tracked leader, blundered 3rd, led after 4th, headed 10th, weakened before 5 out, tailed off, pulled up
towards rear, pushed along before 14th, headway before 16th, weakened after 5 out, pulled up
mid-division, ridden before 4 out, headway next, kept on to take 3rd towards finish
close up, mistake 6th, led 10th, headed 3 out, ridden before 2 out, blundered last, lost 3rd place towards finish
towards rear, in 7th before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, one pace
towards rear, ridden and headway before 4 out, mistake 3 out, no impression
close up, led 3 out, headed run-in, rallied to regain lead towards finish
prominent, mistake 17th, soon weakened, pulled up
in rear, fell 16th
mid-division, headway 16th, went 2nd after 5 out, ridden before 4 out, weakened from next
towards rear, mistake 13, soon reminders, mistake 15th, hampered next, soon tailed off, pulled up
led to 4th, soon mid-division, pushed along before 15th, headway before 3 out, challenged last, led run-in, kept on and headed towards finish
Nonrunner
Rigadin de Beauchene has been second and first in the last two runnings but has been pulled up in three starts since successful 12 months ago. Monbeg Dude and Mountainous are past winners of the Welsh National and the former can reverse running with Benvolio in this season's Chepstow showpiece - he enjoys an 8lb turnaround in the weights for just over eight lengths. Benbens was fifth at Chepstow and has each-way claims while Broadway Buffalo should stay this longer trip. He was patiently ridden to score over 3m here in December while Samstown beat Benbens here in the Peter Marsh last month and is much-improved. Lie Forrit beat Harry The Viking at Kelso last month but this is a big step up. BALLYOLIVER can continue the trend of these near foot of the handicap landing this. He's got plenty of form over 3m2f and wasn't disgraced in the Betfred Classic at Warwick five weeks ago when he got hampered a couple of times.
Benvolio (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Led until not fluent 2nd, led 7th until 8th, hit 10th, led 13th, headed next, led 4 out, headed 3 out, mistake 2 out, led towards finish, headed close home, 2nd of 19, shd behind Emperor's Choice (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Samstown 16-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, ridden after 5 out, headway before 4 out, led before 2 out, clear before last, idled run-in, just held on, all out, won at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Benbens (10-4) by nk, 12 ran.
Monbeg Dude (IRE) 8-1fav (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 11th, not fluent 13th, outpaced before 5 out, went 4th 3 out, unable to challenge, no extra final 100 yards, 4th of 19, 9l behind Emperor's Choice (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec.
Gas Line Boy (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Mid-division, mistake 5th, driven 13th, weakened after 17th, pulled up after, in a race won by Emperor's Choice (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 19 ran.
Trustan Times (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, no impression from before last, 8th of 12, 13l behind Dawalan (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl (2) gd.
Benbens (IRE) 13-2 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, tracked leaders before 4 out, went 2nd before last, kept on and just held near finish, 2nd of 12, nk behind Samstown (10-5) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Lie Forrit (IRE) 15-8fav (10-10) Led after 1st, blundered 10th, headed next, regained lead 13th, headed briefly next, ridden before last, stayed on gamely flat, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcap ch (2) hvy in Jan beating Harry The Viking (9-11) by 2l, 8 ran.
Rigadin De Beauchene (FR) 14-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, not fluent next, weakened after 15th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Hawkes Point (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan, 14 ran.
Broadway Buffalo (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) In rear, bad mistake 10th, kept on from 3 out, 5th of 11, 19l behind Dolatulo (11-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Mountainous (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Chased leaders on inside, lost place before 2nd, pecked 4th, not fluent 5th or 11th, soon ridden, behind 14th, tailed off 17th, pulled up after, in a race won by Emperor's Choice (10-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 19 ran.
Loch Ba (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Mid-division, behind when reminder after 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Bob Ford (11-2) at Ffos Las 3m 4f hcp chs (2) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Harry The Viking 17-2 (9-11) Tracked leaders, led briefly 14th, chased winner after, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace under pressure approaching last, held flat, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Lie Forrit (10-10) at Kelso 3m 2f hcap ch (2) hvy in Jan.
Ballyoliver 20-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway after 15th, lost place 17th, well beaten from 4 out, 6th of 14, 32l behind Hawkes Point (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
