led and soon clear, reduced advantage 6th, not fluent 8th, ridden and headed approaching last, stayed on one pace flat
chased clear leader, hit 3rd, closed on leader 6th, ridden and every chance when not fluent last, no extra flat
held up in rear, some headway when mistake 2 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, pushed along and nearly last 3 out, stayed on approaching last, nudged along and kept on flat
in touch until lost place after 2 out
mid-division, switched right and headway approaching 2 out, not clear run approaching last, no impression
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from last, never going pace to challenge
prominent, ridden and lost place after 2 out, switched left after last, no further danger
held up in rear, ridden 3 out, no response
prominent, pushed along after 9th, weakened after 3 out
held up, hampered 1st, headway approaching last, stayed on flat, no chance
held up, blundered badly 1st and hit from behind, switched left after 2 out, headway under strong pressure approaching last, stayed on flat, not reach leaders
mid-division, headway 7th, stayed on same pace from 2 out
held up in touch, shaken up 7th, no impression approaching last
held up in touch, pushed along and lost place 3 out, headway approaching last, stayed on to take 4th flat
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway 8th, weakened approaching last
held up, headway on inside 2 out, going well enough when not clear run approaching last, weakened flat
held up in touch, weakened approaching 2 out
never better than mid-division
raced keenly, tracked leaders, led going well approaching last, ridden flat, ran on well
held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway on outside approaching 7th, ridden and lost place approaching 2 out
held up, headway 3 out, challenged last, kept on flat, no impression on winner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Hirvine can make the return to hurdles pay off in the finale, with Basilea Star, Kadara, The Dark Lord and Oulart just a few more in with chances. The getting-out stakes on day three is another head-scratcher, but hopefully Hirvine will reach the frame at least. Peter Bowen's charge qualified for the Pertemps Final last year but never made it to the Festival, and has since embarked on a career over fences. He was a bit sketchy at his obstacles early on but got better and better as time went by and will no doubt pay to follow in that sphere again. As for today, although the ground might be a bit faster than he would like, Hirvine will relish the stiff finish and should go close at a decent price. The testing hill will also bring out the best in Basilea Star who has been defying the handicapper in the manner of a fast-improving sort, and along with Carlys Quest, gives Ferdy Murphy a strong hand. The Dark Lord is a dual course winner, and has been given a little rest since his last outing at Sandown. Rambling Minister has long had this as his target and is back over a more suitable trip, while Irish entry Oulart has plenty of stamina and a light weight but needs it much softer. martin Pipe has no less than seven runners and the Pond House maestro has saddled a placed horse in six of the last seven runnings. So, one of his septet will no doubt make the frame again, and maybe it will be the enigmatic Liberman. Our each-way vote though goes to Hirvine.
Quick 22-1 Led, hit 6th, headed 7th, weakened rapidly 3 out, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Crystal d'Ainay at Kempton 3m hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
Hirvine (FR) 10-1 Prominent, led after 3 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat, 2nd of 15, 6l behind The Bajan Bandit at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) sft in Feb.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 20-1 Held up, mistake 5th, headway approaching 2 out, weakened well before last, 10th of 17, 34l behind Quick at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec.
Carlys Quest 8-1 Held up, outpaced 4 out, ridden and stayed on from 2 out, 3rd of 15, 9l behind The Bajan Bandit at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) sft in Feb.
Kadara (IRE) 8-1 In touch, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, chased winner 2 out, one pace last, no impression run-in, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Chamoss Royale at Kempton 3m hcp hdl (B) gd in Jan.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 12-1 Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, every chance 2 out, no extra approaching last, 6th of 14, 8l behind Supreme Serenade at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb.
Basilea Star (IRE) 7-1 Held up in rear, behind when hit 3 out, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on well run-in, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Chamoss Royale at Kempton 3m hcp hdl (B) gd in Jan.
Chamoss Royale (FR) 4-1 Chased leaders, led after 5th, hard ridden 2 out, no extra flat, headed close home, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Blue Business at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Feb.
Attorney General (IRE) 7-1 Held up in rear, ridden before 3 out, headway under pressure before 2 out, one pace before last, 4th of 14, 5l behind Supreme Serenade at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb.
Petite Margot 12-1 Chased leaders to 2nd, soon lost place, weakened 4 out, 9th of 15, 27l behind The Bajan Bandit at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) sft in Feb.
Rambling Minster 11-4 Held up, headway approaching 3 out, in 3rd when blundered 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 6, 10l behind Bagan at Doncaster 2m 3f nov hdl (C) gd.
Hautclan (FR) 10-1 Mid-division, headway 2 out, stayed on, never dangerous, 4th of 17, 19l behind Quick at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec.
Liberman (IRE) 4-1fav Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, beaten when blundered last, 9th of 14, 15l behind Supreme Serenade at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb.
Tarxien 16-1 Held up in mid-divsion, hit 3rd, ridden 6th, behind 8th, no impression, 4th of 9, 15l behind Blue Business at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Feb.
Touch Closer 16-1 Towards rear, driven 6th, well behind 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 14, 26l behind Supreme Serenade at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb.
Team Tassel (IRE) 8-1 Prominent, effort under pressure after 3 out, beaten when mistake 2 out, 10th of 14, 18l behind Supreme Serenade at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb.
Ravenswood (IRE) 12-1 Held up, headway 4 out, ridden after next, no impression, 5th of 15, 15l behind The Bajan Bandit at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) sft in Feb.
Supreme Piper (IRE) 14-1 Prominent, ridden and weakened 2 out, tiring when mistake last, 5th of 9, 39l behind Blue Business at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Feb.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 25-1 Chased leader, led 4th, ridden and headed when hit 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 12, well behind Over The Creek at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (C) gs in Feb.
FAirwood Heart (IRE) 14-1 Held up in touch, progress 4 out, 4th next, no extra before 2 out, 6th of 12, more than 17l behind Lord Who at Naas 3m hcp hdl sft in Feb.
Mioche d'Estruval (FR) 20-1 Held up in rear, pushed along after 3 out, one pace and never troubled leaders, 6th of 14, 14l behind Chamoss Royale at Kempton 3m hcp hdl (B) gd in Jan.
The Bajan Bandit (IRE) 10-1 Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden to challenge 2 out, led approaching last, ran on, won at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (B) sft in Feb beating Hirvine by 6l, 15 ran.
Broken Knights (IRE) 7-4fav Held up, headway approaching 7th, led 3 out, kept on well, driven out, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd beating Red Man by 5l, 11 ran.
