chased leaders, hit 17th, challenged last, one pace flat
led 2nd until 4th, led 11th until 13th, hit 17th, led 3 out, kept on flat
led until 2nd, prominent, led approaching 9th until 11th, stayed prominent until weakened 16th, tailed off before 3 out, pulled up soon after
in touch, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, kept on flat
chased leaders, went 2nd 14th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off 2 out, pulled up before last
well in rear, headway to lead 4th, headed approaching 9th, weakened 12th, behind when mistake 16th, tailed off
held up well in rear, mistake 8th, led 13, narrowly headed 3 out, weakened next
in touch when ran out 3rd
Not as strong a renewal as in recent years and after a nice prep run at Catterick it is KILCREA ASLA who can provide Captain Tim Edwards with back-to-back wins at the main expense of Terrible Tenant and Bolachoir. The selection is a talented horse on his day as his official rating of 130 testifies and on these terms he has a bit in hand with doubts about his rivals. A solid second to Peters Star over hurdles last time should have got his confidence back after a heavy fall at Doncaster in December and his jockey knows how to win this race. Mr Big is enigmatic and spent time recently contesting cross-country races. That seemed to have got his enthusiasm back judged by a good second at Folkestone but then he spoilt the illusion be being pulled up at Huntingdon most recently and isn't one to trust implicitly. Terrible Tenant is more interesting if allowed an easy lead and if his jockey doesn't make any major blunders in regard to pace then he could give a bold sighter from out in front. Bolachoir is a course and distance winner but he hasn't always proven to be the most amenable of companions for a rider, although his recent point-to-point win at Ballydaragh suggest he may be a reformed character. The jury is still out on that but any market move would make him an interesting rival. Distant Thunder is flattered by his official rating and this former William Hill Trophy third has not been distinguishing himself between the flags recently, whilst Heart Springs and Lile Na Casca look up against it, although the former was still in contention when unseating her rider in this race twelve months ago. Kilcrea Asla can take top honours in this prestigious event.
Kilcrea Asla (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 3 out to chase leaders, every chance 2 out, not fluent last, one pace, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Peters Star (10-13) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Mr Big (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) In touch, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by I'moncloudnine (11-10) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Terrible Tenant 18-1 (10-11) Led, stumbled and headed 11th, ridden and weakened 13th, 5th of 7, well behind Master Overseer (10-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Dec.
Bolachoir (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Mid div, so from 3out, lft 2nd aftr 2out, lft ld last, ko, won at Ballydarragh 3m ire ptp gd beating The Boss Hatton (12-0) by 6l, 13 ran.
Distant Thunder (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) In tch to 14, 9th of 17, 37l behind Coombe Hill (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp gd.
Saddlers Blaze (IRE) 250-1 (11-0) Pulled hard, mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway approaching next, went left and jumped slowly 6th, soon lost place, behind from next, tailed off when mistake and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Super Ross (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 5f sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gd in Feb '09, 14 ran.
Heart Springs 20-1 (10-9) In rear, struggling 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Shaking Hands (11-3) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy, 8 ran.
Lile Na Casca (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) No ch 12; to & pu 2 out, in a race won by Theatre Diva (10-7) at Larkhill 3m ptp gd in Jan, 10 ran.
