held up towards rear of mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, weakened soon after
wore hood to post, chased leaders, ridden in 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd run-in, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
chased winner until 4th, chased leaders, led 4 out, headed 2 out, chased winner until run-in, weakened into 4th towards finish
never fluent, hit 5th, always towards rear
chased leaders, blundered rider lost iron briefly and and lost place 8th, towards rear and no chance after, hit 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear out wide, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, 5th and held when mistake next, weakened soon after
raced on inner, chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until next, chased leaders, weakened 3 out, tailing off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 6th, pushed along and weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, bad mistake and almost unseated rider 4 out not recover
held up well off the pace in last pair, slightly hampered 8th, headway out wide chasing leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened home turn
held up off the pace in last pair, headway on inside chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden in 4th and beaten when blundered badly last, switched left and stayed on again run-in, went 3rd towards finish
off the pace and towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
off the pace towards rear, closer in mid-division when bad mistake 8th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders on inside, lost place after 4th, towards rear and never on terms after
held up in mid-division, pushed along and headway chasing leaders before 3 out, squeezed out and lost place turning in, switched left and stayed on again run-in
led until 4 out, pressed leader, screwed at 9th, led again 2 out, 3 lengths ahead last, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in
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Sky Pirate is only 4lb higher than when landing this 12 months ago and reversed earlier running with Before Midnight at Kempton in December, though is worse off at the weights today. Buddy Rich and stablemate Andy Dufresne both arrive fresh and will likely attract market support while Editeur Du Gite has won four of his last five. Elixir De Nutz is on a hat-trick but is having a first run outside of novice company and Colin Tizzard may have stronger claims with the progressive Amarillo Sky. Frero Banbou probably produced a career-best last time at Sandown but has eight lengths to find with IL RIDOTO on their first and third at Newbury in November and is only 4lb better off. Paul Nicholls has a good record in this race and his five-year-old has the scope to be better than his current handicap mark. Leopardstown winner A Wave Of The Sea has Shane Fitzgerald’s claim in his favour and may be best of the rest.
Sky Pirate 8-1 (11-4) Tracked winner until 4th, chased leading pair until 5 out, 3rd again next, weakened 2 out, last of 4, 11 3/4l behind Funambule Sivola (11-0) at Newbury 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Andy Dufresne (IRE) 9-4 (11-10) In touch, a little keen, took closer order in 2nd after 3rd, soon led, headed before 2 out, no impression on winner run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Captain Guinness (11-3) at Naas 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Nov.
Editeur Du Gite (FR) 3-1jfav (11-7) Made most, jumped well, pressed before 3 out, joined briefly 3 out, went on again before 2 out, soon asserted and ridden out run-in, stayed on well, always doing enough, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Cheddleton (11-9) by 4l, 8 ran.
A Wave Of The Sea (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Mid-division, 5th halfway, headway into 2nd 4 out, disputed lead entering straight and pushed along before last, ridden and led run-in, kept on well under pressure, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb beating Grange Walk (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Exit Poll (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led early, tracked leader in 2nd, slight mistake 5th, slow 5 out, 3rd next, pushed along after 2 out and dropped to 5th before last, no extra, 6th of 9, 17 1/2l behind A Wave Of The Sea (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb.
Embittered (IRE) 80-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, 4th when slight mistake 5th, slow next and detached, no impression in rear 2 out, no extra in straight, 5th of 6, 33 1/4l behind Blue Lord (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Elixir De Nutz (FR) 2-1jfav (11-8) Led 1st, drawing clear when not fluent 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Across The Line (10-10) by 13l, 4 ran.
Amarillo Sky (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Jumped boldly, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th, led 4 out, clear next, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Shakem Up'arry (11-12) by 10l, 7 ran.
Dancing On My Own (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Rear of mid-division, slight mistake 3rd, moderate 5th after 4 out, 4th and no impression when fell last, at Punchestown 2m hvy in Feb.
Il Ridoto (FR) 3-1 (11-4) Led, pushed along turning in, joined from next, headed and no extra run-in, lost 2nd closing stages, 3rd of 4, 4 1/4l behind War Lord (11-8) at Lingfield 2m (2) hvy in Jan.
Frero Banbou (FR) 5-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, steady headway before 3 out, went 3rd between last two, went 2nd at the last, stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Dolos (11-8) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Poseidon (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Mid-division, moderate 7th halfway, no impression after 4 out, left 5th at last, ridden and kept on one pace, 5th of 9, 24l behind Ciel De Neige (11-12) at Punchestown 2m hvy in Feb.
Gumball (FR) 10-3 (11-12) Dwelt and slowly into stride, in rear, in touch, stumbled on bend after 5 out, pushed along and headway before 3 out, strongly pressed leader before 2 out, not fluent 2 out, every chance when awkward jump and hampered leader last, kept on but always held run-in, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Not Available (11-1) at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
For Pleasure (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Raced freely, clear 3rd until before 6th, not fluent 7th, headed after next, weakened from 3 out, last of 4, 19 3/4l behind Edwardstone (11-5) at Warwick 2m (1) gs in Feb.
Hasankey (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-10) Chased leaders, challenging when not fluent 4 out, led before last, driven flat, held on, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Destined To Shine (11-0) by hd, 6 ran.
Global Citizen (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Pressed winner, led 2nd, pushed along and headed before 2 out where mistake, no chance with winner, lost 2nd post, 3rd of 5, 15 1/4l behind Goshen (11-11) at Sandown 2m lst (1) gs in Feb.
Before Midnight 7-2 (11-8) Pressed leader, upsides when hit 5th, led narrowly 6th, ridden after 3 out, headed before last, rallied to lead flat, headed close home, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Funambule Sivola (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Buddy Rich (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway into 4th on outer 3 out, 2nd travelling well 2 out, ridden before last, dropped to 3rd after last, 4th inside final furlong, no extra, 4th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Dunvegan (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp gd in Nov.
Thyme White (FR) 85-40fav (11-8) Chased leaders, disputing 2nd from 7th, challenged 3 out, led going well next, clear flat, very easily, won at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Nero Rock (11-1) by 4 3/4l, 6 ran.
Capuccimix (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, slight mistakes 2nd and 4th, detached before 3 out, bad mistake 2 out, weakened, 8th of 9, dist behind A Wave Of The Sea (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp Yielding in Feb.
