held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway and hung left after 3 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, pulled up before next
held up in rear, mistake 8th, pushed along on wide outside before 3 out, never in contention
tracked leaders, raced keenly, lost place after 8th, rallied 3 out, no extra flat
mid-division, not fluent 8th, soon ridden, strugglling 3 out
mid-division, headway 8th, challenge from 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace flat
raced keenly, tracked leaders, led 4th to 8th, weakened 3 out
prominent, led 8th, mistake and headed 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 3 out where mistakes, led before last, ran on well flat
held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon tracking leaders, kept on same pace flat
prominent, ridden 8th, weakened 2 out
mid-division, reminder after 5th, lost place after 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 8th
prominent, mistake 6th, weakened approaching 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 4th, remained handy until weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden 8th, weakened 3 out, blundered 2 out
held up in rear, raced keenly, headway 3 out, one pace last
mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway after 8th, weakening when mistake 3 out
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, slightly hampered 6th, headway 8th, led 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat
mid-division, ridden after 8th, never dangerous
held up in rear, mistake 8th, struggling 3 out,
mid-division, not fluent 5th, blundered badly 6th, rider lost irons and bridle became lose and dropped rear, progress after 3 out, no impression approaching last
A tremendously tricky contest to round off the card but the form of HERNANDO ROYAL's recent win has been handsomely franked and he is selected ahead of Font, Big Eared Fran and The Package. Bottom-weight for the selection makes him of interest especially with his jockey's valuable claim taking a further 5lbs off his back. He beat Hills Of Aran last time who has won since and with solid form on flat tracks he is sure to be thereabouts. On a form line through Hills Of Aran, Font is held and he still doesn't look amazingly well-treated, whilst Calatagan, French Opera and Otage De Brion return to hurdles after chasing. Altihar was fourth behind the selection last time but his canny trainer excels in landing these big handicaps, whilst market support for the consistent Eleazar would be a positive sign after a gutsy win last time. Arcalis looks a shadow of his former self, The Polomoche is a talking horse and is yet to prove it on the track, whilst Prince Taime has a 6lb rise in the weights for a recent Haydock win. Perhaps more of a danger is The Package who was gambled for a Newbury Chase last time but bumped into a well-treated rival. Back over hurdles, he must be of interest along with stablemate Big Eared Fran who was given too much to do at Cheltenham and didn't exactly storm up the hill. The length of the shortlist indicates the nature of this race, but the pin comes down on Hernando Royal.
Arcalis 40-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, hit 5th, headway 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on, 7th of 27, 17l behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
The Polomoche (IRE) 6-1fav (10-8) In touch, ridden when hit 3 out, weakened after next, 10th of 27, 25l behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Khyber Kim 33-1 (11-9) Raced keenly, led 2nd, soon clear, headed 2 out, weakened, 22nd of 27, 47l behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
French Opera 10-1 (10-8) Chased leader until before 5th, hit 8th and 10th, disputing close 3rd when blundered 3 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 18, 8l behind Oh Crick (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Big Eared Fran (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Held up behind, headway after 3 out, effort on outer after 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 23, 16l behind Andytown (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Prince Taime (FR) 4-7fav (11-1) In touch, led 3 out, held on gamely flat, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Mar beating Flake (9-12) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
The Package 11-4fav (10-0) Took keen hold, led, headed 12th, chased winner after, tried to rally approaching 2 out, well held soon after, 2nd of 15, 7l behind New Little Bric (10-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Feb.
Auroras Encore (IRE) Evensfav (11-1) Tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Carlisle 2m nov stks (3) gs in Mar beating Panthers Run (10-12) by 20l, 6 ran.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 25th of 27, well behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Bedlam Boy (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden and stayed on from after 2 out, not reached leaders, 9th of 27, 22l behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Eleazar (GER) 22-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, challenged going well 2 out, led soon after, not fluent last, stayed on well flat, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb beating Dansimar (11-6) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Otage De Brion (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent, in rear from 5th, weakened from 4 out, last of 4, well behind Tarotino (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov stks (3) gd in Feb.
Bluegun (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Held up behind leading trio, hit 12th, 13th and 4 out, disputing 3rd when not fluent 2 out, ridden and no extra before last, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Hennessy (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chase (4) gd in Jan.
Mumbles Head (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden after 9th, headway before 3 out, chased winner last, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Snake Charmer (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gs in Mar.
Altilhar (USA) 12-1 (10-9) Held up, headway after 7th, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 4th of 7, 7l behind Hernando Royal (9-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Mar.
Royal Rationale (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up, headway approaching 3 out to track leaders, ridden to lead flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Quasar D'oudairies (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Frontier Dancer (IRE) 10-3 (11-7) Chased leaders, chased winner after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on from last, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Calusa Crystal (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Whinstone Boy (IRE) 5-1fav (11-1) Mid-division, closer in 6th after 3 out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace straight, 5th of 20, 15l behind Hangover (10-10) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl hvy in Feb.
Carrickboy (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Left in lead 2nd, headed after 3rd, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened, 18th of 23, well behind Andytown (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Calatagan (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Held up, headway into mid-division 9th, not fluent and outpaced 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 6th of 18, 13l behind Oh Crick (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Font 11-4fav (9-9) In touch, ridden approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, kept on, not reached winner, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Hills Of Aran (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Mar.
Hernando Royal 3-1 (9-9) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, chased leader after 3 out, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Mar beating Hills Of Aran (11-7) by 3l, 7 ran.
