held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway on outside approaching 3 out, chasing leaders but ridden along when fell 2 out
mid-division on outside, headway before 6th, every chance 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, every chance 3 out, soon beaten, weakened next
not always fluent in rear, struggling before 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased winner 2 out, mistake last, no impression on winner, kept on
mid-division, closed 4th, not fluent 7th, chasing leaders 3 out, weakened before last, left 4th flat
held up on inside, still towards rear before 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, no impression on winner
raced keenly, led until 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
travelled well, chased leaders, steadied after 2nd, closed after 5th, led 3 out, in command from last, stayed on well
raced keenly, not always fluent, handy on inside, mistake 3rd, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway from 7th, 3rd 2 out, not fluent last, weakened into 4th flat, pulled up and collapsed soon after
prominent early, chased leaders, lost place before 6th, closed next, outpaced before 3 out, well held after, plugged on from last, left 5th flat
Only a short-head separated Nells Son and North Lodge at Kelso five weeks ago but the former has four lengths to find with Might I on earlier Haydock running. Colonel Mustard ran a cracker to finish third behind the well-treated State Man in the County Hurdle but was earlier six lengths behind THREE STRIPE LIFE in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown. The latter chased home Sir Gerhard again in last month’s Ballymore and deserves a change of luck. Stage Star was never travelling at Cheltenham and was pulled up but he is clearly much better than that while Captain Conby is still improving, as is Good Risk At All. Walking On Air could be anything having easily landed the odds at Newbury in January while Elle Est Belle has won a couple of Listed races this season.
Captain Conby (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, closer in 3rd before halfway, travelled well to challenge 2 out and disputed lead briefly before last, ridden and no impression run-in, dropped to 3rd inside final 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind The Goffer (11-0) at Thurles 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Colonel Mustard (FR) 13-2 (11-0) In touch in mid-division, headway after 3 out, hung left and every chance before last, edged left and lost 2nd and held flat, no extra close home, 3rd of 26, 3l behind State Man (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Good Risk At All (FR) 6-4fav (10-9) Held up towards rear, rapid headway on outside before 4 out, close up travelling strongly 3 out, eased ahead 2 out, drew clear after last, easily, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Christopher Wood (11-9) by 9l, 11 ran.
Great Heart'Jac (FR) 3-1fav (11-2) Led and mostly clear, went right 4 out, reduced lead and hit 2 out, headed soon after, weakened run-in, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Surtitle (11-2) at Newbury 2m (3) gs in Feb.
Might I (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Mid division, headway tracking leaders 3 out, every chance last when not fluent, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Jonbon (11-11) at Haydock 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Nells Son 16-1 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, steady headway chasing leaders before 3 out, hung left and went 2nd approaching last, stayed on run-in, led post, won at Kelso 2m 2f (1) sft in Mar beating North Lodge (11-8) by shd, 9 ran.
North Lodge (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, led before last, ridden and stayed on run-in, headed post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Nells Son (11-3) at Kelso 2m 2f (1) sft in Mar.
Stage Star (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, raced keenly, steadied 4th, effort after 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Three Stripe Life (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up rear of mid-division, headway 5th, hit 7th, 3rd and going off before 2 out, ridden final bend, went 2 1/2 lengths 2nd last, edged right and no impression on winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Sir Gerhard (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Mar.
Walking On Air (IRE) 5-6fav (11-0) Tracked leader, upsides on bit 3 out, led before next and went clear before the last, very easily, won at Newbury 2m (4) gs in Jan beating Hecouldbetheone (11-7) by 13l, 12 ran.
Elle Est Belle 15-8 (11-3) Towards rear, in touch, not fluent 4th, shaken up and pressed leaders before 2 out, not fluent 2 out, pushed along in close 3rd before last, left in 2nd final flight, ridden and stayed on strongly to lead final strides, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Feb beating Gentleman At Arms (11-5) by nk, 5 ran.
Saint Riquier (FR) 14-1 (11-11) Led, headed after 3rd and tracked leader, disputed lead 3 out, ridden before 2 out, headed after 2 out, kept on, no extra towards finish, 4th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Krypton Gold (10-10) at Ascot 2m hcp fll (2) gd in Mar.
Harbour Lake (IRE) 6-4 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd soon after 3 out, ridden next, joined leader when not fluent last and soon led, ran on, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Jungle Jack (11-9) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
