held up, not fluent 8th, headway on outside 11th, no impression 4 out, blundered and weakened next, tailed off
tracked leader, took keen hold, one pace in 3rd from 4 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
held up on outside, weakened before 9th, pulled up approaching 11th
mid-division, headway 7th, pecked 11th, lost place before 4 out, weakened next
led until 4 out, no impression on winner when blundered badly 2 out, lost 2nd and no extra last
chased leaders, reminder 4th, lost place when not fluent 7th, struggling from next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, led 4 out, mistake 3 out, clear next, easily
Nonrunner
Three of RIVER PURPLE's four career victories have come over these fences. He's only a pound higher than the last of those last summer and showed enough at Southwell 12 days ago, when Billy Cuckoo was behind, to suggest a return to winning ways is imminent. Safari Journey's win at Newcastle two weeks ago was his first since 2010 so he may be worth opposing off a 6lb higher mark while Pret A Thou clearly isn't the force of old. Ballybogey is still seeking a first victory over fences and was tailed off last time at Catterick and the remainder have plenty to prove on recent form.
Ballybogey (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, blundered 2nd, dropped into mid-division, headway to go 2nd before 8th, weakened before 5 out, tailed off, 4th of 6, dis behind De Vous A Moi (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
Pret A Thou (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Led until 10th, mistake next, weakened after 13th, 6th of 14, 39l behind Pacha Du Polder (12-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd.
Safari Journey (USA) 3-1fav (11-7) Held up in touch, headway before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, went 2nd before last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft beating Mumgos Debut (10-3) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
River Purple 9-1 (11-5) In rear, headway before 7th to go in touch, went 3rd from 9th, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Take The Crown (10-9) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Pensnett Bay 33-1 (10-6) Led until after 5th, chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 10, 41l behind Master Malt (11-12) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
Spanish Arch (IRE) 28-1 (10-10) Chased leaders on outside, reminder before 9th, pushed along before 14th, weakened before 16th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Catching On (11-11) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy, 13 ran.
Tiquer (FR) 4-1 (11-1) Held up in last pair, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out (usual 4 out), in a race won by Bravo Riquet (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan, 6 ran.
Billy Cuckoo (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Led to 7th and mistake, led again before 10th, headed 5 out, weakened after 4 out, 5th of 7, 31l behind Take The Crown (10-9) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
