held up, headway approaching 3 out, disputed third last, kept on flat
took keen hold, chased leader until 4th, not fluent 5th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
in touch, lost place on inside approaching 5th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway on inside approaching 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, no danger after
raced wide, held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, disputing 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led on bit last, soon clear, easily
mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, steady headway after 5th, ridden after 3 out, not much room approaching last, kept on well flat
chased leaders, ridden and not fluent 3 out, weakened approaching last
led until 5th, weakened under pressure after 2 out
held up, mistake 2nd, going well when not fluent 3 out, no extra flat
held up, ridden after 3 out, no response
in touch, headway to lead 3 out, headed last, stayed on, no chance with winner
held up in touch, headway 3rd, led 5th, headed and mistake 3 out, weakened quickly after 2 out
mid-division, ridden 3rd, weakening when jumped slowly 4th
held up in touch, driven along approaching 3 out, soon no impression
chased leaders until approaching 5th, soon weakened
held up, headway on outside approaching 2 out, never near to challenge
held up, still well behind 2 out, stayed on flat, never near leaders
held up in touch, not fluent 5th, soon ridden and no impression
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 2 out
chased leaders, mistake 1st, disputed 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, weakening when mistake last
held up in rear, still plenty to do 2 out, headway on inside approaching last, kept on flat, nearest finish
held up in rear, ridden approaching 3 out, headway approaching last, nearest finish
mid-division, mistake 3rd, soon in rear
With so many juvenile hurdlers around, the first running of this race presents another opportunity for such animals apart from the Triumph Hurdle, and it may well fall to Irish raider Ease The Way, with Papini and Amarulla Ridge the main rivals. Ease The Way had the distinction of beating subsequent totesport Gold Trophy winner Essex on the Flat at Gowran Park last August, and has been brought along steadily to peak at the right time. He lines up on a light weight and on the back of a win at Tramore last time, so gives the Irish another string to their bow. Best of the home contingent should be Papini, whose trainer Nicky Henderson has had this race in mind for some time. He was useful on the level in Germany, and has won twice at Newbury this term. The form of his latest all-the way-success at the Berkshire track has worked out well, with the likes of Always Waining and Mr Dinglawi going on to score. Amarulla Ridge was a very smart performer on the flat and is steadily getting the hang of this game, he could go well at a decent price. With Daryal and Nation State holding claims as well, it is impossible to be 100 per cent confident, but Ease The Way should be a leading player.
Miss Academy (FR) 7-4fav Led, hit 2nd, clear 3 out, ridden 2 out, under pressure when fell 2 out in race won by New Rock at Warwick 2m 4yo nov hdl (C) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
Stromstad (IRE) 13-2 Close up in 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, lost place after mistake next, ridden and no impression from 4 out, 6th of 9, 36l behind Strangely Brown at Punchestown 2m juv hdl hvy in Jan.
Papini (IRE) 7-4fav Made all, mistake 4 out, strongly pressed from next, hard ridden and kept on gamely flat, won at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gs in Jan beating At Your Request by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Napolitain (FR) 25-1 In touch until weakened before 3 out, 11th of 16, 36l behind Akilak at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Dabiroun (IRE) 33-1 Held up in rear, headway on outer after 2 out, 3rd briefly approaching last, no extra run-in, 5th of 6, 6l behind Strangely Brown at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
Fire Dragon (IRE) 6-1 Held up and keen, headed 2nd, led again 3rd, headed next, ridden and weakened quickly after 3 out, 6th of 7, 29l behind Salut Saint Cloud at Lingfield 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Dec.
Nation State 4-6fav In touch, blundered 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, went 2nd after last, one pace, 2nd of 16, 3l behind Karelian at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (C) gd in Jan.
Dalton (FR) 12-1 Tracked leaders in 3rd, dropped to 4th before 2 out, weakened before last, last of 6, 14l behind Strangely Brown at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
Rolling Home (IRE) 6-1 Led, headed and weakened after 4 out, 8th of 9, well behind Strangely Brown at Punchestown 2m juv hdl hvy in Jan.
Amarula Ridge (IRE) 13-2 Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden and every chance 2 out, soon no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Penzance at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
Regal Setting (IRE) 4-5fav Tracked winner, ridden to lead after last, headed close home, no extra, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Habitual Dancer at Kelso 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (E) gd in Feb.
At Your Request 13-8 Always prominent, chased leader after 3rd, led 3 out, clear last, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4yo nov hdl (B) gs in Feb beating La Lambertine by 12l, 9 ran.
Woody Valentine (USA) 11-10fav In touch, ridden after 6th, chased winner before 2 out, stayed on under pressure, weakened last and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 14, 16l behind Zalda at Kempton 2m 4yo nov hdl (D) gd in Jan.
La Lambertine (FR) 4-6fav Led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, beaten when hit last, 2nd of 9, 12l behind At Your Request at Huntingdon 2m 4yo nov hdl (B) gs in Feb.
Daryal (IRE) 15-2 Chased leaders, jumped left 3 out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 4l behind L'oudon at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gd.
Dunlea Dancer 14-1 Took keen hold, chased leader to 5th, soon ridden and lost place, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Penzance at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
Zalda 11-2 Mistakes, led, mistake 5th, hit 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Penzance at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
Beauchamp Prince (IRE) 9-2 In touch, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Baron Monty at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gs in Feb.
Mr Dinglawi (IRE) 4-1 Made all, ridden before 2 out, held on well under pressure run-in, won at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) sft in Feb beating Jockser by a nk, 10 ran.
Redi (ITY) 5-1 Jumped well, tracked leader until led before 3rd, stayed on well from 2 out, in command before last, pushed out run-in, won at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (D) gd in Feb beating Dhehdaah by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ease The Way 11-4fav Tracked leaders, improved to lead travelling best well before 2 out, clear when bad mistake last, kept on well run in, eased close home, won at Tramore 2m mdn hdl hvy in Jan beating Emperor Titus by 3l, 12 ran.
Arrayou (FR) 5-1 Held up, ridden after 5th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 8, 41l behind Come Bye at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) sft in Jan.
Alikat (IRE) 11-10fav Held up, headway and mistake 4th, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Jockser at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Feb.
Dubai Ace (USA) 25-1 Held up last, stayed on to take poor 4th approaching 2 out, never a factor, 4th of 8, 14l behind Penzance at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
