held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, blundered 8th and next, some headway 13th, weakened next, tailed off
held up in last pair, steady headway to track leading trio after 4 out, 3rd and effort next, soon challenging, stayed on same pace from last
led, pushed along 10th, headed 13th, losing place when not much room and blundered 4 out, weakened soon after
mid-division, slow jump 7th, ridden 11th, dropped to last at 14th, tailed off and pulled up before next
chased leaders, stumbled 12th, jumped badly left next, losing place when not much room and blundered badly 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 9th, plugged on one pace from 4 out
tracked leaders and always going well, 2nd 13th, led next, made rest, kept on gamely when strongly pressed from 3 out (no official time)
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 9th, slow jump next, hit 11th, badly hampered 13th, not really recover, behind when blundered 3 out and pulled up before next
held up in mid-division, steady headway approaching 14th, chased winner 4 out, challenging from next, chance when hit last, kept on flat always held
chased leader, led 13th to next, weakened and jumped right 3 out and pulled up approaching 2 out
GEORGES BOY is a speculative pick to see off Uncle Eli and Dusk. The selection has shown his best form with a combination of a tight track and hock deep going so with both of those obtaining, we are prepared to give him a chance at what are likely to be fairly decent odds. Uncle Eli is not quite as able as he is over hurdles. He threw away a winning chance at Towcester after consenting to almost refuse at the last. Dusk is a typical Evan Williams runner having improved since joining the yard. If he handles the going, he was virtually no weight on his back. Portrait Royale was nicely backed ahead of his Folkestone success but this will be a much tougher assignment. Quazy De Joie didn't help his chances with a bad mistake at Market Rasen but the fact that a tongue strap is reached for suggests that his failure was down to much more than just that. Not For Diamonds represents a yard noted for their fine record with their staying handicappers. Bobby Bullock switches to the larger obstacles having cut little ice against the handicappers over hurdles. Georges Boy will be big odds but his chances could well have been underestimated by the layers.
Bobby Bullock (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) In rear, headway 13th, weakened after 6 out, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Fortification (10-9) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft, 9 ran.
Quazy de Joie (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, mistake 11th, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Lorum Leader (11-5) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy, 8 ran.
Georges Boy (IRE) 40-1 (10-6) In touch, reminders after 4th, lost place and more reminders after not fluent 5th, behind approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up after 8th, in a race won by Magnifico (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy, 15 ran.
Uncle Eli (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Held up, headway 5th, led and jumped left 9th, headed 4 out, remained challenging, closed to lead after 2 out, 1 length ahead when tried to refuse and unseated rider last, in a race won by Wide Receiver (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp 0-100 (4) gs, 9 ran.
Not For Diamonds (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, jumped left 10th, chased leaders 14th, blundered and unseated rider 17th, in a race won by Ballygulleen (10-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Royal Kicks (FR) 11-4fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 7th to chase leaders, led 10th, headed 4 out, one pace, 4th of 10, 6l behind American World (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 17-2 (10-11) Held up, prominent 7th, hit 5 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, well behind Hopkins (11-0) at Doncaster 3m beg chase (4) gs in Feb.
Dusk 11-4 (10-6) Held up, took closer order 7th, mistake 10th, ridden 3 out, challenged between leaders soon after 2 out, driven to lead last, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd beating Morestead (11-2) by 7l, 7 ran.
Portrait Royale (IRE) 11-4fav (10-13) Close up in 3rd, left 2nd at 9th, challenged before last, led soon after, kept on well flat, won at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) gs beating You Can Of Course (11-5) by 4l, 6 ran.
Count The Cost (IRE) 11-2 (10-2) Led until jumped right and headed 9th, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Winning Show (10-8) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gs.
