held up, ridden approaching 9th, headway 16th to chase leaders next, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
tended to jump right, chased leaders, mistake and ridden 15th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
held up, smooth headway, going well appraoching 15th, left 2nd at next, challenged going well approaching 4 out, led on bit last, soon quickened clear
blundered 2nd, behind, reminders 7th, pushed along 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 17th
held up, mistakes 3rd, 7th and 9th, headway 17th to chase leading trio approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
chased leaders, left in close 3rd at 16th, took narrow lead on inside before 4 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, outpaced by winner run-in
chased leader, led 15th until went lame, pulled up, and dismounted 16th
led until blundered and headed 15th, left in narrow lead next, headed after 17th and soon lost place, tailed off
behind when mistake and unseated rider 1st
Nonrunner
Scots Dragoon just did enough when landing a handicap hurdle over 2m4f at Sandown earlier this month and Nicky Henderson's gelding has to be respected stepped up in trip back over the larger obstacles but he has yet to convince over fences and a better bet looks to be SHILLINGSTONE, who gets the vote with Fourball rated the best of the remainder. The selection has shown a decent level of form in hunter chases for the Alners and made a winning start in a handicap when taking a contest at Kempton at the beginning of the month, staying on well to win by half-a-length. The seven-year-old was probably value for more than the winning margin that day and he can defy the 8lb rise for that success. Nick Williams has his team going reasonably well so The Real Deal has claims but he needs to improve to trouble the selection and of more interest may be Borero. Charlie Mann's gelding was pulled up in his final outing of last season and again on his reappearance but he is better than he has shown in those two starts and is worthy of consideration. Jonjo O'Neill's Fourball made an encouraging return when a close fourth behind Buffalo Bob at Uttoxeter earlier this month and he has to be respected but Shillingstone has an obvious chance and gets the vote.
Baron Windrush 10-1 (9-13) Mistake 2nd, mid-division, ridden 13th, soon lost place, tailed off 4 out, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Galant Nuit (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 3f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft, 12 ran.
Kennel Hill (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, jumped slowly 3rd, headway after 14th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Gentle Ranger (11-11) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs, 13 ran.
Shillingstone 7-2fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway when not fluent 12th, led approaching 3 out, driven out, won at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating By George (11-12) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Borero (FR) 11-2 (11-11) In touch, lost place when mistake 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Gentle Ranger (11-11) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs, 13 ran.
The Real Deal (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Held up, headway approaching 7th, ridden after 5 out, went poor 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 10, 19l behind Dance Island (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Scots Dragoon 4-1fav (10-13) Always prominent, pushed along briefly bend after 3rd, led approaching 2 out, soon headed, driven to lead last, stayed on well, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gd beating Psi (10-11) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Jim Bobs Girl (IRE) 22-1 (10-7) Led to 3rd, close up, pushed along after 9th, behind from 16th, 9th of 11, 34l behind Peut Etre Sivola (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Putney Bridge 13-8 (11-2) In touch, jumped left and hampered 3rd, weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 36l behind C'monthehammers (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Alfadora 8-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 8th, ridden after next, led 2 out, hung right and headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 11, nk behind Tarvini (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Fourball (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, hit 5th, headway approaching 11th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 13, 13l behind Buffalo Bob (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
