held up in mid-division, headway on outside 4 out, 7th final bend, struggling 2 out, weakened before last
held up in mid-division, 15th final bend, headway from from 3 out, switched left before last, went 3rd inside final 100 yards, stayed on, no impression on winner
in touch in mid-division, headway 5th, 5th final bend, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway 6th, 8th final bend, pushed along briefly after 4 out, weakened flat
prominent, 6th final bend, weakened from 2 out
held up in touch, 11th final bend, effort 2 out, weakened flat
led until mistake 8th, soon led again, headed last, faded final 100 yards
prominent, 3rd final bend, not much room before 2 out, one pace and no impression flat
jumped slowly at times, behind, still last final bend, no chance
chased leaders on inside, mistake and lost some places 4th, 9th final bend, not clear run before 2 out, not clear run and switched right before last, ran on well flat, went 4th close home
in touch in mid-division, 12th final bend, struggling when not much room 2 out
mid-division, 14th final bend, switched right and closed before 2 out, chasing leaders last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, edged left after 4 out, 21st final bend, no chance
held up towards rear, 12th final bend, headway after 3 out, mistake 2 out, every chance last, no extra inside final 100 yards
held up in rear, 19th final bend, never involved
held up in mid-division on outside, 17th final bend, not much room 2 out, not clear run, headway and switched right before last, ran on well flat, went 2nd inside final 100 yards, no impression on winner
held up in mid-division on outside, 10th final bend, not fluent 4 out, ridden and struggling 2 out
prominent, not fluent 7th or 4 out, 3rd final bend, losing place when hampered 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, 20th final bend, well behind 3 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 4 out, 18th final bend and pushed along, never involved
held up rear of mid-division, 16th final bend, mistake 3 out, switched left before 2 out, good headway and switched right after 2 out, led last, ran on well, comfortably
held up in touch, challenged after 5th, led 4 out, soon headed, 2nd final bend, every chance 2 out, weakened flat
An almost impossible-looking handicap to start proceedings. Wilde About Oscar’s only failure to date came when pulled up in the Challow Hurdle in December but this race has been a graveyard for favourites down the years. Edwardstone has come right back to form and followed up a third in the Betfair Hurdle with a fifth in the County Hurdle last month. MISTER COFFEY was six lengths behind the latter at Newbury but is 4lb better off and shapes as though ready for this step up in trip. He’s not an easy ride but Nico de Boinville should have no problems finding cover in this big field. The unexposed Solwara One is interesting making his handicap debut while Nightboattoclyro remains in good form despite failing to complete the hat-trick at Kempton. Amarillo Sky takes a big drop in class but it would be no surprise to see the lightly-raced Exeter winner go well again despite a 13lb hike in the ratings. Press Your Luck and Monte Cristo may prove the pick of the remainder.
Wilde About Oscar (IRE) 9-5fav (11-12) Tracked leaders on outside, challenged 6th, led 3 out, jumped right 2 out, driven flat, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Mint Condition (11-4) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Edwardstone 18-1 (11-5) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway after 2 out, 7th last, stayed on, not quite able to challenge leaders, 5th of 25, 2 3/4l behind Belfast Banter (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Chapmanshype (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden before 3 out, weakened quickly soon after, 7th of 8, dist behind Roksana (10-7) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Monte Cristo (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division on inside, awkward 4th, headway chasing leaders 4 out, keeping on same pace pressing for places when badly hampered by faller after the last, weakened and no chance after, 11th of 26, 14 1/2l behind Heaven Help Us (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Master Debonair 40-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 15th of 17, dist behind Not So Sleepy (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Amour de Nuit (IRE) 100-1 (11-8) Mid-division approaching 4th, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, 9th of 22, 18 1/2l behind Galopin Des Champs (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Kateson 12-1 (11-1) Raced keenly, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, 10th of 15, dist behind Shannon Bridge (10-9) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Stolen Silver (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division out wide, weakened and towards rear 6th, tailed off and struggling when pulled up before 4 out, at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
West To The Bridge (IRE) 17-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, 4th and weakening 2 out, lost 4th last, 5th of 11, dist behind Agrapart (11-12) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Mister Coffey (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, nudged along before 3 out, ridden 2 out, hung right approaching last, plugged on one pace run-in, 7th of 23, 10 1/4l behind Soaring Glory (10-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Whatsupwithyou (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, ridden to lead between last 2, ridden and headed before the last, lost 2nd at the last, weakened into 4th towards finish, 4th of 22, 12l behind Galopin Des Champs (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
War Lord (GER) 14-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, no extra, 4th of 9, 25 1/2l behind Flash Collonges (11-7) at Kelso 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Jacamar (GER) 2-1fav (11-4) Raced keenly towards rear, some late minor headway, never on terms, 8th of 15, 4 1/4l behind Billy's Angel (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f (5) pol in Feb.
Solwara One (IRE) 1-7fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, squeezed along and reduced deficit to leader before 3 out, led before 2 out, extended advantage before last, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f (4) sft in Mar beating Macfin (11-1) by 4l, 7 ran.
Nightboattoclyro 15-8fav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway out wide before 2 out, kept on into modest 3rd before the last, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Switch Hitter (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Dans Le Vent (FR) 28-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway and plugged on run-in, 8th of 26, 13 1/4l behind Heaven Help Us (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Thistle Do Nicely (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Raced in 5th, jumped stickily early stages, went 4th before 4 out, not fluent 3 out, closed briefly 2 out, no extra last, 4th of 6, 21 1/2l behind Nube Negra (11-4) at Warwick 2m (4) gd in Oct.
Press Your Luck (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Toward rear, ridden and headway before 3 out, challenged 2 out, kept on but always held by winner, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Good Ball (10-9) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
The Vollan (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Led until 5th, in front again next until 8th, lost 2nd at 13th, plugged on in 3rd, weakened into remote 4th run-in, 4th of 6, dist behind Espoir De Romay (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (3) gd in Nov.
Strong Glance 40-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, keen early, bad mistake 5th, no impression, 18th of 25, 18 1/4l behind Belfast Banter (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Tronador (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Towards rear, slightly hampered 2nd, not fluent next and briefly pushed along, 9th when not fluent 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, kept on one pace, 7th of 10, 14 3/4l behind Pure Genius (11-10) at Downpatrick 2m 3f Yielding in Mar.
Amarillo Sky (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Made all, awkward 3 out, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Steady Away (11-5) by 7l, 12 ran.
