in touch, ridden 19th, soon weakened
held up, hit 10th and 13th, ridden 16th, some headway approaching 2 out, never near leaders
held up and keen, mistake and unseated rider 10th
mid-division, mistake 1st and 11th, headway 13th, not much room approaching 17th, blundered badly 19th, soon eased
in touch, hit 13th, led 15th, hit next, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, went left and no extra last
held up, headway 15th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, not quicken flat
chased leaders, pushed along 13th, weakening when not fluent next, behind, pulled up before 18th
always behind
always towards rear
mid-division, lost place 7th, no danger after
held up, headway 13th, ridden and one pace from 2 out
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
with leader, led 8th to 13th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
held up, blundered 5th, headway 15th, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next
led to 8th, led again 13th to 15th, weakened 18th
prominent, mistake 12th, weakened next, behind when blundered 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent to 15th, no danger after
in touch, lost place and hit 13th, mistake 15th, kept on flat
mid-division, lost place 7th, headway 17th, hard ridden 19th, one pace when pecked 2 out
held up and mistakes, headway 18th, ridden after 3 out, no extra last
towards rear, headway 13th, mistake 16th and 17th, ridden next, slightly hampered 3 out, soon weakened
raced wide, mid-division, headway 13th, led approaching 2 out, soon ridden, ran on well
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
In the Cheltenham Gold Cup, our vote goes to Celestial Gold, with Beef Or Slamon, Monkerhostin, Kingscliff and, as an outsider, Cornish Rebel, nominated as his main dangers. With the sad death of the much-missed Best Mate, and the absence through injury of last year's winner, Kicking King, this is one of the most-open races for the Gold Cup for a long time. Our selection for it is Celestial Gold. Ok, it is a very hard task for a horse to win this race on his seasonal debut - and he was last seen when seventh in this race last year - but, of course, we are dealing with the champion trainer when talking about Celestial Gold. As a Paddy Power Gold Cup and Hennessy Gold Cup winner from last season, his credentials are there for all to see and, given the positive noises coming out of the stable, he looks set to run a big race. The best of the field based on ratings is Beef Or Salmon, who was fourth in this two years ago - a repeat of which would give him a great chance today - but who was pulled up last year. If fully on song, he must go close, but you cannot guarantee it around this track's undulations. A repeat of Kingscliff's Grade 1 Haydock win in November would give him a big shout and, given that he was strongly fancied for this race last year before being pulled out at the last moment, you have to respect his claims although the question is, which Kingscliff is going to turn up today? Monkerhostin has been a revelation this season, an upward curve that saw him finish a fast-finishing second to Kicking King in the King George in December, and he can go well today. Second in this race last year, Take The Stand has to be considered on that basis, although he would not want the going to soften in the lead up to the race. Royal Auclair, who has since been placed in a Grand National, has eight-and-a-half lengths to find on that form. One that could go well at a good price is Cornish Rebel as Best Mate's brother races in first-time blinkers today, as did the trainer's See More Business when he won this race in 1999. Whatever way you look at it, the remainder, which include a Grand National winner in Hedgehunter, a Stayers' Hurdle winner in Iris's Gift, the King George fourth, L'Ami, the good recent Irish Grade 2 winner, Forget The Past, and a number of other very good horses, need to show improved form to win this prestigious event, in which our vote goes to Celestial Gold.
Ballycassidy (IRE) 100-1 (10-10) Led 3rd to 13th, stayed pressing winner, led 4 out to 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 5th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Innox (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Beef Or Salmon (IRE) 2-5fav (11-12) Held up, progress 6 out, bad mistake next, improved 3 out, 2nd 2 out, led early straight, drew clear from last, easily, won at Leopardstown 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Feb beating Hedgehunter (11-12) by 12l, 7 ran.
Celestial Gold (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Held up and behind, mistakes 1st and 5th, steady headway approaching 18th, ridden 2 out, soon no impression, 7th of 15, 24l behind Kicking King (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs Grd 1 (A) gd.
Cornish Rebel (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (11-12) Not fluent in mid-division, lost place 9th, headway approaching 16th, soon outpaced and ridden, weakened flat, 3rd of 18, well behind L'aventure (10-4) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Dec.
Forget The Past 4-9fav (11-10) In touch, 4th after halfway, improved into 2nd 6 out, led next, clear after 4 out, easily, won at Fairyhouse 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Garvivonnian (11-6) by 8l, 9 ran.
Hedgehunter (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Attempted to make all, ridden and strongly pressed after 2 out, headed early straight, kept on without troubling winner, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Beef Or Salmon (11-12) at Leopardstown 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Feb.
Iris's Gift 4-5fav (11-13) Led, not fluent 12th and 14th, pushed along and slight advantage when fell 5 out in race won by Halcon Genelardais (11-5) at Warwick 3m nov chs (2) sft in Jan, 5 ran.
Iznogoud (FR) 66-1 (11-2) Chased clear leading pair, ridden 12th, weakened 4 out, 11th of 15, 27l behind dhtrs Horus (10-9) & Cornish Sett (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) gf.
Joes Edge (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) In touch, lost place 9th, behind from 4 out, 4th of 10, well behind Therealbandit (9-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Dec.
Kingscliff (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, pushed along and lost place after 10th, blundered next, left 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Ebony Light (9-13) at Haydock 3m hcp chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
L'ami (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Raced wide, held up towards rear, steady headway from 17th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, kept on flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Innox (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Limerick Boy (GER) 14-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, held up, ridden to chase leaders 19th, effort 3 out, no impression from 2 out, 4th of 11, 6l behind Dunbrody Millar (10-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Feb.
Lord of Illusion (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Led and set good pace, ridden 3 out, 4 lengths clear approaching last, fading when headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Joaaci (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Monkerhostin (FR) 22-1 (11-10) Held up, headway 18th, chased winner last, stayed on well, just held, 2nd of 9, nk behind Kicking King (11-10) at Sandown 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Dec.
Ollie Magern 11-2 (11-10) Led, headed after 3rd, led after 4th to 10th, lost touch 13th, 4th of 5, well behind See You Sometime (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb.
One Knight (IRE) 6-4jt-fav (11-6) Tracking leader when mistake and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by See You Sometime (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb, 5 ran.
Royal Auclair (FR) 6-4jt-fav (11-6) Close up, led briefly 10th, led 14th, blundered and headed 4 out, kept on, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind See You Sometime (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb.
Royal Emperor (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Haydock 2m 7f hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb beating Millenium Royal (11-12) by 19l, 6 ran.
Sir Rembrandt (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 3rd of 14, 23l behind Ossmoses (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Take The Stand (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in touch until blundered and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by Our Vic (11-7) at Lingfield 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (1) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Tikram 11-2 (11-8) Not fluent, held up mid-division, blundered 3rd, lost place and behind before 10th, no chance, last of 10, 21l behind Tysou (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Feb.
War Of Attrition (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Settled 3rd, moderate 2nd before last, kept on without troubling winner, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Beef Or Salmon (11-12) at Leopardstown 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Astonville (FR) 500-1 (11-10) Always behind, hit 2nd, 13th of 18, well behind Brave Inca (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs.
Turnium (FR) 500-1 (11-10) Soon driven along in rear, mistake 3rd, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Brave Inca (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs, 18 ran.
