chased winner and sometimes jumped left, challenged 8th, pushed along and well held before 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, no extra in 3rd
held up in touch, modest 4th before 3 out, plugged on, no impression
mistake 2nd, held up in touch, 4th before 7th, mistake 10th, weakened 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear rear, blundered 11th (water), never involved
chased leading trio, 3rd before 5th, hit 13th and next, pushed along into 2nd before 3 out, no chance with winner
jumped well, chased leader, led 2nd, clear 5th until 8th, came clear again before 3 out, kept on strongly, easily
held up, not fluent 5th, in rear when mistake 7th, driven before jumped slowly 12th, soon behind, went modest 5th before 2 out
led until 2nd, chased leaders, pushed along and lost place after 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 11th
held up towards rear, modest 4th 12th, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, soon lost place, reminders and weakened soon after 4th, tailed off and pulled up before 7th
Having fallen when in touch at Cheltenham, Dresden got taken off his feet at Aintree. He may do better here but there is no guarantee he'll stay the extra half-mile. GENEROUS RANSOM only beat the re-opposing Howlongisafoot by a length-and-a-quarter over course and distance in December and is 7lb worse off. But he stepped up on that form when winning at Cheltenham in January and again when third in a Listed handicap at The Festival, where Horizontal Speed was fourth, Cocktails At Dawn ninth and Gores Island 10th. There is no reason why Nick Gifford's charge won't go close again, though Horizontal Speed could feature with a clear round and Phone Home has each-way claims from the foot of the weights. Vesperal Dream is only 4lb higher than when scoring at Wincanton two runs ago but has been found out in this grade in the past.
Horizontal Speed (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Held up on outside when fell 2nd, in a race won by Seventh Sky (11-8) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
Generous Ransom (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, in touch 2 out, ridden and chance when hung left flat, stayed on to take 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 20, 3l behind Irish Cavalier (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed nov hcap ch (1) gs in Mar.
Dresden (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, pushed along towards rear after 4th, behind 4 out, stayed on well from 2 out, nearest finish, 7th of 17, 11l behind Surf And Turf (10-5) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Gores Island (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th or 8th, headway after 9th, outpaced and no impression from 4 out, 5th of 8, 21l behind Just Cameron (11-5) at Haydock 2m nov hcap ch (3) sft.
Howlongisafoot (IRE) 5-6fav (11-8) Jumped right, in lead after 2nd, clear 10th, pushed along before 2 out, shaken up between last 2, lead dwindling near finish, just held on, all out (no time taken), won at Plumpton 2m 4f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd beating Vikekhal (10-4) by nk, 3 ran.
Cocktails At Dawn 14-1 (11-5) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 9th of 20, 29l behind Irish Cavalier (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed nov hcap ch (1) gs in Mar.
Vesperal Dream (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, reminders after 4th, not fluent next, pushed along in 4th after 6th, weakened 3 out, well tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Go Odee Go (10-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd.
The Ould Lad (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, in touch when hampered 4 out, soon driven to chase leaders, ridden after next, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 14th of 24, well behind The Package (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f amat hcap ch (2) gd in Mar.
Jay Are (IRE) 4-5fav (11-12) Took keen hold tracking leaders, blundered 5 out, led 2 out, headed approaching when mistake last, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Etania (10-7) at Stratford 2m 5f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Phone Home (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Always prominent, jumped right, led 6th, headed 3 out, led again last, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar beating Morning Reggie (10-13) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
