held up behind, hampered 8th, headway when hampered again 4 out, driven to chase leaders after next, kept on same pace, never on terms
mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway and in touch 9th (water), effort 3 out, outpaced when not much room on bend before next, soon ridden and weakened
mid-division on outside, close up 6th, pressed leader 11th, led approaching 3 out, driven and headed narrowly next, every chance last, soon ridden, no extra flat, held when lost 2nd towards finish
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
mid-division when brought down 8th
held up behind, headway when hampered 4 out, chased leaders after next, ridden and kept on same from 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, mistake 11th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 13th
pressed leader, lost place 11th, in touch when fell 4 out
never better than mid-division, lost place 6th, no danger after
in touch, dropped to mid-division 5th, behind from 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, fell heavily 8th
mid-division, blundered 6th, badly hampered and lost place 4 out, behind when fell next
hampered 3rd, held up behind, headway into mid-division 9th (water), close up on outside 3 out, led narrowly next, ridden after last, stayed on well
towards rear when fell 3rd
mid-division, mistake 5th, badly hampered 8th, not recover, pulled up before next
chased leaders, lost place when blundered 12th, towards rear when hampered 4 out, weakened from next
hampered 3rd, always towards rear, well beaten when hampered 3 out
led, headed when hit 3 out, lost place before next, soon weakened
mid-division on inside, hampered 8th, behind when blundered 11th, pulled up before next
never better than mid-division, behind from 9th (water), fell 4 out
in touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, not much room on bend before next, soon ridden, one pace when not fluent last, kept on flat, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, one pace when not fluent next, soon ridden, well held when mistake last
NonRunner
Johns Spirit has already won three times around here and was fifth in last year's Ryanair. He's unquestionably well handicapped nowadays and shouldn't be far away if anywhere near his best. Better going will suit Art Mauresque, who also goes on the short-list. His trainer holds a strong hand as last month's Leicester winner Stilletto and the well-treated Salubrious would also have a chance. Kings Palace is bidding for his fifth course victory but his best form is over further and he'll struggle to dominate this big field. David Pipe, who has already won a big handicap at this year's Festival, also saddles Ballynagour and LA VATICANE. The latter carries a penalty for her wide-margin victory at Wincanton but she looked a reformed character in blinkers that day and could score again if the headgear works a second time. Fingal Bay can never be left out of calculations in races of this nature but he's only managed one win over fences and that was back in 2012 – he'll probably find at least one too good again. Something may have been amiss with Full Shift at Musselburgh last time and he could figure if back on song off a low weight.
Ballynagour (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 8th, chased leaders 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
Baily Green (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Soon led, joined after 5th, soon headed, 4th when hit 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Kings Palace (IRE) 3-1fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, not much room 2nd, headway after 4th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up approaching next, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Tango De Juilley (FR) 5-4fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, led before 3 out, clear and not fluent 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Carlisle 2m 4f (3) sft in Apr beating Barafundle (11-4) by 8l, 7 ran.
Bear's Affair (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, outpaced after 2 out, well beaten before last, 12th of 13, dist behind So Fine (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Ballycasey (IRE) 15-8 (11-3) Tracked leader, soon 3rd, slight mistake 6th, closed up 8th, soon briefly on terms, pushed along approaching straight, soon 3rd and no impression, one pace, 3rd of 4, 15l behind Smashing (11-6) at Gowran Park 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Behind, struggling 4 out (usual 5 out), plugged on to take moderate 4th flat, no chance with leaders, 4th of 9, 33 1/4l behind Annacotty (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Niceonefrankie 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, pecked 1st, 2nd from next, led 3 out, headed before next where bumped, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Taquin Du Seuil (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Dare Me (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, mistake 10th, ridden to challenge after 3 out, led last, hard ridden, all out, won at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Royal Regatta (11-11) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Art Mauresque (FR) 5-1fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5 out, weakened 3 out, 7th of 13, 31l behind Sametegal (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Darna 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake and pecked 6th, lost place 11th, mistake 12th, well behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Little Jon 15-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, never jumped well, blundered badly 5 out, pulled up before next, at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Empire Of Dirt (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders on inner, 4th halfway, 3rd 3 out, progress to lead entering straight, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp sft in Jan beating Killer Crow (10-1) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Stilletto (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Held up, mistake 3rd, headway 7th, 2nd 4 out, led after 2 out, soon clear, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Simply Wings (11-6) by 10l, 7 ran.
Fingal Bay (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Led, headed before 4th, tracked winner, ridden after last, kept on and held, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Chase The Spud (11-5) at Exeter 3m (2) hvy in Feb.
Buckers Bridge (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Led, joined 4th, slight mistake and headed 7th, 2nd halfway, pushed along in 3rd after 3 out, ridden and no impression in 4th approaching last, no extra, 6th of 18, 16 1/4l behind My Murphy (10-5) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp hvy in Jan.
Salubrious (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Mid-division on outside, tracked leaders 5th, went 3rd 9th, pushed along 3 out (usual 4 out), no chance with front pair before 2 out (usual 3 out), weakened flat, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Annacotty (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Sew On Target (IRE) 15-2 (10-10) Made all, clear before 4 out, eased towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Renard (10-2) by 32l, 7 ran.
Kings Lad (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) With winner until 10th, lost 2nd next, 4th and weakening 4 out, last of 4, dist behind Josses Hill (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f (2) sft in Feb.
Quincy Des Pictons (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Led, clear briefly after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, no impression on winner, one pace, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Tanit River (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Full Shift (FR) 5-2fav (11-11) Chased leaders, jumped right 3rd, ridden and lost place before next, last and behind 6th, pulled up before 7th, at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Astracad (FR) 9-1 (10-10) Prominent, lost place 6th, not fluent 4th, well beaten 3 out, plugged on flat, 7th of 13, 23 1/4l behind Pearls Legend (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed 6th, under pressure 13th, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
La Vaticane (FR) 15-8fav (11-11) In touch, headway to lead after 4 out, joined when left clear 2 out, kept on, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Ratify (10-4) by 23l, 8 ran.
