slight lead but pressed, stumbled and headed 5 out, one pace and welll held when lost 2nd last, kept on same pace flat
jumped well, pressed leader, challenged from 6th, led 5 out, pushed clear before last, ridden out
tracked leading pair, outpaced when lost 3rd 4 out, weakened next
held up last, went 4th after 11th, tracked leading pair 3 out, closing under pressure when went 2nd last, driven and stayed on flat, always held
took keen hold, tracked leading pair racing wide, dropped to last after 11th, pushed along and weakened before next, tailed off
Nonrunner
This has been won by some very smart performers in recent years. Whether EASTER DAY will emulate the likes of Cue Card and Fingal Bay is difficult to assess at this stage but Paul Nicholls' charge was second in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury last December and will be useful if transferring that form to the larger obstacles. The Romford Pele won here over timber last season and looks another useful recruit while Balder Success is another talented individual and ran in the Champion Hurdle in March. Double Ross won at Perth last month but may struggle to give the weight to some of these.
Double Ross (IRE) 8-13fav (11-2) Led to 6th, tracked leader, led after 8th, clear 9th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before 2 out and pressed, held on well towards finish, won at Perth 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Sep beating Attaglance (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Balder Succes (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, stumbled slightly before 3rd, soon pushed along, headway from 2 out, one pace and no impression, 5th of 11, 14l behind Court Minstrel (10-8) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar.
Easter Day (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Towards rear, pushed along after 4th, ridden before 8th, stayed on from last, keeping on close home, never on terms, 7th of 21, 24l behind Battle Group (10-9) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Apr.
The Romford Pele (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Prominent, not fluent 4th, hit next, not fluent 2 out, soon beaten, weakened flat, 8th of 17, 9l behind Party Rock (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Another Kate (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Led until 3rd, led 5th, headed 7th, led next, headed after 2 out, beaten when blundered last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Big Talk (11-0) at Stratford 2m 7f nov chs (4) gs in Sep.
Sandanski (IRE) 11-8 (10-13) Tracked leader until 8th, soon ridden, switched right before next, weakened approching 3 out, 4th of 6, 22l behind Academy General (10-13) at Worcester 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
