led, mistake and headed 3rd, in touch, outpaced after 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, never able to challenge
mid-division, lost place and behind from 12th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
in touch, led 3rd to 8th, close up, hampered and lost place 12th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, blundered 6th, struggling 10th, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway when hit 5 out, chased leaders 3 out, soon outpaced,weakened last
tracked leader, led 8th, hard pressed 3 out, headed next, soon ridden and outpaced, kept on under pressure flat, no impression with winner
blundered 1st, mid-division, headway and in touch on outer after 8th, challenged 3 out, led next, soon clear, driven out, stayed on well
mid-division, in touch 10th, went 3rd before last, ridden and kept on flat, no impression
in touch, lost place when hampered 10th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
tracked leaders until fell 10th
held up behind, headway after 4 out, chased clear leaders when hampered 2 out, ridden and kept on when edged left flat, no impression
held up behind, hampered 10th, some headway 3 out, never near leaders
mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, never on terms
tracked leaders to 5 out, soon behind, weakened 3 out
always behind, struggling 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
hampered 1st, blundered and dropped to rear 2nd, hampered 10th, never dangerous
behind, headway under pressure after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on under pressure after last, never nearer
mid-division on inside, lost place 10th, behind next, pulled up before 12th
tracked leaders, pecked 4 out, ridden after next, 5th and one pace when fell 2 out
tracked leaders, blundered badly and unseated rider 12th
prominent, ridden before 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, headway and in touch after 8th, chased front pair after 3 out, ridden and one pace after next, no impression in 4th from last
Village Vic has never won off a mark this high but Philip Hobbs’ top weight is a real Cheltenham specialist who looks sure to give another good account. Novices running in handicaps at The Festival are usually worth a second look and there are a few of particular interest in this. Baron Alco was second in a Grade 1 at Sandown last month. He’s already run well twice around here and should be out of trouble near the front of the pack. Diamond King has been highly tried since winning at Galway back in October. He won the Coral Cup here last year and is only a pound higher. STARCHITECT was fifth in last year’s County Hurdle and won later off this mark over the smaller obstacles. He enjoyed a bloodless victory at Ayr last time and is fancied to reverse earlier Plumpton running with Baron Alco over this longer trip. King's Odyssey would have preferred softer going but it’s significant that Road To Respect turns up in this as he has several engagements this week. The ground has turned in Henryville’s favour so he’s no forlorn hope as he goes well fresh.
Village Vic (IRE) 11-4fav (11-11) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Shantou Flyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Art Mauresque (FR) 25-1 (11-11) In touch, under pressure 3 out, weakened after next, 7th of 17, 16 1/4l behind Taquin Du Seuil (11-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Tango De Juilley (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, in touch 6th, chased front pair after 3 out, ridden and effort between rivals between last 2, one pace last, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no impression with winner, 2nd of 22, 4l behind Empire Of Dirt (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Cold March (FR) 6-1 (11-11) Led, headed before 4 out, led again 3 out, kept on, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jan beating Upsilon Bleu (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Diamond King (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Raced in 4th, mistake 5 out, pushed along in 4th from 2 out and soon no impression, 4th of 5, 13 3/4l behind Bellshill (11-4) at Limerick 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Held up in 4th, went 3rd 11th, 2nd 14th until 17th, chased leading pair, pushed along and outpaced after 4 out, went left 2 out, weakened into 4th last, last of 4, dist behind Amore Alato (10-9) at Sandown 3m lst (1) gd in Nov.
Baron Alco (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Tended to jump right, took keen hold, with leader, slight lead after 3rd until 6th, pressed leader, led again narrowly 13th, hit 2 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Top Notch (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Feb.
Road To Respect (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Towards rear, badly hampered 8th, some progress into remote 6th 4 out, ridden in remote 2nd 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 32l behind Acapella Bourgeois (11-3) at Navan 3m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Bouvreuil (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 13th, close up 2 out, no extra flat, 6th of 16, 7 1/4l behind Frodon (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
King's Odyssey (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, under pressure 5 out, weakened next, modest 3rd, 3rd of 6, 25l behind Three Musketeers (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 5f (2) sft in Jan.
Cocktails At Dawn 25-1 (11-3) Led 1st, hit 8th, fell 9th, at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Germany Calling (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) With leader, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 7th of 9, dist behind Cold March (11-11) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Starchitect (IRE) 11-10fav (10-12) In rear, went 3rd before 4 out, led last, kept on, won at Ayr 2m (4) hvy in Jan beating Takingrisks (10-12) by 3l, 6 ran.
Henryville 10-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway when mistake 11th (foinavon), not fluent 4 out, 3rd from last, stayed on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 17, 7l behind As De Mee (11-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Ballykan 11-1 (10-12) Chased leaders on inside, slightly hampered 9th, chased leading pair 14th, pushed along before 3 out where slightly impeded, driven between last two, weakened run-in, 5th of 13, 5 3/4l behind Pilgrims Bay (10-2) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Sizing Codelco (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Led until 4th, led 12th, headed 15th, led 17th, headed before 2 out, 4th and no extra when blundered last, 4th of 16, 18 3/4l behind Tour Des Champs (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Pinkie Brown (FR) 7-1 (9-10) Dwelt in touch, headway 3f out, ridden to chase clear leader entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind Dream Love (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Dec.
Un Ace (FR) 22-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, not fluent 15th, ridden and no impression after 3 out, well held when not fluent 2 out, kept on towards finish, 6th of 12, 14 3/4l behind Theatre Guide (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Rock Gone (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden 4 out, switched right and effort before last, unable to challenge, stayed on, 3rd of 4, 3l behind Kilcrea Vale (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 1f (2) sft in Feb.
Champagne At Tara 2-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, waited with going well from 3 out, switched left before last, ridden and asked for effort flat, challenged towards finish, led close home, won at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Un Prophete (11-0) by hd, 3 ran.
Mad Jack Mytton (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Held up in last pair, closed 9th, not fluent 3 out, every chance last, no extra inside final 100 yards, 5th of 6, 5 3/4l behind Crosspark (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
All Together (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Never far away, tracking leading pair when hit 12th, 2nd before 3 out, upsides next, ridden and chance when went left and lost 2nd last, kept on same pace in 3rd run-in, went 2nd again post, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Mercian Prince (11-11) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Katachenko (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) With winner until before 3 out, kept on and always held, 2nd of 7, 6l behind I Just Know (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Thomas Crapper 8-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, good headway on outside chasing leaders 9th, went 2nd after 11th, led before 4 out, clear next, stayed on strongly, very easily,, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar beating Vic De Touzaine (10-8) by 20l, 9 ran.
