took keen hold, led after 1st, ridden and strongly pressed when edged right just before last, headed flat, stayed on under pressure, held towards finish
in touch in mid-division, closed on inside 5th, pushed along and losing place when mistake 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden 2 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden and disputing close 3rd approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
held up towards rear, hit 4th, not fluent 5th, well beaten when mistake last
hit 5th, always in rear
held up towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, stayed on flat, no impression
held up in mid-division, mistake 2nd, hit 5th, soon ridden and weakened
held up towards rear, ridden after 5th, plenty to do when staying on approaching last, kept on flat, nearest finish
chased leaders, challenged after 4th, hit next, every chance 3 out, no extra approaching last
mid-division, took keen hold, well beaten approaching 3 out, no impression after
led until after 1st, tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
chasing leaders after 1st, well there in behind leaders 2 out, 5th and beaten last, no extra
held up towards rear on outside, mistake 2nd, headway approaching 4th, not fluent and weakened 3 out
prominent, hit 3rd soon ridden, lost place next, soon weaknend
held up in touch, improved 5th, challenged 3 out, 3rd and ridden when switched left approaching last, kept on same pace flat, no impression on front pair
held up towards rear, struggling after 5th
prominent, weakened after 5th
prominent 1st, chased leaders after, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, tracking leaders next, challenging when bumped just before last, led flat, driven out
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, chasing leaders when mistake 2 out, no impression when hit last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, well there 2 out, no impression on leaders before last, weakened
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, some headway approaching 3 out on outside, soon outpaced, no impression after
PLAN A, a winner on the Flat for Mick Quinlan in the UK, has joined Gordon Elliott and looked potentially useful when beating a big field of maidens at Gowran in January. He's been saved for this and looks progressive enough to land the spoils under Paul Carberry. Titan De Sarti was behind Plan A when they were beaten by Sam Winner in a Grade 2 here in November and there appears no apparent reason for a form reversal. With the Venetia Williams yard in such good form, Tenor Nivernais is expected to give a good account with further progress likely on just his third start for the yard after arriving unbeaten from France. Whitby Jack looked awesome at Fontwell and, though this is obviously a huge leap, he looks capable of getting competitive especially with his stable going so well. Paintball looked a very nice prospect when scooting away with a Ludlow maiden and his earlier run when a long way behind today's rival Dhaafer at Warwick was obviously not a true reflection of his ability. Celtus arrived from France with a big reputation which was quickly dented at Kempton but that was his first start for Nicky Henderson and he will have improved.
Kumbeshwar 4-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 2nd, not fluent 3 out, headed approaching next, faded, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Zarkandar (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Celtus (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) Prominent, led 3rd, not fluent 5th, headed 2 out, faded approaching last, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Sire De Grugy (11-6) at Kempton 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Whitby Jack 4-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear on outside, headway 2nd, lost place after next, progress 5th, led next, headed 3 out, regained lead approaching 2 out where mistake, soon clear, hit last, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Kuilsriver (10-12) by 14l, 11 ran.
Plan A (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Mid-division on inner, took closer order after 3 out, briefly short of room entering straight, ridden 2 out, 3rd approaching last, led on bridle 100 yards from finish, comfortably, won at Gowran Park 2m 4yo mdn hdl sft in Jan beating Luddenmore (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 20 ran.
Titan De Sarti (FR) 1-2fav (10-12) Tracked leading pair, chased winner approaching 3 out, no chance from next, 2nd of 4, 10l behind Cedre Bleu (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Mark Twain (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leading pair, hit 3 out, soon lost place beaten when pecked 2 out and last, 5th of 7, 21l behind Local Hero (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) gs in Jan.
The Starboard Bow 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, headed last, hard ridden flat, kept on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 8, hd behind Vosges (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4yo hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Akula (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Led until narrowly headed after 1st, led again after next, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened soon after, well held in 4th when went left and blundered last, 4th of 7, 16l behind Local Hero (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 2-1fav (10-6) Prominent, ridden before 2 out, kept on from last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Karky Schultz (11-1) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Paintball (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) In touch on inside, headway on inside going well to chase leaders after 4 out, went 2nd well before 3 out, upsides and hit 3 out, soon led, went right next, soon clear, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb beating King's Realm (10-0) by 12l, 14 ran.
Beyond (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd chased winner after 3 out until before next, weakened flat, 4th of 14, 12l behind Architrave (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (2) gd in Sep.
Harry Hunt 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders and keen, soon in touch, headway before 3 out, soon ridden, went 3rd before last, kept on, 3rd of 15, 7l behind Moose Moran (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Jubail (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Held up in touch on inner, ridden before 2 out, no extra after last, 4th of 15, 15l behind Moose Moran (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Kayef (GER) 9-1 (10-12) Raced slightly wide, tracked leader until settled in 4th after 2nd, went 2nd again 3 out, led before next, soon clear, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Lucky Breeze (10-5) by 12l, 8 ran.
Mr Muddle 12-1 (11-2) Led, mistake and headed 2nd, remained prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 9, well behind Zarkandar (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Dhaafer 5-6fav (11-5) Led or disputed lead on inside, ridden 1 length clear after 3 out, headed next, rallied to press winner and every chance flat, just failed, 2nd of 7, shd behind Pepite Rose (10-12) at Warwick 2m 4yo hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Looks Like Slim 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, chased winner before 2 out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Moose Moran (10-12) at Doncaster 2m 4yo hdl (4) gs in Feb.
L'eminence Grise (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Chased leaders in 4th, ridden and outpaced by leading trio after 3 out, hit last, 4th of 8, 15l behind Sprinter Sacre (11-7) at Ascot 2m nov hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Lady Willa (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Led until before 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 6, well behind Spirit Son (11-11) at Exeter 2m 1f Listed nov hdl (1) sft in Feb.
What A Charm (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened entering straight, 7th of 8, 18l behind Little Green (10-9) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Rock Of Deauville (IRE) 3-1fav (10-9) In touch, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, went 3rd soon after, ridden and one pace before 3 out, no impression when lost 3rd last, weakened to 5th towards finish, 5th of 10, 35l behind Bally Legend (11-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb.
Kingdom Of Munster (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Towards rear, pushed along after 3rd, headway approaching next, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 28l behind Reindeer Dippin (11-1) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Tom Wade (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, pressing for 2nd approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Miereveld (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f 4yo hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.