tracked leaders, went 2nd over 3f out until 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in mid-division, pushed along and struggling on outside 3f out, soon well beaten
made all, ridden 3f out, pressed 2f out, stayed on gamely, in command final 75 yards
tracked leaders, close 3rd going well 3f out, ridden to challenge 2f out, stayed on, no impression final 75 yards
held up in rear, hanging left over 2f out, never involved
tracked leaders, lost place 4f out, not much room over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
mid-division, headway over 3f out, no further impression 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, stayed on final 2f, not trouble leaders
mid-division, not clear run on inside over 3f out, no impression, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, ridden over 5f out, weakened over 3f out
held up in touch on inside, not much room over 3f out, hanging left 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear on outside, stayed on from 2f out, went 3rd close home, no impression on leading pair
tracked leader until over 3f out, soon weakened
held up, always in rear, well beaten final 3f
mid-division, ridden and no impression final 3f
held up in touch, not much room and pushed wide over 3f out, effort over 2f out, not able to get on terms, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, headway 3f out, ridden over 2f out, went 3rd just over 1f out, no impression on front pair, lost 3rd close home
held up towards rear, ridden struggling after 5f, pulled up 10f out
held up in touch, lost place over 5f out, well beaten over 3f out
Bellshill and Davy Doubt both ran in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham but neither figured. Persian Delight will be fancied having won on the bit on his debut at Taunton and Barters Hill also has to go on the short-list. He's won three out of three and accounted for Buveur D'Air in a Listed contest at Newbury last time. Armchair Theatre and Western Rules are others putting unbeaten records on the line but we'll take a chance that the Newcastle winner BRAIN POWER finds the necessary improvement to play a big part. Michael Buckley snapped him up after that initial success and sent him to Nicky Henderson and he should again beat Double W's and Duncomplaining. Eoin Griffin's Archive may be the pick of the remainder.
Archive (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, 2nd entering straight and progress to lead over 1f out, soon edged left, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 2m NH flat in Feb beating Potters Point (11-13) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Armchair Theatre (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Held up in rear, smooth headway on outside over 3f out, 3rd over 2f out, 2nd approaching final furlong, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won going away, won at Ludlow 2m NH flat (5) gs in Mar beating Kerisper (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Barters Hill (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Made all, ridden over 2f out, joined over 1f out, driven found extra and stayed on to assert inside final furlong, won at Newbury 2m Listed NH flat (1) sft in Feb beating Buveur D'air (10-7) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Bellshill (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) In touch, dropped to mid-division halfway, driven over 3f out, never able to challenge, 10th of 23, 17l behind Moon Racer (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m G1 NH flat (1) gd in Mar.
Chitu (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Tracked leader, led after 6f, driven and hard pressed over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, one pace when switched right inside final furlong, no extra, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Junius Brutus (11-4) at Catterick 2m NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
Davy Doubt (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Chased leaders 4f out, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened 1f out, 14th of 23, 24l behind Moon Racer (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m G1 NH flat (1) gd in Mar.
Double W's (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway over 5f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 14, 4 1/2l behind Brain Power (10-4) at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Duncomplaining (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 6f out, kept on from over 1f out, 4th of 14, 5l behind Brain Power (10-4) at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Jurby 9-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, led over 2f out, soon clear, won at Newcastle 2m mdn nhf (6) gd in Mar beating Down The Line (11-4) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Justanother Muddle 4-1 (11-11) Made all,pressed over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on gamely towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gs in Mar '14 beating Go Odee Go (11-4) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Persian Delight 2-1fav (10-13) Held up in last trio, smooth headway halfway, tracked leader on bit 5f out, led over 2f out, clear over 1f out, not extended, won at Taunton 2m 1f cond NH flat (5) sft in Feb beating Basilic D'alene (10-2) by 12l, 10 ran.
Potters Corner (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Took keen hold, soon steadied into mid-division, headway on outside over 3f out, chased leaders over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won at Chepstow 2m cond NH flat (6) gd in Sep beating Rainy City (10-11) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Rushvale (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Made all, challenged entering straight, ridden over 1f out, kept on well under pressure final furlong, won at Down Royal 2m NH flat sft in Dec beating Delegate (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Wabanaki (IRE) 10-11fav (10-11) Held up last but in touch, smooth headway on ouside over 3f out, 2nd over 2f out, led 2f out, came well clear final furlong, easily, won at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Feb beating Chief Brody (10-7) by 9l, 5 ran.
Western Rules (IRE) 4-7fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway over 4f out to chase leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, kept on well towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) sft in Dec beating Showboater (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 16 ran.
Brain Power (IRE) 11-4fav (10-4) Held up mid-division, headway over 5f out, went 3rd over 2f out, led on bit over 1f out, ridden out, held on well towards finish, won at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) gs in Feb beating Big River (10-11) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Buveur D'Air (FR) 15-2 (10-7) Took keen hold, held up tracking leaders on outside, went 2nd travelling well 2f out, poised to challenge over 1f out, founds no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Barters Hill (11-3) at Newbury 2m Listed NH flat (1) sft in Feb.
Sakhee's City (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd over 1f out, no impression, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Robins Reef (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f NH flat (6) gs in Feb.
Virnon 9-4fav (10-10) Keen led 1f, tracked leader until 4f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 5, 15l behind Gingili (11-10) at Musselburgh 2m NH flat (6) gd in Feb.
Kerisper (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Led, hung left on bend and bit slipped over 2f out, soon ridden and straightened, headed and not quicken final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Armchair Theatre (11-6) at Ludlow 2m NH flat (5) gs in Mar.
