towards rear, headway 2 out, chased leaders when not much room before last, ridden and kept on flat, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge before last, lost place and no extra flat
towards rear, mistake 2nd, weakened 3 out, tailed off next, soon pulled up
chased leaders to 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up before last
behind, some headway 2 out, soon weakened
in touch on outside, ridden and lost place 2 out, soon weakened
towards rear, headway 2 out, soon chased leaders, challenged last, ridden to lead flat, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish
mid-division, steady headway 2 out, ridden to challenge between last 2, led last, headed flat, kept on same pace
jumped big 1st, mid-division on outside, headway after 3 out, in touch on wide outside next, effort approaching last, soon no impression
mid-division on inside, headway 2 out, ridden and tried to challenge before last, no extra flat
in touch, driven 2 out, headway between last 2, in touch last, soon ridden, stayed on well to lead towards finish
behind, mistake 2nd, headway 2 out, kept on approaching last, never reached leaders
prominent, disputed lead 3 out, led narrowly between last 2, headed last, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 2 out, driven to chase leaders between last 2, one pace when mistake last, soon weakened
mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, never on terms
prominent on outside, lost place 2 out, soon weakened
towards rear of mid-division, outpaced 2 out, never on terms
raced keenly, led to after 1st, remained prominent, led again narrowly after 3 out, headed between last 2, lost place when pulled up before last
always towards rear
led after 2nd, headed after 3 out, soon lost place, weakened next
with leaders, ridden 2 out, weakened before last
in touch, ridden and lost place after 2 out, soon weakened
always behind
mid-division, chased leaders briefly 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened
in touch, lost place after 3 out, weakened next
always towards rear
tracked leaders, tracked leaders, driven after 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression when not fluent last
Irish trainers have been responsible for six of the last seven winners of this ultra-competitive handicap and more than a quarter of this year's 28-strong field have travelled across the Irish Sea. Willie Mullins, who has produced Thousand Stars and Final Approach to win in the last four years, saddles three with the market and jockey bookings suggesting the lightly-raced ARCTIC FIRE is his best hope and he gets a tentative vote. His last two runs have been in Grade 1 company and he wasn't disgraced. Gordon Elliott's Flaxen Flare always seems to run well in these big handicaps and was an impressive winner of the Fred Winter 12 months ago while Edward Harty's Minella Foru and Thomas Foley's Never Enough Time arrive in form and will be prominent in the betting. Lac Fontana could prove the best of the home team as five-year-olds generally do well in this and, after a couple of near-misses last season, he's won twice over this course and distance this campaign. Lyvius could also figure if sharpened up by a pair of blinkers while Philip Hobbs has been bullish about the chances of betfair hurdle fourth Cheltenian, who is a former Champion Bumper winner and ran in last year's Supreme Novices'. Alaivan was sixth in the betfair while Strongpoint and Jumps Road both arrive off the back of recent wins, though the latter was undoubtedly lucky at Newbury and has a penalty to carry.
Diakali (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Led, slight mistake 2nd and clear next, extended lead 5th, jumped left 6th, reduced advantage 3 out, joined next and headed approaching last, no impression in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Jezki (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hdl G1 (1) in Dec.
Flaxen Flare (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, travelled well to dispute before last, ridden last, headed run-in and kept on same pace in 2nd, 2nd of 24, 1 1/4l behind Gilgamboa (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m Handicap Hurdle (0-150) (Grade B) (4yo+) sft in Jan.
Cinders And Ashes 16-1 (11-10) Raced in 6th, pushed along after 3rd, never going well after, losing touch when bad mistake 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Hurricane Fly (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl G1 (1) sft in Mar '13, 9 ran.
Runswick Royal (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway before 2 out, led before last, ridden run-in, just held on, won at Kelso 2m 2f hdl (2) gs in Feb beating Upsilon Bleu (11-3) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Upazo (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, raced wide on back straight, pushed along and plugged on to modest 3rd and not fluent 2 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Royal Boy (11-7) at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Jan.
Never Enough Time (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Settled in mid-division, 6th halfway, smooth progress to go 2nd at last, led run-in and drew clear final 50 yards, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 in Feb beating Blacklough (11-0) by 4l, 15 ran.
Arctic Fire (GER) 5-1 (11-7) Soon raced in moderate 4th, took keen hold and improved to be close up 4th, on terms from 4 out, 3rd approaching straight, no extra from before last, 4th of 7, 17l behind The Tullow Tank (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Dec.
Montbazon (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 2 out, tailed off, 16th of 20, 46l behind Splash of Ginge (10-3) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Lyvius 13-2 (11-2) In rear, not fluent 1st, struggling 6th, headway 3 out, never able to get on terms, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 10, 11l behind Clever Cookie (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Minella Foru (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, improved into 4th before last and no impression, kept on between horses to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Real Steel (11-4) at Naas 2m nov hdl G2 (1) in Feb.
Lac Fontana (FR) 4-1fav (10-12) Held up behind in touch, smooth headway before 2 out, challenged last, led flat, ridden clear final 110 yards, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan beating Totalize (11-0) by 5l, 10 ran.
Deep Trouble (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, some headway on inside before 2 out, soon beaten, 13th of 20, 31l behind Splash of Ginge (10-3) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Rainbow Peak (IRE) 4-11fav (11-10) In touch, led 4 out, soon headed, remained close up, challenged 2 out, upsides leader when left in lead last, just held on, 2nd of 12, ns behind Landecker (11-3) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Thomas Edison (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, badly hampered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Dell' Arca (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
Cash And Go (IRE) 6-1fav (11-4) Mid-divison, headway 4th, ridden when not fluent 3 out, soon beaten, well beaten when not fluent next, 16th of 18, 32l behind Dell' Arca (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Nov.
Strongpoint (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Led to 3rd, led again before 2 out, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan beating Ifandbutwhynot (11-11) by 4l, 14 ran.
Dunraven Storm (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Made all, hit 4th and next, driven when pressed 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Nov beating Specialagent Alfie (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Cheltenian (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Held up in mid-division, headway on inside approaching 2 out, chased leaders approaching last, driven and stayed on same pace in 4th flat, 4th of 20, 4l behind Splash of Ginge (10-3) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Makari 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway before 2 out, not fluent last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Dec beating Purple Bay (10-11) by 1l, 10 ran.
Master Of The Game (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Made all, clear before 3 out, edged left before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Jan beating Mcllhatton (11-4) by 15l, 12 ran.
Barizan (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along 5th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, well behind Sea Lord (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Jul.
Jumps Road 13-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and one pace when edged left before 2 out, left in close 3rd 2 out, ridden and went 2nd before last, upsides last, led as leader stumbled on landing last, driven and idled run in, held on, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy beating Kuda Huraa (11-3) by nk, 6 ran.
Morning Royalty (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) In rear, soon towards rear, headway 4 out to chase leaders, pushed along before 2 out, soon outpaced, kept on from last, just held for 3rd close home, 4th of 6, 16l behind Melodic Rendezvous (11-8) at Haydock 2m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Tzora 12-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, good headway on outside 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, closed on winner all the way to the line, just failed, 2nd of 13, ns behind Tanks For That (11-0) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb.
Citizenship 12-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, lost place 3 out, ridden and outpaced after next, weakened before last, 9th of 10, 43l behind Lac Fontana (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Lough Kent 15-2 (11-5) Hampered 1st, always in rear, behind 7th, pulled up after, in a race won by Kaylif Aramis (10-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Anay Turge (FR) Evensfav (11-10) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, kept on, won at Southwell 2m nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Vivaccio (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Alaivan (IRE) 10-1 (10-1) Held up in mid-division, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat, never going pace to reach leaders, 6th of 20, 6l behind Splash of Ginge (10-3) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
