in touch, saddle slipped and pulled up after 11th
chased leaders, ridden and lost place 12th, mistake 4 out, weakened 3 out
prominent, chased leader 7th, ridden 4 out, kept on from 3 out to go 2nd flat
in touch, headway and chased leaders 13th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden and lost place, jumped left 2 out and last, kept on same pace flat
led until ridden and headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, headway after 13th, led on bit approaching 3 out, clear after 2 out, heavily eased flat
always towards rear, ridden 13th, no impression
held up last, mistake 5th, ridden and effort 4 out, weakened 3 out
Nonrunner
Le Rochelais is taken to land the spoils here with Supreme Catch, Petitjean and Alphabetical others to consider. The selection won last time at Hereford on soft ground when he beat Elegant Clutter. He was good value for the winning margin that day as he was eased right down close home and with the ground in his favour again today he can defy a penalty to score. Supreme Catch chased home Loulou Nivernais last time and as that form has since been franked he is entitled to be thereabouts at the finish again. Alphabetical is a course and distance winner but he was disappointing last time and the suspicion is that he is better on a faster surface. Petitjean has got solid form and she seems to have gone from strength to strength since she reverted to chasing. However, Le Rochelais won well last time and can follow-up here today.
Le Rochelais (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden 2 out, eased flat, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb beating Elegant Clutter (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Swansea Bay 8-1 (11-6) Held up, in touch, led 8th until approaching 12th, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Bannister Lane (10-2) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Supreme Catch (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Raced wide, led 1st to 7th, tracked leaders, led again 9th to next, ridden to chase winner 3 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 14l behind Loulou Nivernais (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Feb.
Alphabetical (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) In touch, weakened 4 out, mistake last, 6th of 8, 36l behind Lucifer Bleu (10-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Matthew Muroto (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Never a factor, 6th of 12, well behind Easibrook Jane (9-11) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Petitjean 11-4 (11-4) Held up last, headway from approaching 4 out, ridden, chased winner 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Zanzibar Boy (10-7) at Exeter 2m 7f amt hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Desailly 12-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 11th, close up from 3 out, weakened after last, 4th of 10, 12l behind Zimbabwe (10-9) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
He's The Biz (FR) 4-1 (10-8) Mid-division, took closer order after 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Another Joker (11-11) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Sept.
Gastornis 33-1 (11-11) Held up, outpaced approaching 4 out, kept on from 2 out, led run-in, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan beating Emerald Destiny (10-3) by 2l, 8 ran.
