held up in touch in mid-division, outpaced 4f out, no impression after, plugged on final furlong
mid-division, lost place over 6f out, well behind final 4f
prominent, led 7f out, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear on outside, headway 7f out, weakened from over 2f out
always in rear, well behind final 4f
chased leaders, pushed along 11f out, ridden over 6f out, lost place over 3f out
chased leaders early, in touch in mid-division, not handle bend after about 4f, soon lost place, pulled up 8f out
held up in rear, raced keenly, headway over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened from over 2f out
held up towards rear on inside, headway over 3f out, not clear run and switched left over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on, not reach winner
prominent, led over 4f out, ridden and headed 2f out, lost 2nd inside final furlong, kept on
chased leaders on inside, led 2f out, ridden and stayed on well inside final furlong
mid-division on outside, closed over 6f out, lost place over 2f out
held up towards rear, switched left and headway over 4f out, ridden 2f out, faded inside final 100 yards
held up rear of mid-division, headway and hung left inside final 2f, never on terms
chased leaders, pushed along 6f out, lost place over 3f out
made most until 7f out, ridden 4f out, weakened 3f out
held up in rear, headway over 4f out, ridden and edged left over 2f out, went 4th inside final furlong, stayed on
mid-division, well beaten final 3f
By proven NH sire Walk In The Park and the first foal to race of a smart hurdler and chaser, ERNEST GRAY showed a sharp turn of foot when beating a previous winner on his first run for Alan King at Warwick and can take this step up in class in his stride. Henri The Second is also 2-2 and his Ascot victory has been franked while Rath Gaul Boy easily landed the odds at Leopardstown last month and is probably the pick of the Willie Mullins runners ahead of Houlanbatordechais. Leave Of Absence is held in high regard and should continue on an upward curve while Western Zephyr beat a subsequent winner at Huntingdon and the first two pulled well clear.
Astronomic View 5-1 (11-12) Midfield, ridden to challenge over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Copper Cove (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f (5) sft in Feb.
Basford (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, closer in mid-division 6f out, pushed along and outpaced over 3f out, soon beaten, 7th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Top Dog (11-5) at Newbury 2m lst (1) gs in Feb.
Chianti Classico (IRE) 5-2jfav (11-4) Led and soon clear with two others, headed 8f out, led again over 3f out, clear 2f out, eased, comfortable, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f mdn (5) sft in Dec beating Bolintlea (10-11) by 11l, 14 ran.
Cruz Control (FR) 10-11fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd turning in, disputing lead over 2f out, sustained challenge throughout final furlong, won on the nod, won at Exeter 2m 1f (5) hvy in Jan beating Marty Byrde (11-6) by hd, 8 ran.
Donaire (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Made all, clear from 2f out, edged right inside final furlong, easily, won at Hereford 2m (4) gs in Feb beating Ebonello (10-11) by 6 1/2l, 10 ran.
Ernest Gray (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, clear and ran green 1f out, easily, won at Warwick 2m (5) gs in Mar beating Everyonesgame (11-10) by 13l, 7 ran.
Henri The Second (FR) 10-3 (11-4) Ran green and hung left at times, made all and kept wide in back straight, pushed along over 2f out, ridden soon after, stayed on gamely inside final furlong, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m lst (1) gs in Dec beating Authorised Speed (11-4) by 1l, 12 ran.
Houlanbatordechais (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Raced keenly and hung right, soon in touch, led over 9f out, clear over 7f out, headed over 3f out, soon weakened, 15th of 20, dist behind Facile Vega (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m (1) hvy in Mar.
Hullnback 8-1 (11-5) Off the pace in last pair, steady headway on inside 2f out, kept on until weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Top Dog (11-5) at Newbury 2m lst (1) gs in Feb.
Leave Of Absence (FR) 8-15fav (11-6) Made all, ridden inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newbury 2m (3) gd in Apr beating Boom Boom (10-8) by 6l, 5 ran.
Lookaway (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 4f out, ridden to lead inside final 2f, stayed on, won at Newbury 2m (4) sft in Feb beating Fame And Concrete (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Prairie Wolf (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, held on well, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (5) gd in Jan beating Bold Reaction (11-2) by shd, 8 ran.
Rath Gaul Boy (IRE) 8-13fav (12-0) Tracked leaders in 5th on outer, went 3rd travelling well 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Leopardstown 2m Yielding in Mar beating Golden Wonder's (12-0) by 6l, 7 ran.
Shomen Uchi (FR) 2-5fav (11-2) Prominent, led over 3f out, soon went clear in a canter, not extended, won at Hereford 2m (4) sft in Feb beating Park This One (11-2) by 9 1/2l, 6 ran.
Swapped (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Raced keenly tracking leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, outpaced by winner 2f out, well held when hung left final furlong, 2nd of 11, 3 1/4l behind Our Jester (11-8) at Lingfield 2m (2) pol in Jan.
Western Zephyr (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Made all, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn (5) gs in Jan beating Rambo T (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Blow Your Wad (IRE) 10-3 (10-8) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders halfway, went 2nd home turn, led inside final furlong, soon hung badly left hit outside hedge and headed final 100 yards, not recover, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Tahmuras (11-4) at Wincanton 1m 7f mdn (5) gs in Mar.
Imperial Bede (FR) 4-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, ridden from 2f out, kept on well, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Idefixe Du Moulin (9-7) at Nantes 1m 4f hvy in Oct.
Crambo 3-1fav (11-10) Held up in rear, closed over 5f out, still 5th and a bit to do over 3f out, closed and switched left inside 2f out, switched right 1f out, stayed on well, led towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m (5) sft in Mar beating Butch (11-3) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Rockinastorm (IRE) 11-4fav (11-9) Led, headed over 3f out, 4th and no extra from over 1f out, 4th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Sporting Ace (11-2) at Chepstow 2m (5) sft in Feb.
