tracked leaders, led after 4 out, ridden and headed just after 2 out, 1 length off winner when fell last
prominent, ridden 3 out, one pace and beaten from next, left 4th last, no extra flat
held up in touch, hit 6th, ridden 9th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
led, headed after 4 out, soon weakened, well behind when pulled up after 3 out
mid-division, headway on outside after 4 out, in touch 3 out, one pace and no impression from next, weakened last
not always fluent, in rear, well behind after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 9th, just about still in touch when mistake 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
mid-division, lost place 8th, tailed off after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, some headway after 4 out, never on terms, well beaten before 2 out, pulled up before last
held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 3 out, shaken up 2 out, no impression on front pair and one pace when left 3rd last
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last
held up in mid-division on outside, towards rear 7th, ridden 9th, well beaten after next, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway from 8th, went 2nd after 4 out, led just after 2 out, edged left before last, 1 length up when left well clear last, eased towards finish
tracked leaders until after 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway after 4 out, one pace and no impression on front pair after next, left 2nd last, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, mistake next, weakened after mistake 4 out, pulled up before last
Nonrunner
Alpha Des Obeaux was second over this trip at Cork in December before giving vain pursuit of Douvan over 2m at Punchestown. He by-passed Cheltenham so may be fresher than a few of these. Vyta Du Roc never seems to run a bad race and had Ordo Ab Chao behind when fourth in a Grade 1 at The Festival over 2m4f. He'll be thereabouts if he last home while Roi Des Francs has won a Grade 3 over 2m6f so should stay. Flintham is aiming to give Mark Bradstock another big-race success and he stays well, though may not have the class for this. Blaklion was just behind Vyta Du Roc in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December but ran as though he'd had enough for the season when pulled up at Cheltenham. MINELLA ROCCO (NAP) gives the impression that he could be a high-class recruit. He hasn't come off the bridle in twice beating minor opposition at Newbury and Kempton and he's already won over 3m between the flags.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged 3 out, pushed along from next, on terms straight, headed approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Douvan (11-0) at Punchestown 2m nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Blaklion 10-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last, in a race won by Martello Tower (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar, 19 ran.
Final Nudge (IRE) 15-8 (11-1) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, 2nd before next, ridden and held when hit 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 9l behind It's A Close Call (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Flintham 11-4 (11-7) Always prominent, led 3 out, hard ridden before 2 out, stayed on strongly (3 hurdles ommited), won at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Mar beating Themanfrom Minella (11-7) by 7l, 10 ran.
Foryourinformation 6-4fav (11-7) Tracked leader, joined leader 4 out, led next, clear 2 out, ran on, comfortable, won at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating A Vos Gardes (11-7) by 7l, 7 ran.
King's Tempest 5-4 (11-0) Tracked leader, led after 2nd, headed before 2 out, soon ridden, not fluent last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Puisque Tu Pars (11-0) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Monbeg Theatre (IRE) 15-2 (11-8) Raced wide in mid-division, struggling towards rear when slightly hampered by loose horse before 2 out, 13th of 17, 46l behind As De Mee (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Mar.
One For Arthur (IRE) 11-8fav (12-3) Tracked leader, pushed along before 3 out, led 2 out, soon hard pressed, kept on gamely run-in, won at Ayr 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Warriors Tale (12-3) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Ordo Ab Chao (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway and in touch on outside 3 out, outpaced after next, ridden and kept on same pace under pressure from last, no impression, 7th of 10, 8l behind Windsor Park (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Our Kaempfer (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Held up in last pair, closer on inside before 2 out, 2nd between last 2, led last, edged left and ridden clear run-in, won at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Port Melon (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Parish Business (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Led, not fluent 1st, headed before 2 out, 4th and outpaced before last, 4th of 6, 20l behind Blaklion (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec.
Roi Des Francs (FR) 3-1fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased leaders after next, ridden to challenge last, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair flat, 3rd of 21, 5l behind Killultagh Vic (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 4f cond hcap hdle (2) sft in Mar.
Thistlecrack 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, pushed along in 5th and one pace before 2 out, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, 5th of 23, 3 1/2l behind Ebony Express (10-7) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Thomas Brown 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division on outside, headway approaching 7th, not fluent and lost place 9th, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Martello Tower (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Mar, 19 ran.
Vyta Du Roc (FR) 15-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, headway to lead briefly before 2 out, stayed pressing winner between last 2, 1 1/2 lengths down and ridden when blundered badly and lost place last, kept on flat, 4th of 10, 5l behind Windsor Park (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Zeroeshadesofgrey (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) With leader, led narrowly 2nd, ridden before 2 out, hard pressed between last 2, headed last, kept on under pressure flat, held in 3rd near finish, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Caracci Apache (11-7) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grade 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Minella Rocco (IRE) 2-5fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, 2nd after 3rd, led 4 out, in control when hit last, never came off the bridle, won at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Royal Vacation (10-12) by 7l, 6 ran.
