held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, 4th and outpaced by leaders when edged left before last, stayed on flat, unable to get in terms
held up towards rear, well beaten before 2 out, pulled up before last
held up in rear, some headway and 7th 2 out, never on terms and soon weakened
prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, hampered 6th, not fluent 4 out, weakened after next, pulled up before last
mid-division on outside, lost place 4th, reminder after next, hampered 8th, well behind 3 out, pulled up before next
in touch on outside, ridden after 6th, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before last
held up in touch on inside, lost place 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before last
always prominent, ridden and went upsides before last, edged left on landing, soon edged right, led final 75 yards, stayed on gamely
tracked leaders, not fluent 9th, weakened after 2 out
led, hit 8th, edged slightly right before last, headed final 75 yards, held towards finish
prominent, mistake and lost place 6th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, not clear run, hampered and switched left before last, 3 lengths off front pair at hurdle, rallied flat, unable to challenge
held up towards rear, fell 8th
mid-division, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened
behind, slow 3rd, plugged on before last, never in contention with leaders
in touch in mid-division, hampered and lost a few places 6th, hit next, soon ridden, well beaten after 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division on outside, headway approaching 7th, not fluent and lost place 9th, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway after 6th, pressing leaders before 2 out, weakened approaching last
Nonrunner
This looks wide-open but previous form over 3m is usually a pre-requisite and it's also been an advantage in recent years to have had experience of Cheltenham. Only a few fall into both categories so we'll concentrate on those. Willie Mullins has declared five and his Black Hercules will probably start favourite. His fourth in last year's Champion Bumper was a good effort considering the trip and he's been steadily improving over timber, making all in a Grade 3 over 3m at Cork in December. Blaklion was just caught by Caracci Apache in a Grade 2 at Doncaster in January but he'd won at that level here in December and his subsequent third to Parlour Games at Newbury in between has been franked. He looks a solid each-way choice as there will be no hanging about here and a few of these will have to prove they stay every inch of the trip if they are to get involved. A few favourites have won this in recent years but there have been just as many shock results and a win for DEFINITLY RED could be another. Brian Ellison's stayer was beaten by Native River over 2m6f on his hurdling debut at Newcastle but has left that form well behind since. He stayed on gamely to beat Fletcher's Flyer in a Grade 2 at Haydock last time and can confirm that form with the second, despite worse terms, as the quicker ground won't be a problem. Martello Tower boast very solid form in Ireland so may be the pick of the remainder, though we're probably yet to see the best of Value At Risk.
Arbre De Vie (FR) 11-10fav (11-10) In touch and keen, not fluent 5th, led before 2 out, soon clear, ran on well, won at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb beating Big Jim (11-4) by 11l, 10 ran.
Avant Tout (FR) 3-1 (11-8) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along and dropped to rear 2 out, no impression early straight, rallied and kept on into 4th run-in, 4th of 6, 5l behind Bentelimar (11-12) at Punchestown 2m lst nov hdl (4yo+) (1) sft in Feb.
Black Hercules (IRE) 4-7fav (11-0) Made all, pressed briefly and pushed along 2 out, stayed on well from before last, comfortably, won at Cork 3m nov hdl Grd 3 (1) hvy in Dec beating Alpha Des Obeaux (10-9) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Blaklion Evensfav (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden to chalenge between last 2, led last, hard pressed final 110 yards, kept on, headed near finish, 2nd of 6, hd behind Caracci Apache (11-7) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grade 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Caracci Apache (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced after 4 out, 3rd and ridden after next, one pace before last, hung left and ran on flat, led narrowly when collided with far side rail near finish, won at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grade 2 (1) gs in Jan beating Blaklion (11-7) by hd, 6 ran.
Carningli (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 5th, disputing 2nd after 7th, led before 4 out, clear when hit 3 out, mistake last, eased run-in, won at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb beating Special Agent (11-4) by 9l, 12 ran.
Definitly Red (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, ridden before last, led run-in, held on near finish, won at Haydock 3m nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Fletchers Flyer (11-7) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Kylemore Lough 13-8fav (11-3) Led, clear 7th, joined 2 out, headed between last two, rallied and chance last, held when edged left run-in, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 4l behind Different Gravey (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Listed nov hdl (1) sft in Feb.
Martello Tower (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, 3rd 3 out, improved to lead next, ridden and headed entering straight, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Outlander (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) in Jan.
Measureofmydreams (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Led and disputed early, led from 5th, ridden and narrowly headed before straight, no extra in 4th before 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 9, 11l behind Roi Des Francs (11-2) at Clonmel 2m 6f nov hdl Grd 3 (1) in Feb.
Milsean (IRE) 4-5fav (11-3) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, progress to lead after 4 out, not fluent next, 2 lengths lead and mistake last, headed run-in and no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Sub Lieutenant (11-3) at Thurles 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Native River (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Led until before 2nd, led before 3rd, ridden after 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f Listed nov hdl (1) gs in Feb beating Emerging Talent (11-3) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
No More Heroes (IRE) 11-8fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, slight mistakes 4th and 6th, went 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, no impression before last, 5th of 7, 7l behind Outlander (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) in Jan.
Out Sam 4-9fav (11-12) Held up in last pair, not fluent 3rd, headway tracking leading trio after 4th, pushed along on bend before 2 out, quickened between horses to lead before last, stayed on well run-in, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m 6f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (3) sft in Jan beating The Boss's Dream (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Shanroe Santos (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) Held up in touch, headway before 3 out, led 3 out, pressed after last, kept on well towards finish, won at Musselburgh 3m nh nov hdl (2) gd in Feb beating Uisge Beatha (11-10) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Shantou Bob (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, pushed along 7th, outpaced and not fluent 4 out or 3 out, no impression on leaders next, edged left and went 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Three Musketeers (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Tea For Two 4-9fav (11-8) Led but pressed, hit 6th, urged along before 2 out, ridden and wandered left briefly before last, good jump last, joined run-in, headed inside final 150 yards, kept on, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Arpege D'alene (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Thomas Brown 5-1 (11-12) Led, mistake 2 out, soon headed, rallied before last, edged right and led flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan beating Robinsfirth (11-8) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Value At Risk 11-10fav (11-9) Led until after 2nd, tracked leader, led 2 out, ridden and headed last, unable to quicken, stayed on and went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Ordo Ab Chao (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan.
Fletchers Flyer (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Led, pressed from 3 out, ridden before last, headed run-in, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Definitly Red (11-4) at Haydock 3m nov hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb.
