in rear, weakened from 13th
held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, not fluent 5th and reminders, hit next, weakened 13th, pulled before 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 15th, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway 12th, hit 14th, kept on and no impression from 3 out
chased leaders, joined leader after 6th, mistake 11th, led approaching 4 out, soon headed, one pace
held up in mid-division, weakened 5 out, tailed off
chased leaders, hit 6th, ridden aproaching 3 out, no impression
chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, headway approaching 3 out, kept on to take 2nd after 2 out, no chance with winner
led, hit 6th, headed approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
in touch on inner, in 3rd and one pace when blundered badly 3 out, kept on
held up towards rear, headway after 5 out, led approaching 4 out, clear when hit last, kept on well
A competitive contest where it may be worth siding with CRUCHAIN to get his nose in front again, while Heathcliff is among a number of dangers. The latter has to shoulder top weight here and broke his duck last time in a beginners' chase over course and distance. He acts on any ground and has to be taken very seriously, though he has got plenty of racing weight. Shouldhavehadthat has put in three poor runs since winning at Newbury some 15 months ago, and he is now back to just 3lbs above that winning mark, though we would like to see some market confidence before wagering. Never So Blue looks high enough in the weights, while Rakalackey would prefer drier ground, and the same applies to Kilcrea Asla, who is nonetheless back on the same mark as his last win, which came here. Quattrocento is another apparently in the grip of the assessor, who has given Pacha D'Oudairies a chance, though he is very difficult to win with. Mont Present went well here from 3lbs lower last time but he is not guaranteed to get home and we will side with Cruchain. Two of this gelding's three career wins have been when today's pilot, Tony McCoy has been on board. Cut in the ground suits him, as does a test of stamina, while a drop in the weights gives him a chink of light that we hope he can exploit today.
Heathcliff (IRE) 5-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 15th, ridden after 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Ludlow 3m beg chase (4) gd in Feb beating Ballydub (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Shouldhavehadthat (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) In touch on outside, weakened and behind from 5 out, tailed off, 14th of 16, well behind The Last Derby (10-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Never So Blue (FR) 8-1 (11-11) Towards rear, jumped slowly 2nd, reminders before 15th, behind from next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Boris The Blade (10-4) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Rakalackey 14-1 (11-9) With leader, lost place 5th, rallied and soon prominent after 9th, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 12, 25l behind De Soto (11-2) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Aug.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, fell 11th, in a race won by Daldini (11-1) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
Kilcrea Asla (IRE) 10-11fav (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 17th, challenged last, one pace flat, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Mr Big (11-12) at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Quattrocento (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Behind, outpaced 13th, never on terms, 7th of 12, 27l behind Its Teescomponents (10-1) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Cruchain (IRE) 28-1 (11-11) Held up, blundered 7 out, never on terms, 5th of 12, 46l behind Wogan (11-8) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Jan.
Mont Present (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway when blundered 13th, jumped left 4 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Sunnyhillboy (11-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Pacha D'Oudairies (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Prominent, weakened from 4 out, 6th of 12, 49l behind Wogan (11-8) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Jan.
Arturo Uno (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, chased winner after 3 out, well held when pecked 2 out, lost modest 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 5, 11l behind One Cornetto (10-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Carrickmines (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 12th, led before 3 out, clear approaching last, rider dropped whip flat, eased close home, won at Ludlow 3m cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb beating One More Dinar (9-9) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
