held up in last pair and off the pace, headway into 3rd 6th, chased clear leader after 13th until dropped to 3rd approaching 4 out, left disputing lead 3 out, led briefly on inside before 2 out, ridden between last 2, rallied near finish, just held
chased clear leader, reluctant and reminders 4th, jumped slowly 5th, lost 2nd after 13th until went distant 2nd again approaching 4 out, left in narrow lead 3 out, headed briefly before 2 out, driven out to hold on nearing finish
raced in 3rd behind clear leader, lost 3rd 6th, struggling in rear 8th, soon tailed off, pulled up 3 out
raced keenly, led at strong pace and soon well clear, at least 20 lengths ahead and going strongly when fell 3 out
well off the pace in rear, not fluent 10th, tailed off when fell 14th
mistake 2nd, raced in 4th behind clear leader, reminders after 12th, left poor 3rd 3 out
TRIBAL DANCE's victory at Warwick was his first in 13 attempts over fences but two of his rivals in this are racing from out of the handicap while Ethelred and Katcha Kopek are tackling the larger obstacles for the first time. John O'Shea's nine-year-old is probably still fairly treated, despite his penalty, and can follow up as Dancing Dik has shown very little so far.
Ethelred (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Held up mid-division, soon tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 5th, led before 3 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 8, 35l behind Allthegear No Idea (10-12) at Lingfield 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Tribal Dance (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Made virtually all, driven along after 13th, 1/2 length up when left well clear last, won at Warwick 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Bally Braes (11-7) by 19l, 7 ran.
Katcha Kopek (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) In touch, lost place soon after 4 out, tailing off when pulled up before next, in a race won by Border Breaker (11-9) at Newbury 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (0-120) (4) gs in Mar, 9 ran.
Dancing Dik 8-1 (10-5) Led, headed 4 out, soon ridden and lost place, no impression from next, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 27l behind Strawberry Hill (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Houseparty 80-1 (10-5) Raced wide, tracked leading pair until after 4th, well outpaced 4 out, left poor 3rd 2 out, tailed off, 3rd of 4, well behind Cash And Go (11-5) at Towcester 2m 3f nov chs (4) gd in Mar.
What's For Tea 66-1 (9-11) In touch in 4th, in rear from 6th, tailed off 7th, 6th of 7, well behind Star Presenter (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar.
