chased leaders, hit 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and weakened before the last
held up towards rear, headway on wide outside approaching 2 out, keeping but still plenty to approaching last, kept on run-in, went 3rd near finish
chased leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, pushed along and lost 2nd 2 out, weakened between last two
always towards rear, never involved
chased leaders, weakened 3 out
never better than mid-division, lost place before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
never better than mid-division, driven and weakened after 4 out
held up in mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders before 2 out, 2nd 2 out, closed under pressre last, ridden into narrow lead run-in, joined post
held up towards raer, headway approaching and hit 2 out, went 3rd under pressure between last two, no impression and dropped to 4th towards finish
chased leader until pushed along before 4 out, chased leaders, weakened after next
hit 1st, towards rear, mistake last, plugged on run-in
always towards rear
towards rear, some late minor headway, never on terms
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, ridden soon after 2 out, weakened soon after
held up towards rear, tailed off and pulled up 4 out
held up in mid-division, some headway on inside before 2 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened
led and set strong pace, ridden and narrowly headed run-in, rallied to force a dead heat on line
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, plugged on run-in
held up in mid-division, headway tracking leaders before hit 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, weakened between last two, hit last
mid-division, pushed along approaching 4 out, progress 2 out, driven hung right and weakened between last two
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, chased leaders between last two, weakened approaching last
A typically-competitive renewal of this Grade 3 handicap. Gordon Elliott has had big-priced winners in this in two of the last three years so Vercingetorix is definitely worth a second look as he can probably be forgiven an error-strewn run at Fairyhouse last month. The Irish hold a strong hand overall with Willie Mullins saddling Clonmel winner Noble Inn and Renneti. The latter was just behind Noel Meade's Waxies Dargle when fourth in the Greatwood at Cheltenham last month but ahead of subsequent Sandown second Devilment, who appears to have the beating of the Paul Nicholls' pair Vicenzo Mio and Some Plan. Eddie Harty runs Punchestown winner Sort It Out, who was second in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, while Winner Massagot looked a progressive sort when beating Rayvin Black here on his reappearance. Only a nose separated Unanimite and JOLLY'S CRACKED IT behind Nabucco in a Listed contest over track and trip at the end of October and the pair meet on identical terms today. But there are grounds for thinking that Harry Fry's charge can reverse that form today as he was a little fresh on his reappearance. He gets the vote ahead of in-form stablemate Presenting Arms, though Chepstow third Hurricane Hollow is no forlorn hope along with Dan Skelton's other runner Zarib. However, Sternrubin would need to improve again to complete the hat-trick.
Devilment 13-2 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, challenged and every chance last, chased winner run-in, no extra and held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-11) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Renneti (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Reluctant start, behind, headway under pressure after 2 out, chased leaders last, ridden and stayed on into 4th flat, no impression, 4th of 17, 7 1/4l behind Old Guard (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Three Kingdoms (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, jumped slowly 2nd, went left next, dropped to rear 4th, headway before the last, stayed on into modest 4th in closing stages, 4th of 11, 13l behind Winner Massagot (10-4) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Sgt Reckless 9-2jfav (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 6th, pushed along after 3 out, 4th when blundered and weakened next, 7th of 12, dist behind Cold March (11-4) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Sort It Out (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, improved to lead 2 out, soon ridden, strongly pressed after last, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp sft in May beating Arbre De Vie (11-6) by 1l, 22 ran.
Waxies Dargle 7-1 (10-10) In touch, headway to lead narrowly after 2 out, hard pressed last, ridden and headed flat, well held in 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 17, 6l behind Old Guard (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Noble Inn (FR) 8-11fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, travelled well to lead 2 out, soon asserted and stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Clonmel 2m hvy in Nov beating Hostile Fire (11-9) by 6l, 8 ran.
Jolly's Cracked It (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Soon held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, driven and hung right approaching last, kept on run-in, almost snatched 2nd, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Nabucco (10-5) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Some Plan (IRE) 10-3fav (11-7) Held up in last trio, headway approaching 2 out, every chance when hit 2 out, weakened run-in, 5th of 10, 9 1/4l behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-11) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Rayvin Black 8-1 (11-1) Led, pushed clear before 2 out until ridden between last two, slightly hampered by loose horse approaching the last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Winner Massagot (10-4) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Hurricane Hollow 20-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway 4 out, challenging when not fluent 2 out, soon led, headed last, one pace flat, 3rd of 17, 4 1/4l behind Court Minstrel (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Presenting Arms (IRE) 1-2fav (11-11) Took keen hold tracking leaders, led briefly 3 out, led again approaching next, in command between last two, stumbled last, kept on, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Ryeolliean (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Unanimite (FR) 12-1 (10-5) Held up last, headway approaching 2 out, disputing 2nd when blundered last, kept on into outright 2nd inside final 150 yards, not reach winner, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Nabucco (10-5) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Vercingetorix (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Towards rear, not fluent 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon pushed along, headway on inner from before straight, soon no impression,, 9th of 15, 26 3/4l behind Blue Hell (10-12) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp Soft - Heavy in Nov.
Bidourey (FR) 16-1 (10-10) Tracked leader, driven and lost place when not much room after 2 out, weakened flat, 12th of 17, 20 1/4l behind Old Guard (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Winner Massagot (FR) 7-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway travelling well after 3 out, 2nd on bit 2 out, switched left approaching last, ridden to lead run-in, soon clear, won at Ascot 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Rayvin Black (11-1) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Sternrubin (GER) 4-1 (11-1) Made all, clear until given breather before 3 out, driven and clear again final 150 yards, stayed on, won at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Nov beating John Constable (11-10) by 4l, 7 ran.
Zarib (IRE) 3-1fav (10-4) Took keen hold, held up in 5th, headway into 3rd 2 out, no impression on leading duo before the last, kept on same pace run-in, almost snatched 3rd but never any chance with impressive winner, 3rd of 8, 7 1/4l behind Irving (11-10) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Galizzi (USA) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, tracked leaders 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden before omitted last, stayed on to chase winner flat, no impression, 2nd of 20, 2 1/4l behind A Hare Breath (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Vicenzo Mio (FR) 5-1 (10-8) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out where slightly hampered, driven before last, slight stumble last, went 3rd run-in, kept on, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-11) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Song Light 14-1 (11-6) Held up in 6th, closed before 3 out, outpaced before next, soon weakened, last of 7, 29 1/2l behind Sternrubin (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
