tracking leaders when fell 1st
in touch, headway and mistake 17th, every chance 4 out, pecked badly 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
in rear, ridden 17th, soon no chance
badly hampered 1st, in touch when fell 3rd
held up, and always towards rear
in touch to 14th, weakened and pulled up before 16th
held up in touch, led after 17th, ridden and headed next, weakened quickly
held up mid-division, mistake 9th, headway 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, impressive
in touch, mistake 10th, lost touch 16th, pulled up before 4 out
prominent until 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up before 2 out
hampered 1st, always behind, pulled up after 15th
hampered 1st, in touch, behind from 17th, pulled up before 4 out
held up mid-division, progress 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, took 3rd flat, never trouble first two
held up, good headway 15th, disputed lead 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on but not pace of winner
behind, hampered 1st, blundered 11th, jumped badly right 14th, weakened 17th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division when brought down 1st
held up, headway approaching 17th, disputed lead 3 out, soon ridden and weakened next
always behind and pulled up before 10th
behind, ridden and headway 16th, kept on same pace from 3 out
led until headed 17th, gradually weakened afterwards
close up until ridden and weakened 16th
A typically competitive renewal of this long-standing handicap with plenty of the 23 runners holding claims including One Knight, Shardam, Sir Rembrandt and Joss Naylor but the vote goes to Irish Hussar, who is taken to continue Nicky Henderson's good run in big Saturday handicaps. The selection was a progressive performer in novice-company last season and looks to be well treated on his first start in this grade judged by his last two starts when second to La Landiere in the Cathcart at Cheltenham and when beating It Takes Time at Aintree. The son of Supreme Leader will not be inconvenienced by any further rain and is just preferred to Sir Rembrandt. Robert Alner's gelding is still unexposed over fences after just two starts and is potentially out of the top drawer. He looks to have a decent racing weight but an absence from the track is of concern. Top weight One Knight progressed throughout last season, culminating in a hard-fought success in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, but looks to have plenty on his plate giving weight away all round. The Paul Nicholls-trained Strong Flow won with plenty in hand at Newton Abbot but this represents a much stiffer task for one so inexperienced. Shardam has at least got form in handicaps but this is tougher than the race that he won at Cheltenham last time. More solid claims are probably held by Joss Naylor, who looks well treated on his defeat of Tarxien at Cheltenham in January and goes well when fresh. However, he may want further rain to show his best form. With Henry Daly's stable in such good form Haut Cercy has to be respected but we stick with Irish Hussar and Nicky Henderson.
