mid-division, headway on outside approaching 6th, challenging 2 out, soon ridden, outpaced before last, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 3 out, challenging after flight, led, went left and hit 2 out, headed when mistake last, stayed on same pace flat
in rear, behind 6th, tailed off
held up towards rear, pushed along 6th, losing touch next, tailed off
in touch, lost place on inside when hit 6th, pushed along, progress when not fluent 3 out, ridden and switched right after 2 out, ran on to take 2nd flat, not troubled winner
held up towards rear, pushed along after 7th, headway approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, 5th and beaten when hit last
held up, went handy 4th, chased leader after 7th, not much room when hit 2 out, weakened soon after
mid-division, in touch from 4th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, regained lead when not fluent last, ran on well
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 5th, struggling when mistake 7th, tailed off
led, hit 3rd, soon headed, led after next, headed when hit 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, well behind when blundered 2 out, tailed off
prominent, ridden 3 out, soon beaten, weakened before next
raced keenly, led after 1st, headed after next, dropped to rear before 5th, blundered 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, ridden after 3 out, beaten after 2 out, weakening when mistake last
raced keenly, prominent, chased leader approaching 3rd, led 6th, headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out
DIAMOND HARRY has fulfilled his promise this year and should round off a fantastic season with festival success but the impressive Mad Max won't lie down without a fight and Karabak is also a danger. The selection has held his bumper form to go undefeated over hurdles this season and although the margins of victory have been diminishing the formlines look strong as he fended off a top Alan King hope in Bensalem last time. He loves it at Cheltenham and should be the one to beat. Mad Max is also undefeated including in two starts over timber. His last time out success over a subsequent easy winner was impressive and although he has 10lbs to find according to the official ratings he will be right in contention. Karabak is the closely matched with the pick on the ratings and has looked really progressive since losing out to Mad Max on his debut over hurdles in November. He's destroyed some promising types in both starts since and looks ripe and ready for the festival. Mikael D'haguenet has been nothing if not impressive in graded company in Ireland and another who is unbeaten this term. The form from those outings is perhaps not as strong as those runners we've mentioned already but under Ruby Walsh he should be heavily involved. A top renewal this with Diamond Harry the selection to take it on a curse he loves.
China Rock (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mainly 3rd, improved to close 2nd 6 out, led after 4 out, ridden and challenged 2 out, narrowly headed before last, upsides when left in lead and well clear last, won at Cork 2m 2f hdl gs in Jan beating Baltiman (11-12) b.
Diamond Harry 8-15fav (11-12) Raced wide, tracked leaders, switched to inside on bend after 2 out, soon ridden, led flat, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Bensalem (11-12) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Dorset Square (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Always towards rear, 10th of 13, 35l behind An Cathaoir Mor (10-5) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 0-130 sft in Feb.
Junior 5-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders approaching next, went 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 17l behind Cape Tribulation (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Karabak (FR) 5-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden clear last, won at Ascot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan beating Kangaroo Court (11-5) by 14l, 13 ran.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) In touch, chased leaders 2 out, smooth headway to lead last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Wendel (11-9) by 27l, 6 ran.
Mad Max (IRE) 4-5fav (11-5) Took keen hold, held up in mid-division, steady headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, hit last, ridden and kept on well flat, won at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Pause And Clause (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Mikael D'haguenet (FR) 4-11fav (11-9) Made virtually all, strongly pressed approaching 2 out, drew clear before last, stayed on strongly, impressive, won at Punchestown 2m nov hdl Grd 2 hvy in Feb beating Donnas Palm (11-1) by 7l, 5 ran.
Quartetto (GER) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, headway to 3rd before 4 out, 2nd before straight, improved to lead before 3 out, stretched clear after 2 out, mistake last, easily, won at Navan 2m mdn hdl hvy in Dec beating Garamor Boy (11-0) by 11l, 27 ran.
Quwetwo 1-10fav (11-8) Made all, unchallenged, hit 3rd, jumped left last, won at Ayr 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Maxwellton Braes (11-2) by 5l, 10 ran.
Realt Dubh (IRE) 9-10fav (11-6) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, 3rd halfway, improved 3 out and soon led, clear after 2 out, ridden approaching last where briefly pressed, kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m hdl sft in Feb beating Otay Kawn (11-7) by 4l, 8 ran.
Richard The Third 50-1 (11-1) Pulled hard, headway to lead 2nd, jumped right next, mistake 4th, jumped right 3 out, soon headed, weakening when mistake 2 out, 5th of 9, 21l behind Hot Diamond (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (5) gd.
The Nightingale (FR) 1-4fav (10-12) Made all, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov beating Patsy Finnegan (10-7) by 12l, 7 ran.
Ruthenoise (FR) 3-1 (10-10) Closed up, well held in 3rd, when left 2nd last, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Quaspia (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mrs nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
