led until fell 2nd
not fluent 1st, always in rear, struggling 5th, tailed off 2 out
towards rear, some headway after 3 out, ridden before next, soon weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear on inside, headway after 3 out, outpaced after next, soon no impression
mid-division, hampered 2nd, tracked leaders 5th, in touch when stirrup leather broke and rider lost irons approaching 2 out, ridden and tried to challenge before last, soon no impression
raced keenly, towards rear, headway into mid-division 3rd, lost place next, tailed off after 3 out, refused last
in touch, joined leader 3rd, led narrowly 2 out, headed approaching last, ridden and kept on same pace flat
in touch, hampered 2nd, joined leaders next, ridden and still upsides before last, every chance when edged left flat, kept on, held when hung right towards finish
in touch, hampered and lost place 2nd, towards rear, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division on inside, outpaced after 3 out, kept on under pressure after next, never on terms
in touch, left in lead 2nd, joined next, headed 2 out, soon lost place and weakened, tailed off
in touch on outside, joined leaders 3rd, mistake next, lost place 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, ridden 2 out, kept on under pressure approaching last, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, headway 2 out, soon challenged, led narrowly approaching last, ridden and stayed on well under pressure flat
mid-division when brought down 2nd
Guitar Pete has been on the go for a while but beat Tiger Roll and Plinth, a rare National Hunt runner for Aidan O'Brien, in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month and got the better of Lindenhurst in the autumn, though was beaten far and square by Royal Irish Hussar on similar ground here in November. The latter couldn't follow up at Doncaster the following month, however, when well behind runner-up Broughton. John Ferguson's useful Flat performer was making his hurdling debut that day and has since won easily at Musselburgh beating Clarcam, who was also second to Guitar Pete earlier. Willie Mullins' pair Abbyssial and Adriana Des Mottes both warrant respect but the drying ground is a worry and John Quinn also holds a strong hand. Pearl Castle has shown a good turn of foot to win twice at Doncaster and Rutherglen is three from three over timber and also scored on the Polytrack last month. CALIPTO probably has the best form and is worth risking on the faster ground. He had little to beat last time but had earlier got the better of Activial on his UK debut at Newbury and the runner-up impressed when successful in a Grade 2 at Kempton on his next start.
Abbyssial (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Made all, went clear from 2 out, ridden before last, swished tail under pressure run-in and kept on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) in Feb beating Adriana Des Mottes (10-8) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Achtung 33-1 (11-2) Slight mistake 1st, mid-division, progress into 6th halfway, improved into 2nd entering straight, ridden and no extra before 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 12, 28l behind Kitten Rock (11-7) at Navan 2m 4yo mdn hdl.
Amoruccio (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 8l behind Raven's Tower (11-5) at Warwick 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Broughton (GER) 5-6fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led 2 out, shaken up and went clear flat, easily, won at Musselburgh 2m 4yo lst hdl (1) sft in Feb beating Clarcam (11-5) by 5l, 8 ran.
Calipto (FR) 4-6fav (11-2) Tracked leading pair and always going well, went 2nd on bit 2 out, led travelling well before last, soon clear, ridden out, easily, won at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb beating Little Jon (10-9) by 5l, 5 ran.
Cherry Tiger 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along and struggling in 8th before 2 out, soon weakened and mistake 2 out, tailed off, 15th of 18, well behind Gentleman Jon (11-1) at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Chased clear leader, 2nd after 2nd and closer approaching 4 out, challenged 2 out and led approaching straight, soon asserted, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in Feb beating Tiger Roll (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Kentucky Hyden (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, pushed along 3 out, challenged on outside 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, ridden and went 2nd flat, no impression, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Le Rocher (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Lindenhurst (IRE) 11-4 (10-11) Soon led, jumped left, badly so at times, clear from before 3rd, ridden and reduced lead before straight, strongly pressed and just in front last, stayed on best run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m 3yo hdl in Oct beating Guitar Pete (11-0) by 1l, 11 ran.
Pearl Castle (IRE) 4-6fav (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, challenged last, led last 100 yards, kept on well, won at Doncaster 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Zamoyski (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Plinth (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Chased clear leader, 5th halfway, closer when not fluent 4 out, mistake next, ridden and went 3rd approaching last where slight mistake, under pressure and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Guitar Pete (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in Feb.
Royal Irish Hussar (IRE) 4-6fav (11-5) Led, headed before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 5, 17l behind Fox Norton (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec.
Rutherglen 4-5fav (11-8) Led, headed 5th, led again before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on strongly, won at Musselburgh 2m 4yo hdl (3) sft in Jan beating Thorpe (10-7) by 6l, 5 ran.
Tiger Roll (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, closer 4 out, progress 2 out and 2nd early straight, ridden and no impression when slight mistake last, rider lost whip and kept on same pace run-inchased leaders, 4th halfway, closer 4 out, progress 2 out and 2nd early straight, ridden and no impression when slight mistake last, rider lost whip and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Guitar Pete (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in Feb.
Adriana Des Mottes (FR) 8-11fav (10-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd from halfway, ridden in 2nd from 2 out, no impression on winner at last, kept on inside final furlong, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Abbyssial (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) in Feb.
Ballyglasheen (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Prominent, badly hampered and lost place 2nd, soon in rear, not recover and pulled up before next, in a race won by Hawk High (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd, 24 ran.
