held up in rear, some headway 10th, never really got competitive, well beaten 3 out
chased leader until slow 2nd, chased leaders after, led after 3 out, jumped left 2 out, drew clear approaching last, easily
held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd last, no chance with winner
not always fluent, led, stumbled 4th, rider nearly unseated and great recovery, mistake 10th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, mistake last
gave trouble before start, mid-division, in touch 11th, struggling 4 out, well beaten next
mid-division, in touch 10th, trying to challenge when squeezed out after 3 out, switched right before next, went 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner, stayed on
chased leaders, went 2nd from 2nd, edged left and every chance after 3 out, no impression on winner and lost 2nd before last, weakened
NonRunner
Nuts Well has had a break since beating subsequent Grade 3 winner Clondaw Castle in the Old Roan here in October when Itchy Feet was only third. But he goes well fresh and should give his supporters a run for their money. Itchy Feet was beaten by Dashel Drasher at Ascot later and Jeremy Scott’s game front-runner than accounted for Master Tommytucker at the same track. POLITILOGUE won this in 2018 and was runner-up 12 months later. He is prone to bleeding, which caused his late defection from the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, but is a very smart performer if on song. Fakir D'Oudairies was second to Allaho in the Ryanair at Cheltenham and missed an easier opportunity at Fairyhouse on Monday on account of the ground but he’ll need to jump better to stay in contention around here while Notebook’s stamina will be tested.
Duc Des Genievres (FR) 22-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway 8th, disputing 7th when mistake 2 out, soon held, weakened last, 7th of 19, 16 3/4l behind Sky Pirate (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Fakir D'Oudairies (FR) 11-2 (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, hit 10th, headway 4 out, not fluent 3 out, went 3rd final bend, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner, kept on, 2nd of 11, 12l behind Allaho (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gs in Mar.
Itchy Feet (FR) 4-1cfav (11-2) Midfield, reminder after 3rd, progress after 6th to track leaders, ridden before 3 out, struggled to go with leaders from 2 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 8, 15 1/4l behind Third Wind (11-2) at Haydock 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Master Tommytucker 7-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders out wide, 2nd going well 4 out, over 4 lengths down when winner jumped slowly and left with chance last, well held when switched right and no extra run-in, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Dashel Drasher (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Notebook (GER) 22-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place 4th, closed 6th, beaten last, weakened flat, 7th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Put The Kettle On (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Nuts Well 18-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place when not fluent 11th, rallied after 2 out, mistake last, went 2nd flat, stayed on, led towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Oct beating Clondaw Castle (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Politologue (FR) 11-8fav (11-7) Led until 7th, led again next, headed 9th, driven after 2 out, no impression on winner last, 2nd of 8, 7l behind First Flow (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Dashel Drasher 4-1 (11-7) Led until mistake and headed 1st, chased leader, hit 6th and next, closer and upsides 8th, led approaching 12th, ridden between last 2, over 4 lengths ahead when jumped slowly last, idled badly and edged left run-in, always doing enough, won at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb beating Master Tommytucker (11-7) by 2l, 5 ran.
