tracked leaders, ridden after 8th, soon lost place, behind 11th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, driven to chase winner 2 out until flat, stayed on same pace, went 2nd again towards finish, no impression on winner
prominent until 9th
led until 9th, lost place 3 out, weakened next
prominent, led 9th until next, close 4th when bad mistake 2 out, soon pulled up
prominent, pecked 2nd, lost place 4th, hit 10th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, no impression
prominent, led 10th, stayed on well, drawing clear final 100 yards
mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 9th, no impression on leaders from 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway after 11th, went 2nd flat, no impression, demoted to 3rd towards finish
held up towards rear, mistakes 7th and 9th, headway after 11th, weakened 4 out
in rear, mistake and behind 10th, never in contention
mid-division, not fluent and dropped rear 4th, headway when hit 10th, no impression after 3 out
mid-division, headway on outside 6th, went 2nd 4 out until not much room 2 out, weakened approaching last
It's more than three years since Pasco last visited the winner's enclosure but Paul Nicholls' nine-year-old is certainly well enough handicapped to be a factor in this and will enjoy the faster ground. Owen Glendower has done well over fences this year and also warrants respect but Ferdy Murphy's pair, Riguez Dancer and Lord Villez, will do well to add to their respective recent wins at Ascot and Newcastle, though the latter's victory was boosted by My Syntax's success at Kelso two weeks ago. Gansey looks held by a couple of these on the form book but his run behind Salut Flo at Cheltenham hinted at a revival and he's been lightly-raced this winter. Sue Smith's 10-year-old could go well at generous odds but PREMIER SAGAS deserves a change of fortune and Dougie Costello should find him plenty of cover in this big field. He gets the vote with Torphichen arguably the pick of the remainder.
Renard (FR) 20-1 (10-8) Mid-division, outpaced when blundered and almost unseated rider 3 out, not recover, pulled up before next, in a race won by Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 21 ran.
Torphichen 50-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden after 2 out, one pace, 10th of 24, 17l behind Paintball (10-7) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs in Mar.
Qulinton (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, behind after 10th, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Chance Du Roy (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Pasco (SWI) 8-1 (10-8) Held up, headway 4th, challenged 4 out, weakened flat, 5th of 12, 14l behind Aerial (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Owen Glendower (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) In touch on inside, dropped to mid-division 8th, chased leaders 3 out, 5th and ridden next, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish, no impression, 3rd of 20, 10l behind Hunt Ball (12-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd in Mar.
Premier Sagas (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) Always prominent, driven to challenge after 3 out, led before last, headed flat, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind French Ties (10-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 40-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway before 5 out, every chance before 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 4l behind Dover's Hill (11-11) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Riguez Dancer 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led approaching 2 out, clear last, idled, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd beating Safari Journey (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Gansey (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 12th, ridden 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 22, 24l behind Salut Flo (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Mr Syntax (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, headway before 3 out, went 2nd at last, kept on to lead final 75 yards, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Bene Lad (10-6) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Lord Villez (FR) 15-2 (10-11) Held up mid-division, outpaced 9th, headway before 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenging when not fluent last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb beating Mr Syntax (10-11) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cruchain (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway approaching 9th, ridden after 12th, weakening when unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Hunt Ball (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Temple Lord (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, good headway to 5th at 10th, blundered 11th, weakened 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Victors Serenade (11-5) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
