held up in rear, not fluent 12th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up, switched left approaching 4 out, steady headway from 3 out, hit 2 out, no extra final 150 yards
held up and behind, steady headway from 10th, ridden after 3 out, disputed 2nd last, no extra towards finish
took keen hold in touch, hit 7th and 12th, ridden and weakened 4 out, tailed off
mistake 4th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
took keen hold, held up and behind, headway to chase leaders 3rd, weakened after 12th, behind and pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, kept on flat
always prominent, led 3 out, driven clear 2 out, held up on well
chased leaders, led 5th, blundered 12th, headed 4 out, weakened last
mid-division, blundered 8th, headway 11th, not fluent next, stayed on strongly flat, not reached winner
always prominent, hit 9th, jumped left and chased winner 2 out, jumped left last, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, jumped slowly 6th, effort approaching 4 out, never near leaders
led until 5th, pushed along after next, behind from 8th, tailed off
took keen hold early, held up, not fluent 10th, headway after 4 out, stayed on well flat
held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden after 11th, not much room on inside on bend and lost place approaching 4 out, no real danger after
This very valuable handicap has, quite rightly, produced a tremendous line-up, and we are going to go against the obvious choice, Buckby Lane, and select Chauvinist, but a number of others warrant consideration too. Nicky Henderson's Chauvinist rates as very progressive, is the type of chaser with which the trainer does well, and he has a good racing weight today. Of course, Buckby Lane will be very popular as he returned from a 413-day absence to win the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Cheltenham last time. The form of that race has worked out very well, not least because of Farmer Jack, and if he is in the same type of form, he has to be given a very good chance. The 2000 King George VI Chase winner, First Gold, heads the weights here, a measure of this race's class, Although his mark seems fair at the moment. It Takes Time comes here on the back of a very good Ascot Chase win and, although he warrants respect as he might now be transferring his high-class hurdling form to fencing - which might seem a strange thing to say as he is now 11, the handicapper has had his say. Hand Inn Hand is four pounds better off for the four-and-a-half lengths he finished behind him that day and can also have his say. Turgeonev and Knife Edge have proven themselves as consistently classy in this sort of grade, while Venn Ottery is no mug on his day and has his first run for Martin Pipe today. Supreme Prince was not disgraced in the Skybet Chase last time, Hours ran respectably in the Racing Post Chase last time and is now only a pound above a winning mark. Le Duc showed his potential when winning at Cheltenham in January and more of that type of form would serve him well. However, he has a bit to find with Buckby Lane based on Ladbrokes Trophy Chase form. Simply Gifted is closely weighted with Turgeonev on April form, while Nicky Henderson reckons that Scots Grey will go well. However, it is his other runner that we like, and that is Chauvinist.
First Gold (FR) 9-1 Chased winner, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace from last, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Lord Transcend at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (A) hvy in Jan.
It Takes Time (IRE) 14-1 In rear, steady headway from 11th, closer order 3 out, challenged and mistake next, driven last, quickened clear flat, won at Lingfield 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Feb beating Ollie Magern by 2l, 7 ran.
Hand Inn Hand 10-3 Took keen hold, held up in touch, steady headway 11th, every chance when hit last 3, not quicken flat, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind It Takes Time at Lingfield 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Feb.
Turgeonev (FR) 25-1 Tracked leader, losing place when pecked 3 out, kept on run-in, 6th of 10, 17l behind Well Chief at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Knife Edge (USA) 16-1 Towards rear, pushed along 10th, headway 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on from next, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 10, 17l behind Mister McGoldrick at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs (B) gs in Oct.
Venn Ottery 11-2 Keen hold, soon tracking leader, ridden and weakened 2 out, 8th of 15, 30l behind Shamdian at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gd in May.
Mouseski 13-8 Tracked leader, led 5 out, pushed clear 2 out, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs (B) gs in Feb beating Royal Emperor by 4l, 4 ran.
Supreme Prince (IRE) 11-1 Chased leaders, led 4 out, soon ridden, headed approaching 2 out, lost 2nd last, weakened near finish, 5th of 12, 9l behind Colourful Life at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-145 (A) gd in Jan.
Buckby Lane 9-1 Jumped well, made all, stayed on strongly after 3 out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Jan beating Kandjar D'allier by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Horus (IRE) 20-1 Mid-division, mistake 2nd, lost place before 14th, tailed off, 7th of 16, 23l behind Farmer Jack at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Chauvinist (IRE) 6-4fav Made all, in command before 2 out, ridden approaching last, soon clear, driven out, won at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs (C) gs in Feb beating Manly Money by 11l, 6 ran.
Le Duc (FR) 8-1 Held up rear, driven along 6th, stayed on from 2 out, nearest finish, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Blue Canyon at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Whereareyounow (IRE) 9-1 Made all, clear 3 out, ran on, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (B) sft in Feb beating Gunner Welburn by 17l, 14 ran.
Simply Gifted 16-1 Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 7, 18l behind Horus at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Nov.
Scots Grey 12-1 Prominent until 12th, 10th of 15, well behind Le Duc at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gd in Jan.
Avalanche (FR) 33-1 Mid-division, mistake 4th, lost touch 11th, tailed off next, 13th of 15, well behind Supreme Prince at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Marked Man (IRE) 16-1 Always towards rear, 8th of 15, 48l behind Le Duc at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gd in Jan.
