made all, hung right and ridden when joined 2 out, driven to assert when edged left and slight stumble last, kept on flat
took very keen hold in 4th, tracked winner and still pulling 3 out, challenged 2 out, ridden and held before last
chased leaders, chased winner 5th until 3 out, soon outpaced and dropped to last, kept on again flat
chased winner until 5th, chased leaders until outpaced before 2 out
pulled hard in rear, chased leading trio after 3 out, went 3rd before last, kept on flat
Nonrunner
MEATH ALL STAR may need a penalty to guarantee him a run at Cheltenham next week and he can pick one up here by getting the better of The Rainbow Hunter and Great Mates. The selection has already had one taste of the Festival atmosphere as he finished in midfield in the bumper twelve months ago and he can book a return ticket by following up his impressive victory at Ffos Las. He doesn't have a great deal in hand on the official figures on The Rainbow Hunter and Azulada Bay but he is open to more improvement than the latter and may have more scope from the former who was unfortunate to come down in desperate ground at Lingfield and has to prove himself none the worse for that mishap as well as his effectiveness on this quicker ground. Great Mates, a half-brother to Racing Demon, failed to live up to market expectations in bumpers but it will be fascinating to see what support he attracts ahead of hurdling bow though as his yard does so well here. This appears to be a stiff enough introduction though and he could struggle to match strides with Meath All Star.
Meath All Star (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Held up mid-division, led approaching 2 out, clear going to last, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Call Me Mulligan (10-12) by 7l, 13 ran.
The Rainbow Hunter 7-4fav (11-4) Hel up in rear, pushed along 5th, headway into modest 3rd when slipped up on bend after 3 out, in a race won by Sarando (11-4) at Lingfield 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb, 12 ran.
Ceepeegee (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, mistakes, headway 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 12, 26l behind Great Reason (11-2) at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
John's Gift 40-1 (11-0) Not fluent, hit 1st, always in last pair, ridden 9th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Tell Massini (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Dec.
Lord Landen (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, took keen hold, led after 5th, headed approaching 2 out, no extra from last, 4th of 14, 11l behind Larks Lad (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Azulada Bay (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, chased leaders on outer 5th, weakened from last, 6th of 14, 19l behind Cool Mission (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs in Feb.
Great Mates (IRE) 10-11fav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway after 6f out, soon chasing leaders, ridden well over 1f out, hung left and weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 7l behind The Donserelli (11-3) at Stratford 2m NH flat (6) gd in Jun.
