out, lost place before next, rallied approaching last, went 2nd briefly and edged right flat, no extra close home
held up towards rear, mistakes 7th and 3 out, soon struggling
tracked leaders, went wide on run to 5th, lost place before last
held up in mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway approaching 2 out, led last, driven flat, held on well
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, stayed on same pace last
mid-division, stumbled and unseated rider 2nd
held up in touch, ridden after 8th, lost place when not fluent 3 out, rallied before last, no impression flat
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led after next, not fluent and headed last, unable to quicken flat
prominent, not fluent 3rd or when ridden 8th, lost place before 3 out, soon well beaten, tailed off 2 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, effort approaching last, never on terms
prominent, carried right 4th, led 6th, headed next, ridden 3 out, faded before last
raced wide, held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, lost place after 2 out, rallied and switched left before last, unable to trouble leaders
mid-division, headway when mistake 8th, ridden after 2 out, went 2nd final 100 yards, kept on, just held
led, jumped right 4th, headed 6th, led next, headed after 2 out, no extra last
held up in rear, ridden 2 out, mistake last, never in contention
held up in rear, headway 2 out, no extra before last
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Plenty with claims in an open-looking handicap and it may be significant that Ruby Walsh has chosen the first-time blinkered Sam Winner ahead of recent Taunton runner-up Aaim To Prosper, despite a disappointing run in last month's Pertemps Final. Paul Nicholls also runs Royal Charm but he has questions to answer at present. Nagpur was second to Salubrious in the Martin Pipe at The Festival while Connectivity finished fourth behind the impressive Battle Group at Aintree and both must go on the short-list along with the consistent Monetary Fund while Talkonthestreet may appreciate the switch back to hurdles. Like the latter, BIG EASY is trained by Philip Hobbs and we liked the way he shaped when sixth in the Coral Cup. He was nibbled at in the betting that day so that good run was obviously expected and a further step up in trip is overdue. With the promising Micheal Nolan again taking off 5lb, he looks worth an interest.
Close House 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, outpaced 3 out, blundered next, weakened and eased before last, 19th of 24, well behind Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Sam Winner (FR) 4-1fav (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 3rd and 5th, outpaced 3 out, no headway, weakened next, 18th of 24, well behind Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Tornado Bob (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in 7th, not fluent 2nd or 4th, ridden and no impression when bad mistake 3 out, 7th of 8, 44l behind Storm Survivor (9-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Royal Charm (FR) 12-1 (10-13) Refused to race and took no part, in a race won by Weekend Millionair (10-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gf, 9 ran.
Big Easy (GER) 25-1 (10-7) In touch, outpaced 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure approaching last, no impression, 6th of 28, 10l behind Medinas (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Mar.
According To Trev (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, struggling 9th, soon behind, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Golden Chieftain (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Mar, 24 ran.
Nagpur (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 4th, lost place after 7th, rallied approaching last, stayed on well flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 23, 7l behind Salubrious (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Conditional Handicap Hurdle (0-145) (4yo+) (2) sft in Mar.
Connectivity (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) In touch in mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th flat, 4th of 21, 21l behind Battle Group (10-9) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd.
Lake Legend 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, under pressure 10th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Sizing Santiago (10-13) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Monetary Fund (USA) 6-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, switched right before next, soon went 3rd, stayed on flat, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Buck Magic (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Kayf Aramis 20-1 (11-11) Led, headed 5th, led again 8th, headed after next, no extra 2 out, 7th of 12, 26l behind Buck Magic (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Possol (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Raced wide disputing lead, mistake headed and reminder 7th, chased leader until weakened quickly before mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Aaim To Prosper (10-8) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Destroyer Deployed 8-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly and reminders 6th, outpaced after 9th, stayed on from 2 out, went 4th flat, no chance with leaders, 4th of 12, 12l behind Buck Magic (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Benbane Head (USA) 7-2 (10-2) Led, hit 7th, narrowly headed 9th, pressed leader until after 2 out, chased winner just before last, no impression, lost 2nd final strides, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Weekend Millionair (10-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gf.
Hayjack 6-1 (11-12) In touch, outpaced 6th, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 15, well behind Bygones Sovereign (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Valid Point (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway when blundered 3 out, every chance when not fluent 2 out, one pace from last, 5th of 14, 8l behind Arctic Wings (10-0) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
First Fandango 33-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, not clear run after 4 out, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd last, stayed on, 3rd of 21, 13l behind Battle Group (10-9) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd.
Talkonthestreet (IRE) 6-5fav (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd until in rear but still in touch 6 out, weakened before 2 out, last of 4, 15l behind Otto The Great (10-11) at Doncaster 3m nov chs (4) gd in Feb.
Aaim To Prosper (IRE) 3-1fav (10-9) Tracked leaders in 5th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on flat, took 2nd final strides, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Weekend Millionair (10-8) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gf.
