mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, led after 3 out, headed before last, still every chance when edged right flat, held final 50 yards, ran on
tracked leaders on inside, hit 1st and lost place, headway 3 out, switched right before last, went 4th flat, stayed on same pace
led until after 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, bumped 3 out, headway after next, 8th and no impression last, weakened flat
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened before last
took keen hold, held up towards rear, bumped 3 out, not clear run before next, headway after hurdle, close 3rd last, led flat, ran on well
held up in rear, not fluent and ridden 4th, soon behind, pulled up before last
slowly away, in rear on outside, not fluent 1st, closed before 4th, hampered after 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, hampered 1st, hit 4 out, effort when mistake 2 out, no impression before last, weakened
tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, 7th and fading when not fluent last, weakened flat
in touch, lost place after 2nd, well in rear after 4 out, headway last, switched left and ran on flat, finished well
prominent, mistake 2nd, lost place before 4th, well behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway on outside 3 out, one pace after 2 out, weakening before last
tracked leaders on outside, lost place before 2nd, closed from next, led before last, headed and 4th at hurdle, faded flat
tracked leaders, led approaching last, carried right and headed flat, 3rd and held final 50 yards, ran on
tracked leaders, not much room before 2 out, lost place before last
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway and disputing 8th but still a bit to do when fell last
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, blundered badly 4 out, headway on inside last, never able to get on terms
prominent, hampered 2nd, ridden and weakened after 2 out
chased leaders, driven after 2 out, unable to quicken in 6th last, kept on same pace flat
mid-division, well beaten after 4 out
French breds have won half of the 12 runnings of this handicap with Irish breds accounting for five of the other six. Paul Nicholls has won it three times, including the last twice, and has entered Dolos and DREAMCATCHING this year. The latter has been brought along quietly but showed his potential when shooting clear at Wincanton last time and Stan Sheppard takes off a valuable 5lb again. Almost a third of the field are trained in Ireland and a case can be made for Long Call, second to Triumph Hurdle hope Master Blueyes at Ludlow, and Dakota Moirette, who is weighted to reverse Fairyhouse running with Prospectus - he beat Icario at Punchestown earlier. Domperignon Du Lys is fancied to prove the pick of the Henderson trio, though would have preferred easier going. Poker Play has had the obligatory three runs to qualify for a handicap mark and David Pipe usually has one laid out for this.
Divin Bere (FR) 7-4 (11-2) Held up, closed 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon led, headed narrowly before 2 out, went right and led last, edged left and hard pressed flat, held on, won at Huntingdon 2m (2) gs in Jan beating Master Blueyes (10-12) by nk, 7 ran.
Project Bluebook (FR) 6-4fav (11-8) Held up in touch, outpaced before 3 out, rallied to chase leaders after next, ran on well closing stages, nearest finish, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Forth Bridge (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) gd in Feb.
Fidux (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until before 4 out, chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, slightly hampered soon after 2 out, went modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Master Blueyes (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Long Call 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders on outside, headway to lead after 4 out, headed next, one pace 2 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner before last, 2nd of 12, 18l behind Master Blueyes (10-12) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Dolos (FR) 11-10fav (10-10) Led, not fluent 3 out, headed after next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 10, 7 1/2l behind Air Horse One (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) gd in Jan.
Flying Tiger (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up and behind, pushed along towards rear after 3 out, wide on home turn, ridden chasing leaders when left 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and kept on same pace, no extra in 4th run-in, 4th of 10, 18 1/4l behind Master Blueyes (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Prospectus 3-1 (11-0) Held up, soon raced in 6th, pushed along from 3 out, improved to chase leaders in 4th approaching straight, chased leader 2 out, stayed on well run-in to lead from 100yds out, won at Fairyhouse 2m Yielding - Soft in Jan beating Dakota Moirette (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Poker Play (FR) 1-3fav (11-5) Raced keenly, tracked winner, pushed along and one pace before 2 out, plugged on run-in, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Fidux (11-5) at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Domperignon Du Lys (FR) 1-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged approaching 2 out, led before last, soon clear, pushed out, comfortably, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) sft in Feb beating I See You Well (11-5) by 5l, 8 ran.
Rainbow Dreamer 6-1 (11-4) Raced keenly, led, ridden and headed before last, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Diable De Sivola (FR) 2-1 (11-5) Tracked winner, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before last, soon lost 2nd place, kept on, 3rd of 8, 15 1/4l behind Soldier In Action (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gd in Feb.
Linger (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Made all, quickened clear 2 out, comfortable, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) gs in Dec beating Regal Gait (10-12) by 9l, 12 ran.
Dreamcatching (FR) 3-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, driven clear between last 2, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) sft in Feb beating Molineaux (11-2) by 7l, 17 ran.
Dakota Moirette (FR) 9-4fav (11-0) Led, still travelling smoothly approaching straight and went on, pushed along between last 2 and reduced lead, headed from 100yds out, no extra and one pace, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Prospectus (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Nietzsche 13-8fav (10-0) Took keen hold, held up in rear, headway 3rd, went 2nd before 5th, led 3 out, clear when not fluent next, reduced lead last, pressed flat, held on well, won at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Alzammaar (11-10) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Zig Zag (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, slight mistake 2nd, 5th approaching straight, no extra 2 out, 4th of 8, 21 1/4l behind Prospectus (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Icario (FR) 4-7fav (11-7) Disputed lead early, soon led, jumped right 7th, joined 3 out, soon slight leader again until joined last, headed and kept on without matching winner closing stages, 2nd of 12, nk behind On The Go Again (11-7) at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Mar.
Fadas (FR) 11-10fav (10-6) Tracked leaders, challenged when not fluent 2 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, no impression with winner before last, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 17, 7 3/4l behind Dreamcatching (10-7) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) sft in Feb.
Dino Velvet (FR) 10-3 (11-3) Mid-division on inside, headway after 4 out, led before next, headed approaching 2 out, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 12, 11l behind I'm A Game Changer (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Dodgybingo (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Led, headed after 3rd and 2nd halfway, pushed along in 3rd and mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, no extra, 4th of 12, 17l behind Mega Fortune (10-12) at Down Royal 2m gd in Nov.
Percy Street 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders on outside, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 10, 23 1/4l behind Master Blueyes (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Candy Burg (FR) 50-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, held up, headway to chase leader before 2nd, led soon after hurdle, ridden and headed before last, weakened flat, last of 5, 18 1/2l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) gs in Dec.
