held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway 4 out, hampered after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 10th, hit 3 out, headed next, slow and beaten last, weakened flat
mistakes, always behind
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, ridden before 2 out, weakening when mistake last
prominent, lost place 4th, well behind 9th, pulled up before 4 out
led, not fluent 6th (water) or 7th, headed 10th, weakened after 3 out, eased and pulled up before 2 out
raced keenly, in touch in mid-division, effort 4 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on flat
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd last, stayed on, not trouble winner
in touch in mid-division, mistake 1st, closed 5th, lost place 4 out, rallied 2 out, went 3rd from last, stayed on
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, led going well after 2 out, mistake last, stayed on, ridden out
held up in mid-division, headway after 3 out, driven from 2 out, kept on flat
always in rear
chased leaders, driven before 2 out, weakened before last
prominent, pecked 3 out, soon outpaced, no impression after
held up in mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, kept on flat but no impression
chased leaders, led when stumbled 2 out, soon headed, weakened final 150 yards
held up in rear, mistake 3 out, headway last, stayed on flat, never nearer
held up towards rear, headway after 8th, weakened before last
NonRunner
NonRunner
Another impossible-looking handicap but penalised Doncaster winner Gino Trail was pulled up last year and Marracudja could only finish eighth. Last year’s winner Croco Bay is 5lb higher and became a teenager at the start of 2020. Capeland has faced some stiff tasks since winning off a 10lb lower mark at Ascot in November but Paul Nicholls also runs the unexposed novice Greaneteen, who is on a four-timer and probably the stable pick. Chosen Mate was successful last time at Gowran and Gordon Elliott also runs another recent winner in Eclair De Beaufeu while Rachael Blackmore prefers Jan Maat to Paloma Blue. Alan King saddles a couple of likely candidates in Ballywood and LISP (NAP). An early mistake unsettled the latter last time at Doncaster but he’d trounced a couple of previous winners at Plumpton earlier and remains unexposed over fences. He ran well for fifth in the County Hurdle on this day 12 months ago and looks fairly treated racing off a mark of 144.
Great Field (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Soon prominent, pressed leader at times, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra 2 out, pulled up before last, at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Marracudja (FR) 66-1 (11-7) Held up last, progress to take 3rd after 2 out, no impression on leading pair, 3rd of 5, 7 1/2l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f (1) hvy in Jan.
Capeland (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, lost place 4 out, behind from 3 out, last of 5, dist behind Defi Du Seuil (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f (1) hvy in Jan.
Paloma Blue (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, close 4th 3 out, ridden before last, disputed 2nd when slight mistake and bumped at last, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Eclair De Beaufeu (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Mcgroarty (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Chased leaders to 7th (water), behind from 9th, tailed off 3 out (usual 4 out), soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Gino Trail (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Made all, jumped right a few times, hit 5 out, clear from 2 out, stayed on most gamely, won at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) hvy in Feb beating Katpoli (10-1) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Greaneteen (FR) 2-5fav (11-8) Made all, shaken up approaching last, easily, won at Fakenham 2m (3) sft in Feb beating Champagne Mystery (11-3) by 5l, 3 ran.
Eclair De Beaufeu (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Rear of mid-division, headway 4 out, 5th next, ridden and headway to lead approaching last, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb beating Paloma Blue (11-10) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Us And Them (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th and slight mistake 7th, 5th 4 out, pushed along when slight mistake 2 out and rider lost iron, no extra, 8th of 14, dist behind Charlie Stout (10-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Chosen Mate (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, headway travelling well to dispute lead when left in front 3 out, went clear after 2 out, pushed out run-in, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Gowran Park 2m Soft - Heavy in Jan beating Capuccimix (11-12) by 11l, 9 ran.
Ballywood (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway after 3 out, 4th 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Northern Beau (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Winter Escape (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outside, closed 5th, lost place after 11th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Two Taffs (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 3 out, driven after 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 4 1/4l behind Clondaw Castle (11-7) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Croco Bay (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Chased throughout, ridden after last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Western Miller (10-11) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Lisp (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Led, hit 3rd, reached for 7th, joined 2 out, headed before the last, stayed on same pace in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Mister Fisher (11-3) at Doncaster 2m (1) gs in Jan.
Jan Maat (GER) 2-1 (11-1) Prominent, led from 1st, joined 3rd, soon headed, jumped slightly left 4th, left in lead with sole rival before 5th, jumped slightly left 2 out, soon pushed along, went on before last where slightly left again, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Punchestown 2m 3f (1) Yielding in Oct beating Cool Colonnade (11-5) by 7 1/2l, 4 ran.
Theinval (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, mistake 9th, behind 4 out, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
The Bay Birch (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, headway before 11th, not fluent 13th, left 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 20l behind Springtown Lake (10-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Caid Du Lin (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leading trio, mistake and unseated rider 4th, at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Adrrastos (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Made all, driven clear before 2 out, ridden between last 2, in no danger after, eased towards finish, comfortably, won at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Solar Impulse (11-2) by 4l, 6 ran.
