tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway on wide outside entering straight, outpaced 3 out, weakened after next
in touch, chased leader 5 out, lost place 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression before last
mid-division on inside, chased leaders under pressure before 3 out, weakened from next
mistake 1st, behind, headway under pressure 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on from last, never near leaders
tracked leaders, hit 6th, ridden to chase leading pair 3 out, stayed on to go 10 lengths 2nd last, no chance with winner
held up in touch on outside, smooth headway 4 out, went 2nd next, led 2 out, 10 lengths clear last, easily
in touch on inside, outpaced 4 out, no impression when ridden after 2 out, soon weakened
led, hit and headed 2nd, tracked leader, lost place 5 out, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
behind, mistake 2nd, struggling 8th, never dangerous
mid-division, hit 5th, weakened before 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
with leader, led 2nd, driven after 3 out, hard pressed when blundered and headed next, soon no chance with winner, 10 lengths down when lost 2nd last
mid-division, jumped right from 7th, soon struggling, behind from 4 out
A number of these contested the Grand Annual at Cheltenham with Tanks For That coming out best ahead of Kumbeshwar, De Boitron, Astracad, Tara Royal and Kid Cassidy, with both FREE WORLD and Oiseau De Nuit failing to complete. The top weight was raised 6lb for that effort, however, whereas both De Boitron and Arthur Moore's Irish raider have been eased slightly in the weights. The latter was travelling ominously well when coming to grief at the top of the hill at Cheltenham and is starting to look very well handicapped on his old form. He could be the value here if David Casey can nurse him round. Silk Drum won this last year for a different trainer but has been largely below par this term, though did finish ahead of Takeroc at Doncaster last month and the latter continues to get little respite from the handicapper. Ruby Walsh prefers stablemate Edgardo Sol, who scraped home over C&D in October but has been confined to hurdles since. Echo Bob won at Wexford last month but has a lot more on his plate here.
Tanks For That (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) With leaders, challenged 3 out, led next, 3 lengths clear last, ridden flat, kept on until headed and no extra final 75 yards, 2nd of 21, 2 1/4l behind Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 14-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, in touch when brought down 5 out, in a race won by Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 21 ran.
Kumbeshwar 16-1 (10-8) With leader, led 6th, hard pressed 3 out, blundered and headed next, kept on same pace, lost 2nd after last, no impression with leading pair flat, 3rd of 21, 9l behind Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Takeroc (FR) 3-1fav (11-5) Held up in touch in 4th, went 3rd over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Ultimate (10-6) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Mar.
Kid Cassidy (IRE) 4-1fav (10-9) Mistake 1st, mid-division on inside, outpaced 4 out, never on terms, weakened and eased 2 out, 12th of 21, 36l behind Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Astracad (FR) 11-2 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, kept on under pressure approaching last, never near leaders, 7th of 21, 18l behind Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Edgardo Sol (FR) 25-1 (10-6) Behind, headway after 2 out, 4th and effort when not fluent last, ridden and stayed on flat, went 2nd near finish, not reached winner, 2nd of 26, 3/4l behind Alderwood (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Tara Royal 25-1 (10-0) Mid-division, blundered 10th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden after next, beaten when mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 21, 32l behind Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Silk Drum (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, led last(omitted 5 out), ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Ultimate (10-6) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Mar.
De Boitron (FR) 14-1 (9-9) Mid-division, driven 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, never near leaders, 6th of 21, 15l behind Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Free World (FR) 25-1 (10-0) Mid-division, 7th when fell 5 out, in a race won by Bellvano (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 21 ran.
Echo Bob (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Made all, ridden on long run-in, strongly pressed 1f out, veered left under pressure inside final furlong, won at Wexford 2m nov hcp hdl 80-109 sft in Mar beating Galzig (10-12) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Song Sung Blue (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) In touch, mistake 16th, headway next, with leader 18th, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 10, 17l behind Dover's Hill (11-11) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
