soon mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before next, never reached leaders, weakened flat
hit 1st, in touch, driven to chase leaders when left 3rd 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, not reach front pair
in touch on outside, mistake 3rd, tracked leaders 3 out, driven and one pace before next, soon ridden and no impression, weakened after last
led, driven when hard pressed after 3 out, narrow advantage when fell heavily next
always behind
tracked leader, challenged on inside after 3 out, left in narrow lead next, ridden and hit last, soon headed, rallied to regain lead flat, stayed on well towards finish
behind, headway under pressure 3 out, ridden and kept on after last, never reached leaders
in touch on inside, headway 3 out, challenging when left 2nd next, led after last, ridden and headed flat, kept on, no extra towards finish
tracked leaders, close up when blundered badly and unseated rider 10th
always behind
never better than mid-division, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, hampered 10th, headway before 3 out, chased leaders when hampered next, soon one pace, ridden and kept on flat, no impression
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to press for 3rd flat, no impression with front pair
tracked leaders, effort after 3 out, ridden and disputing 4th when fell next
mid-division on inside, blundered 5th, headway 12th, blundered 4 out, soon lost place, weakened after next
mid-division, headway under pressure 3 out, chased leaders when hampered next, one pace and no impression when blundered last
in touch, hampered and lost place 10th, headway after 4 out, chased leaders on outside 2 out, never on terms, weakened flat
towards rear on outside, headway into mid-division 8th, lost place 4 out, tailed off when mistake next, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, pushed along before 3 out, soon lost place, weakened next
mid-division, hampered and dropped towards rear 8th, struggling 12th, never able to get involved
tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened before last
mid-division on outside, fell 8th
mistake 2nd, towards rear, hampered 8th, struggling before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
NonRunner
Death Duty runs in his first handicap. A dual Grade 1 winner, he should be approaching peak fitness after a couple of runs this season and is potentially well treated. La Bague Au Roi is a fascinating runner as she ran a solid race in last month’s Irish Gold Cup. She did finish behind Happy Diva in a mares’ race at Doncaster earlier, however, and is a pound worse off with November’s Betvictor Gold Cup winner. SIMPLY THE BETTS (NAP) steps out of novice company for the first time but jumped superbly when successful here in January and the runner-up was an impressive winner here on Tuesday – he may well go on to better things. Another novice, Deyrann de Carjac, could go well at a price and Oldgrangewood is on a hat-trick and in the form of his life, though it would be no surprise if Mister Whitaker reversed the form of their run together here in January on better terms. Mick Channon’s charge has won three times around here, including at this meeting two years ago. He can be forgiven his run in the Cotswold Chase last time as he doesn’t stay 3m. Ben Dundee ran over hurdles after finishing second at Navan and looks to have been laid out for this so is much respected.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Chased leader, closer in 3rd halfway, pushed along entering straight, no impression when slow 2 out, no extra, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 19 1/4l behind Chris's Dream (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb.
Mister Whitaker (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up, pecked 4 out, effort on outside when pecked 3 out, soon weakened, very tried when pulled up flat, at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Death Duty (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Chased leader, slight mistake 2nd, 5th halfway, some headway after 4 out and 3rd approaching straight, pushed along and no impression before next, no extra from 2 out, 4th of 7, 29 1/4l behind Chris's Dream (11-8) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb.
Siruh Du Lac (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Led, headed narrowly 9th, with leader, pushed along after 3 out (usual 4 out), soon lost place, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Robin Des Foret (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) In rear, slight mistake 5th, slightly hampered 10th, headway 3 out, 9th on outer 2 out, headway into 2nd entering straight, ridden in 3rd bypassing last, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 24, 5 1/4l behind Glamorgan Duke (9-11) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Simply The Betts (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Led until 2nd, led 5th, headed before 3 out, led again after 2 out, driven flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Imperial Aura (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up rear of mid-division on inside, not fluent 8th, blundered 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on, held by winner towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Cepage (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Happy Diva (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-8) Always prominent, niggled along before 2 out, ridden and weakened flat, 4th of 8, 9 3/4l behind Domaine De L'Isle (10-13) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
La Bague Au Roi (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Led, joined 4th, headed 5th, dropped to 4th and mistake 4 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, no impression straight, 5th of 8, 13 1/2l behind Delta Work (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Kauto Riko (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway into 3rd 3 out (usual 5 out), tracked winner turning in, shaken up bypassing omitted 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, no chance after, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Definitly Red (11-4) at Kelso 2m 7f lst (1) hvy in Feb.
Vision Des Flos (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Bumped and stumbled 1st, chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 6th of 7, 36 1/2l behind Itchy Feet (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Feb.
Ben Dundee (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Settled behind leaders, 10th halfway, progress into 4th 2 out, ridden entering straight, no impression before last, kept on one pace, 7th of 25, 15 1/2l behind The Moyglass Flyer (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Dec.
Oldgrangewood 12-1 (10-7) Held up on inside, closed 3rd, went 2nd 2 out, led before and jumped right last, edged right on landing, edged right towards finish, soon headed, led again post, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan beating Saint Calvados (11-8) by ns, 12 ran.
Imperial Presence (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Led after 2nd, headed 3 out, beaten 2 out, plugged on, 5th of 13, 5 1/4l behind Warthog (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Deyrann de Carjac (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 7th, in touch when mistake 13th, ridden when left 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd towards finish, stayed on, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Midnight Shadow (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway on outside 4f out, close up 3f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, 2nd of 11, 2l behind All Hail Caesar (11-4) at Newcastle 2m (4) Slow in Feb.
Livelovelaugh (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Disputed lead early, headed 4th, soon tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, 13th of 18, dist behind Total Recall (11-4) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Charmant (FR) 16-1 (11-9) In touch, smooth headway to chase leaders 5 out, every chance when left in lead 3 out, clear next, easily, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Beau Bay (11-8) by 23l, 9 ran.
Highway One O One (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Blazer (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, progress 4 out, 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, 3rd entering straight, 4th bypassing last, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 24, 5 1/4l behind Glamorgan Duke (9-11) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Springtown Lake (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 13th, led and mistake 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Feb beating The Bay Birch (11-6) by 20l, 9 ran.
Royal Village (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, led 4 out, challenged after next, headed flat, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Copper West (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Not Another Muddle 11-8fav (11-12) Mistake 1st, raced keenly in rear, went 3rd at 4th, not fluent next, not much room on inside after 10th, chased leader after 4 out, led after next, soon ridden, headed flat, no extra near finish, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Romain De Senam (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Clondaw Castle (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 11th, challenging when not fluent 2 out, led before last, ridden clear flat, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Two Taffs (11-7) by 4 1/4l, 8 ran.
