always in rear
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, led before last, idled, ridden and stayed on strongly to assert final 150 yards
tracked leaders, ridden and edged right when losing place before 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch on inside, effort before 2 out, went 2nd after hurdle, 3rd and unable to quicken when not fluent last, kept on under pressure flat
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, pushed along when not much room on inside after 9th, headway approaching last, stayed on flat, never troubled leaders
mid-division, not fluent 7th, headway 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, headed before last, kept on flat but no impression on winner
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place on outside before 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden after 2 out, effort before last, never threatened, one pace
tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 2nd or 9th, ridden and lost place before 3 out, soon behind
held up rear off mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, never able to get involved
tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, soon driven, no impression before last, kept on same pace
took keen hold, led until not fluent 5th, stayed handy, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened before last
held up rear of mid-division, headway 3 out, chasing leaders 2 out, 4th before last, not pace to challenge, kept on same pace flat
mid-division, hit 9th, effort on inside after 2 out, no impression and weakened before last
mid-division, ridden and weakened before 3 out, behind 2 out
held up in touch, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, mistake 2 out, soon closed, hung right and stayed on flat, nearest finish
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, last 8th, headway after 2 out, never om terms, weakened last
took keen hold, prominent, led when hit 6th, headed after 2 out, weakened before last
held up in touch, effort 2 out, 6th and beaten when blundered last, weakened flat
prominent, led 5th, headed before next, stayed handy, led again before 2 out, headed after 2 out, stayed on same pace before last
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, mistake 8th, last and struggling 3 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, not much room and lost place after 2 out, staying on when mistake last, not able to get on terms and no further impression final 75 yards
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, ridden and struggling after 9th, well beaten from next
There are 13 qualifying contests for this final but it is extremely rare for a winner of any of those races to go on to victory here. For that reason, we reluctantly pass over the remarkable Tobefair who has gone up 62lb in the weights thanks to a seven-race winning run. Jury Duty has to go on the short-list, however, with his stable already among the winners this week. He probably just needed the run when beaten by Gayebury at Chepstow and is now 12lb better off with Evan Williams’ novice. ROCKLANDER is a strong traveller and will benefit from today’s quicker surface as he hasn’t quite been getting home on soft going. He can reverse Exeter running with Impulsive Star and that race could be the one to concentrate on as far as this contest is concerned. Ballymalin and Barney Dwan were third and fourth at the west country track and both enter each-way calculations with the latter due a change of luck. A market move for For Good Measure would be significant but it’s possible that the handicapper has reeled in Presenting Percy and El Bandit.
Gayebury 4-1fav (11-1) 2nd after 1st, led 7th, not fluent when asserting 3 out, well clear last, eased towards finish, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Jury Duty (11-12) by 13l, 13 ran.
Presenting Percy 2-1fav (11-4) Held up, moderate 9th from 3rd, soon closer order, closed further from 7th, tracked leaders before straight, on terms travelling smoothly 2 out, led approaching last where slight mistake, pushed out to assert and stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb beating That's A Wrap (11-2) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Aubusson (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Prominent, led 6th, headed before 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 11, 6 1/2l behind El Bandit (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Jury Duty (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside 7th, 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 13, 13l behind Gayebury (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division when fell 1st, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Barney Dwan (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, pushed along before 9th, headway chasing leading leaders approaching 3 out, well held in 4th when hit 2 out,, 4th of 13, 8 3/4l behind Impulsive Star (10-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Tobefair 5-2fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, challenged next, soon ridden, led narrowly when went right 2 out, headed narrowly last, rallied to regain lead flat, stayed on gamely, won at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Morello Royale (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
El Bandit (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led before 2 out, soon strongly challenged, headed just after last, rallied and stayed on strongly to lead again last strides, won at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Feb beating Arthurs Secret (10-0) by shd, 11 ran.
Mr Mix (FR) Evensfav (10-12) Prominent, led after 4 out, blundered and unseated rider 2 out, at Fakenham 2m 5f (4) gs in Feb.
Golden Doyen (GER) 11-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place 2 out, rallied last, stayed on strongly flat, led close home, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating For Good Measure (10-4) by shd, 14 ran.
Sutton Manor (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, progress to lead 3 out, ridden approaching last and kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 3m hcp hvy in Feb beating Hollow Tree (10-6) by 4l, 10 ran.
Splash of Ginge 12-1 (11-10) Led after 1st, headed 7th, 3rd and beaten 2 out, faded, 5th of 13, 17l behind Gayebury (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
The Tourard Man (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, weakened after next, 5th of 9, dist behind Caid Du Berlais (11-1) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Rocklander (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 6th, 3rd before 3 out, went 2nd and hit 2 out, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Impulsive Star (10-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Fingal Bay (IRE) 18-1 (11-6) Chased leaders on inside, hampered 6th, pushed along before 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 13, 26 3/4l behind Impulsive Star (10-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Impulsive Star (IRE) 11-4fav (10-9) Chased leaders, bumped 6th, led after 9th, came clear run-in, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Rocklander (11-2) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Electric Concorde (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Prominent, led and disputed from 1st, headed before 4th, towards rear before 6th, ridden 5 out, weakened before next, pulled up before 3 out, at Thurles 2m 7f Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Isleofhopendreams 11-2 (9-10) Rear of mid-division, headway 3 out, switched to inner and ridden entering straight, improved to go 2nd at last, led inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Punchestown 3m hcp sft in Feb beating Sutton Manor (9-11) by 2 1/4l, 20 ran.
Arctic Gold (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Held up on outside, closed 3rd, close 2nd 12th, mistake 14th, no impression on winner 4 out, well held 2 out, 2nd of 6, 22l behind Belami Des Pictons (11-6) at Warwick 3m (3) hvy in Feb.
Theo's Charm (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Led and soon clear, ridden before last, headed soon after, no extra and lost 2nd place close home, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Dadsintrouble (11-5) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Ballymalin (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Chased leader, hit 7th, lost 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 13, 6 1/4l behind Impulsive Star (10-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Alzammaar (USA) 11-2 (11-4) Led until 6th, hard ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 11, 6 1/4l behind El Bandit (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
For Good Measure (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, went 2nd last, stayed on, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 12, 3 3/4l behind Call To Order (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Clondaw Cian (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, struggling in rear after 5th, plugged on in modest 5th from 2 out,, 5th of 13, 9 3/4l behind Impulsive Star (10-9) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
