held up towards rear, hit 4th, smooth headway on inside approaching 2 out, chased leading pair between last 2, led last, drew clear run-in
mistakes, mid-division, hit 5th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
behind, hard ridden after 3 out, stayed on from after next, not pace to reach leaders
mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, no impression
led to 2nd, lost place 4th and soon well behind
soon prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2
behind, headway after 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in, not reach leaders
raced wide, prominent to 4th, soon well behind
in touch, ridden to chase leading pair approaching 2 out, driven and not quicken between last 2, held when hit last
held up towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, not reached leaders
behind, headway on wide outside between last 2, kept on run-in, never nearer
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, staying on when not fluent last, kept on under pressure run-in
took keen hold, led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, 3rd and held when blundered last, kept on
always in rear
mid-division, hit 2nd, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out
chased leaders, hit 2nd, blundered and lost place 4th, no chance after, blundered 2 out
hled up in touch, headway to chase leaders 4th, tracked leader before 3 out, led approaching 2 out and not fluent, driven between last 2, headed last, soon not pace of winner
It's taken a long time for the penny to drop with Arrayou this season, but his last couple of starts have been most encouraging and he is just preferred over Hasty Prince and Nanga Parbat, while Motorway also has to come into the reckoning if his Aintree run didn't bottom him for the season. Motorway emptied very tamely at Liverpool and eventually finished a long way behind the selection. That was his seventh outing of the season and created the impression that his interest may be dwindling at the moment. Nanga Parbat has also had a long campaign, but seems to relish the hard work. He brushed aside New Entic when he finished a very close second at Taunton last time out and, having swerved both Cheltenham and Aintree, he may still have more to offer - watch the betting where he is concerned. Hasty Prince has plenty of ability and has paid his way over the years. He has won off higher marks, so top weight may not be such a burden in this company; especially with Tony McCoy in the plate and he is worth a saver option at least. However, Arrayou also comes into the bracket of a horse with good battling qualities and rates as good value today. Better ground looks to have provided Oliver Sherwood's charge with a new lease of life and, with this stiff finish likely to suit, Arrayou just edges the verdict for selection in the opener.
Hasty Prince 6-1 (11-0) Held up, hit 5th and 6th, closer order after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened, 9th of 11, 30l behind Darrias (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd.
Paddy The Piper (IRE) 66-1 (11-3) Chased leaders to 6th, 22nd of 30, well behind Sky's The Limit (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Arrayou (FR) 8-1 (10-0) Held up rear, headway 4 out, led after 2 out, all out when headed close home, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Darrias (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd.
Glacial Sunset (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Keen hold in mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 13th of 18, well behind Standin Obligation (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gd.
Flying Enterprise (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Led, headed after 2 out and weakened, 6th of 11, 20l behind Darrias (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd.
New Entic (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden after 7th, hung badly left under pressure approaching 2 out, led last, soon headed, no extra, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Herakles (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Hawadeth 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden to chase leading pair after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 13, 8l behind Herakles (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Time To Shine 66-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden and outpaced 4 out, some late progress, faded, 5th of 9, 11l behind Marrel (10-1) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Motorway (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Held up, headway 7th, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened next, 14th of 24, 19l behind Strangely Brown (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs.
Fontanesi (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) In touch, driven and some headway after 7th, no further impression from 3 out, left 3rd at last, 3rd of 6, 19l behind No Way Back (10-6) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) frm.
Nanga Parbat (FR) 5-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, effort 6th, ridden 3 out, every chance last, challenged flat, no extra, 2nd of 15, nk behind McBain (11-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Herakles (GER) 7-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, hit 4th, steady headway from 3 out, led soon after last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs beating New Entic (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
My Immortal 10-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, hit last, no extra flat, 6th of 24, 10l behind Shamayoun (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Rainbows Aglitter 20-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, keen, headway 4 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Kandjar D'allier (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Kilgowan (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) Held up, headway 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, soon no impression, 3rd of 8, 8l behind New Entic (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Mith Hill 8-1 (11-3) Led, headed after 2nd, led again next, headed 5th, weakened flat, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Refinement (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Salut Saint Cloud 28-1 (10-1) Soon mid-division, headway 6th, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 10th of 17, 26l behind Wellbeing (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs.
