held up in mid-division on outside, headway 9th, every chance 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, lost place before 2nd, outpaced 3 out, plugged on before last, went 5th flat, never dangerous
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 7th, close up 3 out, bumped before 2 out, weakened before last
led, not fluent 9th or 3 out, headed after 2 out, 3rd and no impression flat, one pace
chased leader until awkward 7th, soon ridden and starting to lose place, weakened 9th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, headway on inside 4 out, outpaced 3 out, rallied into 4th last, no impression flat
in touch in mid-division, not fluent 5th, closed after 7th, pushed along and every chance 3 out, not much room before 2 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, shaken up after 4 out, no impression, pulled up before 3 out
in rear, niggled along 6th, mistake 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, led and not fluent last, stayed on well, ridden out
not fluent 1st, held up in mid-division on inside, headway after 4 out, switched right before challenged going well 2 out, soon led, headed last, no impression on winner final 100 yards, kept on
The evergreen SIRE DU BERLAIS edged out Flooring Porter in this last year and again finished ahead of the former champion stayer at Cheltenham last month, coming with his customary late burst to overhaul the gallant Dashel Drasher. If he’s fully recovered from those exertions, the 11-year-old could collect another big prize though Home By The Lee did well to finish as close as he did at The Festival considering he almost came down on the first circuit. Champ was a well-beaten third last year but did win the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury earlier in the campaign when Proschema was pulled up. Marie's Rock never looked like repeating last year’s victory in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month but that was a very hot contest and she might just enjoy this step up in distance.
Brewin'upastorm (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) In touch, switched left approaching 2 out when short of room, soon led, hit last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gd in Feb beating Sceau Royal (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Champ (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Led, awkward 6th, quickened pace after 3 out, pushed along and joined next, ridden and headed last, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Paisley Park (11-7) at Kempton 3m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Dashel Drasher 40-1 (11-10) Tracked leader 1st, hit 8th, closer before 2 out, led before the last, went left last, hung right and stayed on gamely run-in, headed towards finish, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Sire Du Berlais (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Flooring Porter (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Soon led and mostly clear, reduced lead before 2 out, strongly pressed when went left and hit 2 out, hung left and headed before the last, lost 2nd at the last, hung left and weakened run-in, 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Sire Du Berlais (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Home By The Lee (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Led briefly, off the pace in 3rd, mistake and lost place 6th, rallied out wide 4 out, pushed along in 4th after 3 out, ridden out wide then switched left before the last, weakened run-in, 5th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Sire Du Berlais (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Meet And Greet (IRE) 10-3 (11-3) Tracked leaders, improved to dispute lead 3 out, soon ridden and strongly pressed, headed after last, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Blazing Khal (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
Monmiral (FR) 10-3 (11-7) Prominent on inside, led after 6th, headed next, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 26 1/2l behind Gerri Colombe (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.
Proschema (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up in last, not fluent 1st, pushed along before 2 out, kept on after last but never seriously involved, 4th of 5, 9 1/2l behind Brewin'upastorm (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gd in Feb.
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Held up off the pace in 5th, closer in 3rd at 6th, pushed along in 5th after 3 out, challenged on inside turning in, ridden disputing 2nd at the last, outright 2nd and stayed on dourly run-in, led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar beating Dashel Drasher (11-10) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Marie's Rock (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-5) Mid-division, raced keenly, closed after 4th, not fluent 3 out, outpaced from final bend, no impression in 6th last, 7th of 9, 15l behind Honeysuckle (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar.
