chased leaders, pecked and driven 14th, lost place next, struggling 19th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
towards rear, behind when blunderd badly and almost unseated rider 12th, no chance after, tailed off 20th, soon pulled up
pecked 1st, in touch, struggling in mid-division 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 19th
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 13th, mistake 17th, blundered 20th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, stayed on until headed and not quicken final 110 yards
led, until 5th, led again 10th, headed 20th, chased leader, led again before 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, chased leader until approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
held up well in rear, headway from 4 out, still only 7th and plenty to do 3 out, chased leaders last, stayed on well flat to lead final 110 yards, won going away
towards rear, headway and in touch when blunderd badly 20th, plugged on from after 4 out
mid-division, lost place and towards rear 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, driven along in modest 7th after 4 out, never on terms with leaders, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, went 2nd 13th, challenged 16th, led next until headed 20th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, slow 4th, headway to chase leaders 12th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, stayed on to 2nd before last, edged left under pressure and one pace flat
chased leader, led 5th until 10th, mistke 12th, lost 2nd next, went left 14th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 20th
chased leaders, pecked 7th, led 20th until before 3 out, stayed in 4th until weakened from last
towards rear, ridden and struggling 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 19th
in rear, mistake 11th, plugged on from 4 out, never going pace to get competitive, tailed off
chased leaders, slow 5th, blunderd badly and lost place 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
always in rar, struggling 14th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
Last year's winner Church Island is difficult to fancy off an 8lb higher mark while novices Balthazar King and Triggerman are passed over, despite trainer Philip Hobbs' excellent recent record in this race. Baby Run has again proved himself to be among the best of this season's hunter chasers but Nigel Twiston-Davies' 11-year-old was just about out on his feet when falling over 3m2f at Cheltenham and has further to travel today. He may also struggle to dominate these battle-hardened handicappers. Meanus Dandy could be interesting as he won well at Wincanton in the autumn and probably needed his latest run behind Always Right at Doncaster but this could be a good opportunity for POKER DE SIVOLA to redeem his reputation. Ferdy Murphy's charge looked a stayer to follow when landing the National Hunt Chase over 4m at Cheltenham last year but hasn't had much luck since, including when hampered and unseating Graham Lee when just beginning to get into contention in last Saturday's Scottish National. Effectively 6lb lower here, he'll be staying on when others have cried enough as long as these tricky fences don't get in the way.
Church Island (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, weakened 4 out, 16th of 20, 37l behind Lascalahall (11-9) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl 8Evens16.
Exmoor Ranger (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Behind, hampered 5th, headway into mid-division 14th, never nearer, 6th of 19, 37l behind Bensalem (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Balthazar King (IRE) Evensfav (11-8) Led, hit 8th, headed 11th, stayed upsides, led approaching 4 out, ridden after 2 out, edged right flat, stayed on, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd beating Adams Island (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Richard's Sundance (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Mid-division, in touch 9th, disputing 6th and outpaced when mistake and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Junior (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar, 24 ran.
Faasel (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, went 3rd soon after 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 24, 24l behind Junior (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Baby Run (FR) 3-1fav (12-0) Led to 5th, chased leaders, led again 8th, challenged 2 out, under pressure last, ridden and pressed flat, held on towards finish, driven out, won at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (2) sft beating Boxer Georg (12-0) by 3/4l, 22 ran.
Poker De Sivola (FR) 11-1 (10-0) In rear, hampered and unseated rider 11th, in a race won by Beshabar (10-4) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 28 ran.
Maktu 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders from 4th, went 2nd approaching 5 out, challenging when left in lead next, mistake 2 out, headed last, stayed on flat, held by winner, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Rey Nacarado (10-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Meanus Dandy (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 7th of 11, 42l behind Always Right (10-10) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
Can't Buy Time (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Towards rear, mistake 8th (canal turn), fell 18th, in a race won by Ballabriggs (11-0) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 40 ran.
Aimigayle 25-1 (10-6) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, stayed on under presure approaching last, always held flat, 2nd of 20, 3 1/2l behind Holmwood Legend (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Triggerman 9-2 (10-10) Held up in 5th and off the pace, not fluent 8th, headway to 4th 15th, chased leading duo and hit 17th, went 2nd after 3 out, led before next, narrow lead when hit last and joined soon after, soon driven to assert and stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd beating Benefit Night (10-4) by 1l, 7 ran.
Gentle Ranger (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Prominent, ridden after 5 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 17, 25l behind Minella Four Star (9-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Mar.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders until unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Chicago Grey (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gd in Mar, 16 ran.
Iris De Balme (FR) 66-1 (9-11) Mistake 20th, always towards rear, pulled up before 22nd, in a race won by Beshabar (10-4) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 28 ran.
Briery Fox (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent 7th, behind 11th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Rey Nacarado (10-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Fire And Rain (FR) 11-4 (11-1) Tracked leader, mistake 6th, dropped to rear next, behind from 3 out, last of 5, well behind Paint The Clouds (11-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Mar.
Silver Adonis (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, went 3rd approaching 13th, challenged 2 out, weakened from elbow, 7th of 22, 40l behind Baby Run (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (2) sft.
