mid-division, ridden after 6th, weakened 4 out
chased leaders until lost place from 12th, blundered 14th, stayed on approaching 2 out, driven and kept on under pressure flat, went 3rd near finish
in rear, mistake and ridden 13th, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, not pace to get competitive
towards rear, bludered 14th, no chance when blundered 4 out and pulled up
held up in rear, headway approaching 17th, chased leaders approaching 2 out, left disputing 3rd last, no extra and lost 2 places towards finish
always handy, not fluent 12th, went 2nd 15th, ridden to lead narrowly 4 out, strongly pressed when hit 2 out, mistake and headed last no extra flat
held up in rear, smooth headway from 4 out to track leaders approaching 3 out, ridden in 3rd and held when blundered and unseated rider last
chased leader to 15th, already lost place when hampered 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, kept on well flat and finished well
chased leaders, blundered 9th, challenged 4 out, stayed upsides runner up, led last, driven out
mid-division, headway and travelling well when blundered badly and almost unseated rider 4 out, weakned after not recover
in touch, blundered and weakened 16th, no chance when blundered 4 out
in rear, driven and struggling after 17th, hit 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never nearer
never going well in rear, blundered 10th and 12th, struggling when pulled up 14th
led to 4 out, weakened after next, tailed off
Nonrunner
Although officially well in at the weights following his success at Haydock last week, Snoopy Loopy may find this coming too soon and a better bet looks to be CHARACTER BUILDING, who is preferred at the odds to market leaders Big Buck's and Air Force One. Charlie Mann's gelding has been heavily supported in recent days and has to be respected with the yard continuing to churn out plenty of winners and the six-year-old being entitled to come on for his reappearance run behind Roll Along. Nicky Henderson has his team in similarly good heart so his runner Oedipe has to be considered but he would need to go better than on his first start of last season to trouble the judge. Tom George's Island Flyer has a nice racing weight but he has been harshly raised 7lbs for his run behind Cornish Sett in the Badger Ales Trophy and this looks tougher. Jonjo O'Neill's Albertas Run could probably do with some help from the handicapper and a bigger threat may come from Dear Villez. One of three runners in the race for Paul Nicholls, the six-year-old was good value for his win in the Munster National last time and he has to be respected. Stable companion Big Buck's showed decent form as a novice last term, culminating with success in the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree. The stable's horses continue in good form and he has solid claims but marginal preference is for Character Building. John Quinn's gelding made a winning return over hurdles at Towcester just over three weeks ago, a run that should have put him spot on, and he is taken to go two better than 12 months ago when beaten into third place behind Denman in what was his only outing last season.
Knowhere (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, bumped 7th, challenged 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, led flat, stayed on towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct beating Exotic Dancer (11-9) by 1l, 12 ran.
Snoopy Loopy (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Led to 2nd, chased leader, ridden 11th, stayed on 2 out, led close home, won at Haydock 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs beating Tamarinbleu (11-7) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Monkerhostin (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Held up, ridden 12th, driven and weakened 4 out, 5th of 6, well behind State of Play (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gf.
Albertas Run (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) In rear, hit 11th, soon lost place, last of 4, 23l behind Tidal Bay (11-10) at Carlisle 2m 4f chs (2) sft.
My Will (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, stumbled 19th, chased winner 4 out, until weakened 2 out, left moderate 3rd at last, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Hot Weld (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr '07.
Air Force One (GER) 9-4fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 13th, ridden when went left 2 out, headed when pecked last, no extra, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Roll Along (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gd.
Big Buck's (FR) 11-4 (11-3) Held up, hit 14th, pushed along 4 out, headway from 3 out, led last, driven out, won at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr beating Battlecry (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Dear Villez (FR) 7-4fav (10-12) Always prominent, briefly in front 7 out, 2nd after, ridden before straight, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Limerick 3m hcp chs sft in Oct beating Mister Top Notch (11-10) by 3l, 12 ran.
Madison Du Berlais (FR) 14-1 (11-1) In touch, jumped slowly 10th, struggling and dropped rear 13th, never back on terms, 6th of 12, 31l behind Roll Along (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gd.
Slim Pickings (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden in 6th entering straight, stayed on to 4th last, kept on run-in to go 2nd, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Watson Lake (11-10) at Navan 2m chs Grd 2 sft.
Oedipe (FR) 7-2 (11-6) Led and disputed, 2nd from before 6th, mistake 7th, under pressure in 2nd before 4 out where mistake, soon weakened, 9th of 16, 23l behind Notable D'Estruval (9-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 gd in Apr.
Verasi 20-1 (11-4) In rear, reminders 11th, tailed off 13th, 8th of 11, well behind Albertas Run (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
High Chimes (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Mid-division, mistake 8th, hit 11th, headway 15th, tracked leader 4 out, led and clear 2 out, ran on, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar beating Openide (11-1) by 4l, 24 ran.
Royal County Star (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, 14th of 18, 42l behind Lukie Victor (10-10) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 0-123 sft.
Island Flyer (IRE) 2-1fav (10-9) Chased elader, led 5th, ridden 3 out, headed after last, rallied flat, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Cornish Sett (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft.
Always Waining (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, led before next, clear last, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Sept beating Breaking Silence (11-4) by 8l, 15 ran.
Character Building (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, challenged last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs beating Shannon Springs (11-6) by 1l, 12 ran.
