held up towards rear, mistake 7th, pushed along after 4 out, effort to chase leaders next, outpaced home turn, 6th and no impression when mistake 2 out, weakened after, mistake last
mostly in touch in mid-division until closed 13th, led 3 out, headed after 2 out, slightly checked after last, switched right, 3rd and held after, kept on
tracked leaders, lost place after 2nd, headway 12th, not fluent 14th, ridden and not able to go with leaders before 2 out, no extra
held up towards rear, slow 2nd, headway before 3 out, soon ridden, no impression on leaders from 2 out
held up in rear on inside, headway 3 out, every chance home turn, beaten from 2 out, no extra
tracked leaders on inside, lost place 14th, last 4 out, well behind next
towards rear, struggling in last 7th, behind 9th, pulled up before 13th
tracked leaders, stumbled just after 4 out, challenged 3 out, led after next, headed soon after last, stayed on, held towards finish
led until 4th, stayed handy, slow 5th, lost place before 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
in touch in mid-division, headway from 4 out, challenged last, soon led, driven and edged right flat, holding 2nd towards finish, stayed on well
prominent until fell 6th
slowly away, behind until closed 3rd, led next, headed 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
Santini has had to overcome several setbacks to get here and that is a worry. He never looked like picking off the leaders in the Kauto Star at Kempton last time and eventually finished two lengths behind TOPOFTHEGAME. Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old is still a maiden over the larger obstacles but had run a remarkable race at Exeter earlier when second to the smart Defi Du Seuil over a trip too short having lost 20 lengths at the start. He’s a proven stayer and this is usually an end-to-end gallop. Delta Work easily landed the odds in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown in December, beating Mortal eight lengths. He’d beaten the much-vaunted Le Richebourg in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse earlier and won the Pertemps Final over hurdles at this meeting last year so looks a big threat. Mister Malarky appeared to have plenty in hand when beating Now Mcginty and Top Ville Ben in the Reynoldstown at Ascot and shouldn’t be underestimated but Kempton winner On The Blind Side may need more time. The Worlds End beat Now Mcginty at Chepstow in the autumn and won later on the New Course here but was a long way behind the principals in the Kauto Star when last seen.
Count Meribel 7-1 (11-3) Led until not fluent and headed 7th, in front again before 12th, headed when mistake 2 out, soon lost 2nd, ridden and weakened between last 2, last of 4, 22 1/2l behind Vinndication (11-0) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Dec.
Delta Work (FR) 8-15fav (11-10) Towards rear, slight mistake 1st, hampered 5th, some headway after 7th and 3rd halfway, slight mistake 10th, progress to lead 3 out, edged right approaching last, ridden to assert run-in and drew clear closing stages, won at Leopardstown 3m (1) gd in Dec beating Mortal (11-10) by 8l, 7 ran.
Drovers Lane (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Prominent until 1st, chased leaders, closed 8th, challenged next, led 10th, pecked 3 out, 3 lengths ahead last, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f (2) gd in Dec beating Le Breuil (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Mister Malarky 7-2 (11-0) Held up in 4th place, closer tracking leading pair soon after 3 out, went between horses to lead going well 2 out, 3 lengths clear last, idled run-in, driven out, won at Ascot 3m (1) gs in Feb beating Now Mcginty (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Mortal (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders disputing 3rd, went 2nd 3 out, disputed 2nd entering straight, soon ridden, 4th at last, no impression, last of 6, 10 3/4l behind La Bague Au Roi (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 5f (1) gd in Feb.
Now Mcginty (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Chased leader, led after 8th until 11th, chased leader until approaching 14th, chased leading pair until after 3 out, rallied under pressure next, went 2nd and kept on run-in, not reach idling winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Mister Malarky (11-0) at Ascot 3m (1) gs in Feb.
On The Blind Side (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Chased leading pair, went 2nd before 12th, led 14th, joined 2 out, shaken up and asserted last, came clear run-in, won at Kempton 3m (4) gs in Jan beating Talkischeap (11-6) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Santini 11-10fav (11-7) In touch, headway 13th, ridden after 4 out, kept on one paced from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind La Bague Au Roi (11-0) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
The Worlds End (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Soon in rear, no danger after halfway, 6th of 7, dist behind La Bague Au Roi (11-0) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Topofthegame (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) In touch, headway 10th, led 3 out, soon ridden, headed last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind La Bague Au Roi (11-0) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Top Ville Ben (IRE) 11-5fav (11-0) Tended to jump left, led until 8th, pressed leader, led again 11th until 3 out, chased leader until ridden approaching 2 out, weakened after 2 out, lost modest 4th towards finish, last of 5, 16 3/4l behind Mister Malarky (11-0) at Ascot 3m (1) gs in Feb.
Drinks Interval 11-4 (10-12) Pressed leader, hit 7th, lost 2nd 5 out, well beaten 3rd from next, 3rd of 5, dist behind Lady Buttons (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 5f lst (1) gd in Dec.
