mid-division, headway on outside 5th, weakened before last
tracked leaders, hit 5th, well beaten after 2 out
held up, headway approaching 2 out, led last, edged left flat, driven clear final 100 yards
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, 3rd and unable to quicken last, kept on towards finish
held up, headway 3 out, every chance on the bend after 2 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden from 3 out, weakened before last
in touch before 3rd, well beaten approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden and lost place before 7th, weakened after 3 out
prominent, ridden after 3 out, lost place 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, led before 5th, not fluent 7th, headed when hit 2 out, hung left and weakened before last
mid-division, pushed along after 4th, headway after 3 out, beaten 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place approaching 2 out
towards rear, mistakes 5th and 6th, well beaten before 2 out
tracked leaders on inside, lost place 3rd, closed after 7th, weakened 2 out
mid-division, pushed along before 5th, lost place when jumped slowly 7th, well in rear 2 out, stayed on flat, no chance
held up towards rear, headway on outside 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, in touch 4th, weakened approaching 5th, pulled up before last
slowly away and lost many lengths, took keen hold, in touch with rear group 3rd, good headway after 3 out, 4th and unable to quicken before last, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway on wide outside after 3 out, led before 2 out, driven and headed last, no impression on winner final 100 yards
led, mistake 3rd, headed before 5th, hit next, lost place 3 out
in touch when hit 2nd, soon lost place, well behind when mistake 2 out
mid-division, hit 6th, some headway when not clear run before 2 out, weakened approaching last
prominent, 2nd after 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened before last
Paul Nicholls saddled Salubrious to win this 12 months ago and has three entries this year. Top weight Virak and Urbain De Sivola would have preferred a softer surface so Caid Du Berlais may be the pick of his trio back over the smaller obstacles. He finished second in the Fred Winter at last year's Festival. David Pipe will be hoping Vieux Lion Rouge can complete a four-timer and give him a first win in the race named in honour of his father while Willie Mullins' Don Poli is lightly-raced and still improving, though looks to have his fair share of weight. All three of Nicky Henderson's runners won last time and Nico De Boinville, who has already had a winner at The Festival, partners the unexposed Full Shift and Philip Hobbs has a quartet of starters. We were impressed with the way THE SKYFARMER won over 2m over a shorter trip here in December. He shot up the weights as a result of that success but the heavy ground was a legitimate excuse at Ascot in January and he stays 2m4f. It may be significant that he was also declared for the more valuable County Hurdle at the four-day stage but tackles this instead under promising 3lb claimer James Best. Hobbs' Royal Regatta also has each-way claims and the consistent Dolatulo is worth a second look along with Junction Fourteen.
Virak (FR) 5-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged 4th, led before 3 out, clear before 2 out, ridden out, very easily, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb beating Tornado In Milan (10-6) by 8l, 6 ran.
Rum And Butter (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Held up in 5th, not fluent 4th, closed 7th, went close 2nd last, soon switched left, ridden and carried head high, wandered under pressure, stayed on, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Saint Roque (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Don Poli (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, reminder after 8th, 4th 4 out, soon 3rd, led approaching 2 out, clear from before last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Clonmel 3m nov hdl Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb beating Goonyella (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 10-3 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place and in rear from 3rd, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened, last of 5, 16l behind Valdez (11-4) at Doncaster 2m nov chs G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Local Hero (GER) 7-1 (10-9) Prominent, led 2 out, headed last, outpaced by winner, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Clever Cookie (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Une Artiste (FR) 4-9fav (10-3) Tracked leader, led 12th, ridden and hung left between last 2, 1 length ahead last, driven hung left and stayed on to assert flat, won at Kempton 2m 4f grd chs (5yo+) (2) hvy in Feb beating Shangani (11-7) by 3l, 4 ran.
Carlito Brigante (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 10th, ridden 4 out, beaten next, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Rossini's Dancer (10-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Ruacana 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, driven and outpaced between last 2, no impression before last, kept on under pressure flat, 5th of 10, 20l behind Lac Fontana (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
The Skyfarmer 5-1 (11-5) Raced keenly, led, headed 3 out, chased winner, no chance before 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, dropped to 4th between last 2, weakened to 5th at the last, 5th of 9, 29l behind Irish Saint (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) hvy in Jan.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 4-7fav (12-0) Made all, ridden and clear before last, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Prince Khurram (10-7) by 12l, 6 ran.
Dolatulo (FR) 8-13fav (11-3) Prominent, led after 2f, pushed along and headed over 5f out, went right and no chance with winner from 2f out, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Any Given Day (11-0) at Southwell 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb.
Princely Player (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Led, hit 2nd, headed 8th, chased leader, outpaced before and hit 5 out, kept on before 2 out, chased winner from last, always held, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Karinga Dancer (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (4) gd in Dec.
Shantou Magic (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Held up in mid-division, steady headway to chase leaders approaching 6th, 3rd when hit 2 out, driven between last 2, went right, mistake and lost 3rd last, weakened flat, 4th of 13, 14l behind Alder Mairi (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Junction Fourteen (IRE) 9-2fav (11-4) Held up in mid-division, smooth headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, chased winner before next, hit 2 out, no impression when ridden and lost 2nd between last 2, no extra in 4th when fell last, in a race won by Saphir Du Rheu (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan, 13 ran.
Hazy Tom (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, went close 2nd over 7f out, led 3f out, edged left 2f out, stayed on, won at Southwell 2m n h flat (3) std in Feb beating Masterful Act (11-8) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Full Shift (FR) 5-2 (11-6) Took keen hold early tracking leading trio, went 3rd before 4 out, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led on long run to 2 out, joined 2 out, stayed on to assert last, driven out flat, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb beating Songsmith (10-13) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Leo Luna 25-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway 4 out, stayed on same pace before 2 out, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 15, 12l behind Kaylif Aramis (10-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Open Day (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, soon went 3rd, weakened last, 5th of 13, 35l behind Top Wood (11-7) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Urbain De Sivola (FR) 10-3fav (11-3) Tracked leader, not fluent 1st, mistake 5th, every chance when jumped left 2 out and last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Loose Chips (11-3) at Kempton 2m 4f (3) sft in Dec.
Thomas Crapper 9-2fav (10-13) Took keen hold and held up in 5th, headway in 4th after 7th, went 3rd 4 out, no impression and weakened before 2 out, went modest 4th at the last, 4th of 9, 24l behind Irish Saint (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) hvy in Jan.
The Disengager (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Led headed 10th, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, no impression with front pair from next, lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 16, 14l behind Bouggler (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Art Professor (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) In touch, went 2nd after 3 out until before next, stayed on, went 2nd again last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Kaylif Aramis (10-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Royal Regatta (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Held up in touch in 5th, closed from after 5th, pushed along before 2 out, every chance approaching last, weakened last, 5th of 6, 12l behind Aubusson (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
One Lucky Lady 4-6fav (10-2) Took keen hold, soon tracking leader, challenged 2f out, led 1f out, stayed on, won at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb beating Noble Friend (11-0) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
