held up in touch, lost place 13th, soon behind
mid-division, headway under pressure approaching 17th, soon beaten
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, mid-division halfway, weakened before 4 out
held up mid-division, behind from halfway, pulled up 13th
in touch, tracked leader halfway, ridden to challenge 3 out, soon one pace
held up towards rear, mid-division after 6th, under pressure 14th, behind when pulled up 3 out
held up towards rear, blundered badly 12th, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway after halfway, chased leaders 5 out, ridden next, stayed on gamely
led, headed 12th, behind when brought down 4 out
held up in touch, mistakes 2nd and 5th, led 4 out, not fluent last, stayed on strongly
held up in touch, chased leaders 12th, under pressure 16th, weakened after next
soon held up towards rear, under pressure 13th, soon beaten, behind when pulled up 3 out
mid-division, hard ridden 5 out, fell next
keen early, tracked leaders, led 12th, headed 4 out, weakened after next
prominent early, weakened halfway, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, mistake 7th, driven and chased leaders 4 out, effort when mistake last, kept on well
always behind, mistake 13th, pulled up 3 out
mid-division, weakened just after halfway, pulled up before 4 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
OPERATION HOUDINI has a nice racing weight and he is narrowly preferred to Old Benny, The Tother One and Iris De Balme. The selection has been aimed at this race for some time and a recent run over hurdles at Navan has protected his chase handicap mark. He was still going well when unseating his rider in the Troytown Handicap in November (when 6/1 co-favourite) and his mark of 139 today looks manageable. The presence of Mon Mome and Halcon Genelardais means that the race is nicely balanced, but neither looks likely to win this despite good prep runs. The former will be aimed at Aintree again, whilst Halcon looks sure to finish in the top six and if you can find a bookmaker who will offer it then bite his hand off. The Tother One doesn't look straightforward; he ran well at Cheltenham behind The Package and Tony McCoy looks a good jockey booking. Nozic is back on a fair mark, Gone To Lunch is a consistent benchmark for these races, whilst Miko De Beauchene needs to bounce back to form for his new yard if he is to repeat his 2007 win. Ballyfitz still has potential, Le Beau Bai was very impressive here earlier in the month but faces a stiffer test, whilst Hello Bud is a strong stayer but would prefer better ground. Iris De Balme caused an upset when winning the Scottish National in 2008 and he shouldn¿t be overlooked here off a 2lb lower mark, whilst Flintoff, Coe and Old Benny are likely to run well. The last-named is very interesting given he stays well, has form in the mud, and he should strip fitter after a recent spin over hurdles. He may rate as the main danger, however we are happy to stick with Operation Houdini as the selection.
Halcon Genelardais (FR) 18-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, pushed along after 5th, reminders after 9th, never dangerous, 4th of 7, 26l behind Kauto Star (11-7) at Haydock 3m Grade 1 chs (1) sft in Nov.
The Tother One (IRE) 3-1fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, ridden along from 14th, mistake on inside 4 out, headway under pressure from next, ridden to chase winner approaching last, kept on well flat, 2nd of 12, 1l behind The Package (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) sft.
Nozic (FR) 18-1 (11-9) In touch, headway and effort 4 out, challenged and every chance 2 out, soon ridden, weakened last, 6th of 14, 10l behind Beat The Boys (10-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Gone To Lunch (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, ridden along 14th, driven approaching 4 out, no extra approaching 2 out, 5th of 19, 14l behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 11th, weakened next, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Our Vic (10-12) at Warwick 3m chs (2) sft.
Kornati Kid 33-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway 12th, chasing leaders when blundered 13th, blundered 16th and next and soon weakened, 6th of 19, 30l behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Ballyfitz 7-1 (11-1) With leader, led after 5th, headed next, led again before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on gamely, won at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) hvy beating South O'The Border (10-1) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, went 2nd before 3 out, going well, led well before 2 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy beating Radetsky March (10-6) by 21l, 14 ran.
Hello Bud (IRE) 10-3fav (11-6) Close up, left in lead 2nd, mistake 8th, mistake 2 out, soon ridden, headed after last, weakened approaching elbow, 5th of 8, 13l behind Vic Venturi (11-12) at Aintree 3m 2f list hcp ch (1) sft in Nov.
Dream Alliance 8-1 (11-0) Held up, chased leaders 3rd, led 4 out, headed next, weakened approaching last, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Dance Island (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Held up behind when collided with wing and pulled up 15th, in a race won by Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft, 16 ran.
Flintoff (USA) 14-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, pushed along 7th, headway 15th, led 3 out, headed flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Russian Trigger (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) sft in Mar.
Operation Houdini (IRE) 9-4fav (9-10) Chased leaders on inner, good headway into close 3rd 3 out, led before 2 out, headed early run-in, rallied gamely under pressure to lead on line, won at Navan 2m 7f Extended Handicap Hurdle (4yo+) hvy beating Mythical Prince (10-3) by shd, 10 ran.
Coe (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 5 out, effort on inside next, soon ridden, stayed on to go 2nd after last, no impression, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Beat The Boys (10-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Kilbeggan Blade 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, under pressure 18th, soon lost place, rallied under pressure approaching last, never able to challenge, 3rd of 8, 22l behind Eric's Charm (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft.
Silver By Nature 9-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, chased leaders 8th, led after 4 out, clear before last, readily, won at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Back To Bid (11-0) by 9l, 14 ran.
Old Benny 40-1 (11-3) Held up, pushed along in rear 7th, some headway from 3 out, no impression 2 out, 9th of 18, 43l behind Lie Forrit (11-8) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Zacharova (IRE) 40-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden 10th, weakened next, soon in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 15th, in a race won by The Package (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) sft, 12 ran.
Mon Mome (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced soon after 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on well into 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Tell Massini (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) sft.
Iris De Balme (FR) 9-2fav (9-7) Held up well in rear, headway after 3 out, stayed on strongly flat, not reached leaders, 4th of 19, 5l behind Monkerhostin (10-13) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr '08.
