chased leader, not fluent 12th, mistake 4 out, led after next, clear last, ran on well
led, clear 2nd, not fluent 11th, mistake 3 out, soon headed, no impression on winner last
held up in rear, pushed along after 8th, well beaten 12th
tracked leaders, ridden after 12th, one pace before 4 out, went 3rd last
mid-division, headway when not fluent 11th, 3rd and one pace when jumped right 4 out, dropped to 4th last
chased leaders, lost place before 9th, soon behind
mid-division, took keen hold, headway after 4th, hit 7th and 9th, outpaced after 12th, no impression after, one pace
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 5th, hit 7th and 10th, lost place 11th, well beaten after 12th, mistake 3 out
held up in rear, effort and ridden 11th, no impression, well beaten when jumped left 3 out
chased leaders until after 4th, behind from 9th
A number of these have been running in better company this season. Divers is a former winner of the Byrne Group Plate at Cheltenham and ran in that race again last month. Micheal Flips is back on a winning mark but took a heavy fall in a Grade 3 at Newbury last time while the front-running Fiendish Flame may be better over hurdles these days as his jumping often lets him down over the larger obstacles. Buck Mulligan will like the ground and should give supporters a run for their money again and Cootehill won over track and trip two weeks ago, though has been raised 7lb since. UP TO THE MARK was hampered when unseating his rider at Sandown last time and he has a good record on this track. He's well treated on his best form so gets the vote.
Micheal Flips (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Held up, jumped right 1st, fell 8th, in a race won by Pacha Du Polder (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Fiendish Flame (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Led, headed after 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up, 9th of 10, well behind Cloudy Too (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Feb.
Divers (FR) 12-1 (10-4) Towards rear, struggling 13th, never dangerous, 12th of 22, well behind Carrickboy (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Buck Mulligan 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 6th, hit 12th, headway 2 out, stayed on, no impression, 4th of 8, 7l behind Cootehill (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar.
Cootehill (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, hit 7th, went 2nd when jumped right and not fluent 4 out, led 2 out, ridden clear flat, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar beating Ballywatt (10-7) by 4l, 8 ran.
Best Lover (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Slowly away, detached in rear, soon caught up group, pushed along 5 out, soon weakened and tailed off, soon pulled up, in a race won by Prosecco (10-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Dec, 6 ran.
Marley Roca (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, weakened from 12th, 6th of 8, 50l behind Noble Legend (11-3) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Callisto Moon 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed before last, no extra and lost 2nd place flat, 4th of 10, 7l behind Scriptwriter (9-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sep.
Oldrik (GER) 25-1 (10-6) Pressed leader, jumped left 1st, led 4th, headed next, led 9th, headed before 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up after, in a race won by Kilcrea Asla (9-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Up To The Mark 4-1 (10-13) Disputing 2nd when went right bumped and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Greywell Boy (11-5) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Mar, 6 ran.
