always in touch, driven along from 3 out, one pace 2 out, stayed on flat
held up, mistake 3rd, not much room on bend on inside approaching 5th, always in rear
led until after 1st, lost place after 2nd, behind from 5th
led after 1st, driven along after 4th, 3 lengths clear from 3 out, clear approaching last, ran on under pressure flat
mid-division, headway when not fluent 5th, soon ridden, chased winner last, no impression, lost 2nd near finish
in touch, lost place 3rd, bumped on inside on bend approaching 5th, ridden, stayed on approaching last, not troubled leaders
held up, headway approaching 3 out, 5th 2 out, no impression approaching last
chased leaders until ridden and lost place approaching 3 out, soon no impression
held up in touch, pushed along after 2nd, lost place, struggling 4th, soon behind
mid-division, lost place when blundered 3rd, never dangerous
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, hit 5th, chased winner approaching 3 out, lost 2nd when not fluent last, weakened flat
mid-division, ridden along after 5th, never going pace to get on terms
held up, headway 3 out, ran on flat to take 2nd near finish
soon behind
chased leaders, driven along 3rd, gradually lost place, struggling when mistake 5th
held up, mistake 2nd, headway 5th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, never on terms
chased leaders, lost place, outpaced approaching 5th, stayed on again approaching last, not on terms with leaders
held up, headway from 2 out, stayed on flat, never nearer
held up towards rear, blundered 3rd, no progress from 3 out
in rear, behind from 5th
soon chasing leader, lost 2nd approaching 3 out, slightly outpaced before 2 out, stayed on from last
took keen hold in rear, headway on outside approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, weakened after
never better than mid-division
Day one can end on a high for Alan King, whose Pouvoir is taken to foil the bonus bid of Gaspara, with Pancake, Altilhar and Silver Jaro all worth a mention at least. The popular choice here will undoubtedly be David Pipe's ex-French filly Gaspara who set connections up for the big bonus after landing Saturday's Imperial Cup at Sandown, and with just a 4lb penalty, she has obvious claims. However, she did take a long time to get going before eventually putting matters to rest, and it could well be that those recent exertions will find her out. With that in mind we prefer the claims of Pouvoire who was thought good enough to warrant an entry in the Supreme Novices's Hurdle, and indeed Friday's Triumph. This looks by far the best option though, judged on his demolition job over seven rivals at Kempton in January, and a break since will have done him the world of good. Rated on 124, as were the two previous winners of this event, he is the main hope of King's trio. Stablemate King's Revenge has a good chance of making the frame at least on his Haydock second to Grand Bleu, but Risk Runner looks held by Pancake on Newbury form. The latter has since been well and truly put in his place by King's big Triumph hope Katchit in a Grade 2 contest here in January, but bounced back by destroying some much inferior rivals at Warwick next time. He needs to find a few pounds to beat the selection, as do the likes of Altilhar and Silver Jaro. We wish Jim Culloty the best of luck with Madroos, who holds fellow Irish raider Belord on a line through Duty, but we return to Pouvoir as the pick, in receipt of 6lb from Gaspara.
Zilcash 7-1 (10-7) In touch, weakened after 3 out, 6th and beaten when fell * out in race won by Wichita Lineman (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan, 11 ran.
Ned Ludd (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Led, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, every chance last, 3rd and held when not much room near finish, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Mountain (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Pancake (FR) 2-5fav (11-3) Made all, clear 2 out, easily, won at Warwick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Freddies Return (11-3) by 15l, 10 ran.
Gaspara (FR) 11-4fav (10-5) Mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, headway to track leading pair 2 out, led last, ridden clear flat, won at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) hvy beating Flying Falcon (10-10) by 6l, 17 ran.
Laustra Bad (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, headway approaching 5th, ridden 2 out, led last, kept on, won at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Marodima (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Junior 9-2 (10-7) Chased leader, ridden along from 4th, kept on one pace from 3 out, 5th of 17, 33l behind Osana (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Jayo (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders 5th 3 out, ridden in moderate 3rd when fell in race won by Duty (10-8) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb, 13 ran.
Warne's Way (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not jump well, lost place 5th, 5th of 10, 17l behind Safari Adventures (11-3) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Supsonic 7-1 (11-8) Chased leader, ridden and not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 32l behind Grand Bleu (11-8) at Haydock 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
King's Revenge 2-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 15l behind Grand Bleu (11-8) at Haydock 2m 4yo nov hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Pouvoir (FR) 7-4 (10-12) In touch, headway after 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, not fluent last, easily, won at Kempton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Prince Ary (11-4) by 14l, 8 ran.
Deputy Consort (USA) 9-2 (11-4) Held up, progress into 7th before 3 out, soon no extra, 6th of 15, 38l behind J'y Vole (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl hvy in Feb.
Altilhar (USA) 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, stayed on from 3 out, ran on strongly to lead close home, won at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in Jan beating Laustra Bad (11-5) by a hd, 14 ran.
Gracechurch (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and beaten after 3 out, 4th and no chance when mistake 2 out, 4th of 6, well behind Punjabi (11-2) at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Madroos 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd and ridden before 2 out, moderate 4th straight, kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 14l behind Convincing (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Silver Jaro (FR) 4-7fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader after 3 out, led last, ridden out, won at Warwick 2m 4yo mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan beating Stumped (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 17 ran.
Belord (GER) 9-1 (11-7) Prominent, led before 3rd, soon clear with 2nd, headed between last 2, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 2nd of 17, 6l behind Duty (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m mdn hdl hvy in Feb.
Celtic Warrior (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Led, headed and weakened 3 out, 8th of 15, 44l behind J'y Vole (11-2) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl hvy in Feb.
Jack Absolute (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Always behind, last of 10, well behind Kazal (11-10) at Naas 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Stumped 5-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, led approaching 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on, won at Chepstow 2m 4yo mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb beating Darusso (11-0) by 8l, 8 ran.
Markington 7-2 (11-4) Chased leading pair until outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Paradi (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Midnight Traveller 16-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, mainly moderate 3rd, closed from before 3 out, lost place straight, 6th of 17, 13l behind Duty (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m mdn hdl hvy in Feb.
Shazand (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Settled 6th, bad mistake 4 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression, one paced, 6th of 9, 22l behind Convincing (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Risk Runner (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Chased winner, effort 2 out, kept on for clear 2nd but no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 17l behind Pancake (11-5) at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
