tracked leaders, edged left after 6th, lost place after 3 out, weakened after next
mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, close up next, ridden and outpaced by front trio before last, kept on same pace uner pressure, just held on for 4th, no impression
tracked leaders, lost place 2 out, soon outpaced, weakened before last, tailed off
tracked leader, not much room on inside and bumped after 6th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed before last, soon outpaced by front pair, kept on flat, always held
tracked leaders, not much room and sqeezed up after 6th, not fluent 4 out, challenged after next, ridden and one pace between last 2, soon weakened
led, mistake 4 out, headed after next, soon lost place, behind when not fluent 2 out, weakened and pulled up before last
in rear, outpaced when mistake 3 out, ridden and headway under pressure on inside between last 2, kept on, never troubled leaders
held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, outpaced between last 2, kept on under pressure flat, just failed for 4th, no impression
mid-division, lost place when mistake 4th, not recover and pulled up soon after
held up mid-division on outside, headway 3 out, effort after next, ridden to chase winner before last, kept on under pressure flat, always held
travelled well throughout, held up mid-division on inside, not fluent 4 out, not much room before next, tracked leaders before 2 out, led before last, ridden and edged right flat, kept on well
This is very much a race for fancied horses with the first four in the betting filling 18 of the 21 places in the last seven years. Two dominate the betting this year and are hard to separate. Yorkhill won the Grade 1 Tolworth at Sandown and has nothing to fear from runner-up O O Seven and fourth Welsh Shadow on that effort. The third that day, Agrapart, went on to land the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury so the form has a solid look about it. He is less exposed over hurdles than YANWORTH but Alan King's charge arrives off the back of a couple of easy victories in Grade 2 events here and at Ascot and has Festival experience having finished a close-up fourth in the Champion Bumper 12 months ago when Vigil was fifth – he just gets the nod. Barring accidents, the others are probably playing for places with Willie Mullins also running recent winners Toi Phil, Bello Conti and likely front-runner Thomas Hobson.
A Toi Phil (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) Chased leader in 2nd, challenged 4 out, led before next, asserted before last, ridden briefly run-in, kept on strongly, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan beating Acapella Bourgeois (11-3) by 7l, 6 ran.
Bello Conti (FR) 8-13fav (11-4) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, improved to lead before straight, ran around approaching 2 out, pushed out to assert before last, slightly awkward last, kept on well run-in, comfortably, won at Clonmel 2m mdn hvy in Dec beating Madfuninthewest (11-4) by 7 1/2l, 18 ran.
Ghost River 11-4 (11-3) Prominent, challenged 5th until pecked slightly 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no impression on winner when not fluent last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Aurillac (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Feb.
Its'afreebee (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Led, pushed along and drew clear before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, headed last, rallied run-in to regain lead last 100 yards, driven out, won at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating Le Prezien (11-8) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
O O Seven (IRE) 11-10fav (11-13) Tracked leader, not fluent 1st or when challenging 3 out, led next, edged right flat, stayed on gamely, won at Musselburgh 3m (2) sft in Feb beating Fagan (11-10) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Thomas Hobson 5-1 (11-7) Led, clear 7th, 10 lengths ahead on bend after 3 out, mistake and reduced lead 2 out, driven when mistake last, soon edged right, pulled out extra to draw away towards finish, won at Warwick 2m 5f (1) hvy in Jan beating Open Eagle (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Vigil (IRE) 2-9fav (11-12) Soon chased clear leader in 2nd, closing from before 5th and led from early straight, asserted between last 2, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Naas 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Feb beating Coeur Joyeux (11-11) by 3 1/4l, 13 ran.
Welsh Shadow (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, took keen hold, chased leaders after 3 out, driven to challenge next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Winter Escape (11-6) at Kempton 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Yala Enki (FR) 7-4fav (11-8) Made all, hard driven 2 out, soon strongly challenged, stayed on gamely closing stages, won at Ascot 2m 3f (2) sft in Feb beating Mr Mix (11-5) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Yanworth 2-1fav (11-12) Held up behind in touch, headway on outside 6th, jinked 3 out, tracked front pair going well before next, led on bit last, drew easily clear flat, impressive, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan beating Shantou Village (11-12) by 7l, 8 ran.
Yorkhill (IRE) 4-9fav (11-7) Held up in 4th, jumped left 3rd, closed after 3 out, led going best 2 out, went left last, ridden out, won at Sandown 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating O O Seven (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
