mid-division on outside, headway to track front pair after 3 out, went 2nd and challenged after next, soon ridden, one pace before last, no chance with winner after
mid-division on inside, not fluent 7th, lost place and behind from 4 out, pulled up before next
held up in last pair, headway to track leaders after 3 out, ridden and outpaced in 4th after next, soon beaten, weakened flat
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, 7th next, rallied before last, stayed on to take modest 3rd flat, no chance with front pair
led, headed 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no chance with front pair before last, lost modest 3rd flat
in touch, pressed leader from 4th, lost place when blundered 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
raced wide, prominent until lost place and dropped towards rear 4th, struggling from 6th, no danger after, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in last pair, not fluent 7th, blundered badly and almost unseated rider 3 out, not recover, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, outpaced before 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, weakening when mistake next, no danger after
held up mid-division, took closer order 6th, went 2nd before 3 out, led next, clear before last, driven out, ran on well, impressive
mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden after next, never on terms, weakened before last
THISTLECRACK (NAP) has been in a league of his own in staying races in this country this season. He had last year's winner Cole Harden behind when making a successful reappearance at Newbury and then sauntered past three-times winner Reve De Sivola in the Long Walk at Ascot, the second won at Haydock subsequently, when the disappointing Saphir Du Rheu was only fifth. Impressive again in the Cleeve Hurdle here in January, he's impossible to oppose if handling the quicker going which he appeared to do at Aintree and Punchestown last year. Connections are adamant that Cole Harden will give the favourite plenty to think about on better ground while Alpha Des Obeaux was on the heels of the selection when he fell at the last at Aintree last season and a recent defeat of the reluctant At Fishers Cross and Martello Tower at Gowran will have sharpened him up nicely for this. Aux Ptits Soins won the Coral Cup last year and is an interesting runner as he obviously goes well fresh and has more scope than any of these. Un Temps Pour Tout may be a doubt, however, having won over fences here on Tuesday and former Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth is looking a light of former days. Kilcooley won a Grade 2 at Wetherby in October but this is a bigger ask.
Alpha Des Obeaux (FR) 13-8fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, disputed after 4 out and led entering straight, asserted approaching last, pushed out and stayed on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 3m (1) hvy in Jan beating At Fishers Cross (11-3) by 11l, 5 ran.
At Fishers Cross (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked front pair, outpaced in 4th 3 out, well beaten from next, 4th of 6, 23 3/4l behind Reve De Sivola (11-10) at Haydock 2m 7f (1) hvy in Feb.
Aux Ptits Soins (FR) 9-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, headway to challenge 2 out, upsides last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead narrowly final 110 yards, just held on, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar beating Zabana (10-12) by nk, 25 ran.
Bobs Worth (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went wide before 3rd, lost place next, jumped slowly 6th, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Camping Ground (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Cole Harden (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Led until before 3 out, outpaced before next, went 3rd and plugged on before last, no impression, 3rd of 8, 20l behind Camping Ground (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Kilcooley (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, challenged next, led 7th, clear after 3 out, eased towards finish, won at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct beating Rock On Ruby (11-9) by 13l, 9 ran.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led to 7th, remained prominent on inside, driven before last, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression in 4th flat, 4th of 7, 14 3/4l behind Thistlecrack (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (1) hvy in Jan.
Lieutenant Colonel 5-2 (11-10) Led, pressed and slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden and disputed, kept on under pressure, narrowly headed last, kept on same pace, no extra closing stages of run-in, 2nd of 3, 2 3/4l behind Snow Falcon (11-3) at Navan 2m 5f (1) hvy in Feb.
Martello Tower (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Led, blundered 4 out and joined, ridden and headed entering straight, no impression on winner approaching last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 5, 12 3/4l behind Alpha Des Obeaux (11-3) at Gowran Park 3m (1) hvy in Jan.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 11-4 (11-7) Chased leader until approaching 5th, 2nd again after 7th until pushed along after 3 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 8, 30 1/2l behind Thistlecrack (11-7) at Ascot 3m (1) gs in Dec.
Thistlecrack 4-5fav (11-8) Held up in 4th, tracked front pair after 7th, led going well before last, drew well clear flat, impressive, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) hvy in Jan beating Ptit Zig (11-0) by 12l, 7 ran.
Whisper (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, effort 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Un Temps Pour Tout (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Always prominent, upsides 3 out, led last, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar beating Holywell (11-12) by 7l, 23 ran.
