mistake 1st, held up in rear, blundered 4 out, headway and chasing leaders when bumped and stumbled 2 out, fought on inside and beaten when blundered last
took keen hold in mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, headway approaching 3 out, upsides winner 2 out, about 1 length down and ridden last, unable to quicken run-in, lost 2nd final 100 yards
chased leaders, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 3 out
took keen hold, tracked leaders until weakened 3 out
behind, no chance when blundered 3 out
chased winner, not fluent 3rd, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened between last 2
took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, disputing 6 lengths 6th and beaten when fell last
made virtually all, jumped right 5th, strong lead pressed from 2 out, stayed on gamely under pressure run-in
chased leaders, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again run-in
always rear, struggling and mistake 5th, soon lost touch
never reached beyond mid-division, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway and ridden after 3 out, unable to quicken 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in
held up in mid-division, mistake 2nd, chased leading pair and mistake 2 out, edged left carried head high but stayed on run-in to take 2nd final 150 yards
always in rear, lost touch before 6th
Aran Concerto was described by his trainer as 'possibly the best I've had' even before he had been seen on a racecourse and, highly impressive on his last three runs, he could take all the beating although fellow Irish raider Catch Me and Paul Nicholls' Silverburn will certainly be no pushovers. AP McCoy has come in for the plum spare ride on the favourite after usual jockey Paul Carberry suffered a recent injury and the champion jockey should go very close. A winner over two and a half miles on very testing ground at Navan, the extra furlong today should be no problem for the six-year-old gelding, and with the stable emerging from a quiet period with two winners and two places in March, his prospects appear very solid. A slightly unknown quantity is Catch Me who was travelling as well as the selection last time out in the Deloitte at Leopardstown when he was hampered and unshipped his rider. He looked full of running and as a winner over two miles on the flat, the step up in trip today may just play to his strengths. Silverburn won the Tolworth Hurdle in smart fashion back in early January. However that may not have been a vintage renewal of the race (second and third well-beaten since), and it may not be too surprising if Charlie Mann's My Turn Now was to feature today. He fell when chasing Silverburn and may even have won and so at almost twice the odds of Paul Nicholl's charge, he makes more appeal. Duc De Regniere disposed of the potentially smart Osana with little fuss last time out and is unexposed so could be the joker in the pack, whilst Tidal Bay's trainer Howard Johnson won this with No Refuge two years ago and has a live outsider today. Second in the Aintree bumper last year, his six-year-old has only been beaten over hurdles by Wichita Lineman (favourite for the Brit Insurance) and should run a big race today. Noel Meade won this contest with Nicanor last year and he holds the trump card with Aran Concerto today, and his undoubtedly talented stable star gets the nomination.
Aran Concerto (IRE) 4-6fav (11-10) Moderate 2nd, took closer order before 4 out, left in lead 2 out, ridden clear approaching last, eased run-in, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Feb beating Leading Run (11-10) by 3l, 4 ran.
Battlecry 20-1 (10-12) Led until 2nd, tracked leader, led 7th, headed soon after 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 15, 4l behind Duc De Regniere (11-5) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Catch Me (GER) 5-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, took closer order after halfway, in touch when hampered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Aran Concerto (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Feb, 4 ran.
Duc De Regniere (FR) 11-8fav (11-5) In touch, went 2nd 3 out, led soon after next, comfortably, won at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Battlecry (10-12) by 4l, 15 ran.
Foligold (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Chased leaders in 4th, pushed along 4 out, lost place next, 6th 2 out, headway straight, 3rd last, stayed on under pressure, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Kazal (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Jan.
Hot Port (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, 6th 4 out, 5th after 3 out, 3rd and challenged after 2 out, 2nd and no impression before last, weakened run-in, 7th of 18, 10l behind Jet Propelled (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-123 sft in Jan.
Imperial Commander (IRE) 11-10fav (10-12) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, led before 3 out, drew clear from next, won at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Jass (10-9) by 19l, 18 ran.
Johnnie Dillinger (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, 4th 5 out, ridden in moderate 5th 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind You Sir (11-8) at Limerick 2m 3f hdl sft in Dec.
Massini's Maguire (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, soon joined, ridden and headed last, one pace and soon lost 2nd, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Wichita Lineman (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
My Turn Now (IRE) 8-13fav (11-7) Always prominent, led 4 out, shaken up approaching 2 out, ran on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Lightning Strike (10-7) by 8l, 8 ran.
Santando 5-1 (10-9) Prominent, ridden approaching 7th, weakened before 3 out, 10th of 12, 25l behind Rio De Janeiro (10-7) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Scotsirish (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Close up, 3rd halfway, slightly hampered after 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m mdn hdl sft in Jan beating Cobham (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 24 ran.
Silverburn (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up behind leaders, headway after 3 out, led next, soon ridden, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Jan beating Perce Rock (11-7) by 4l, 7 ran.
Tidal Bay (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Took keen hold, held up, steady headway 3 out, chased leading pair after 2 out, went 2nd soon after last, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Wichita Lineman (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Raslan 6-4fav (11-0) Prominent, lost place 5th, rallied 2 out, kept on to go 2nd flat, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Jericho III (10-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
