held up towards rear, headway form home bend on stands side, challenging for 2nd last, ran on under pressure flat, led towards finish
held up towards rear, headway when not clear run and switched left before last, ran on under pressure flat, went 2nd close home, not quite able to challenge winner
prominent, ridden to challenge for 2nd last, kept on under pressure flat, held by leaders final 75 yards
held up in rear, ran on flat, finished strongly, not reach leaders
chased leaders, ridden and one pace before last, weakened
chased leaders, took keen hold, ridden and weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway after 2 out, 10th at the last, never able to get on terms
not that fluent in rear, behind 5th, some headway before last, no impression, soon weakened
led, clear when not fluent 3rd, 10 lengths clear 2 out, headed before last, weakened towards finish
mid-division, mistake 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway after 2 out, pressing for 2nd last, soon edged right, kept on under pressure, held by leaders final 75 yards
in touch in mid-division, bumped after 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway when not clear run after 2 out, challenging for 2nd last, kept on under pressure flat, held by leading trio final 75 yards
in touch until 3 out, soon dropped out
mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway after 3 out, weakened before last
mid-division, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, towards rear after 3 out, some headway before last, no impression
chased leaders, took keen hold, ridden after 2 out, hung left and weakened before last
not always fluent, chased leaders on outside, lost place and bumped after 2 out, weakened and pulled up before last
mid-division, ridden and struggling after 2 out
held up in mid-division, not fluent 3rd, ridden and headway before last, kept on same pace final 150 yards
prominent, lost place on inside after 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, ridden and lost place on home bend, soon weakened, fell last
chased leaders on inside, went 2nd after home bend, led before last, ran on, headed towards finish
always towards rear
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway on outside after 3 out, hampered after 2 out, unable to quicken after last, ran on towards finish
NonRunner
Five and six-year-olds have dominated this ultra competitive handicap in recent years. Willie Mullins has won three of the last seven renewals and Irish yards have taken seven of the last 10, though the Paul Nicholls stable have also won it twice and Dan Skelton’s Superb Story landed a gamble 12 months ago for the home team. Skelton has three entered this year with jockey bookings suggesting North Hill Harvey, who won the Greatwood here in November, is the stable selection. Ivanovich Gorbatov won the Triumph here exactly a year ago but hasn’t got his head in front since while Diego Du Charmil was raised 9lb for beating Dominada at Musselburgh. The Betfair Hurdle is normally a good trial for this but the form hasn’t worked out this year so we’ll ignore Newbury fourth Song Light as well as Boite, Wait For Me and De Name Escapes Me. Nietzsche was just caught in the Fred Winter here on Wednesday so JALEO was facing a very stiff task trying to give him 14lb at Catterick in January. Ben Pauling’s charge stays further than this so will relish the likely strong pace and, though Alex Ferguson may put up a couple of pounds overweight, he could be a decent each-way bet at big odds. Mick Jazz’s novice form is working out well and he was a fair third in his only previous run in a handicap so should go well for the all-conquering Gordon Elliott team with Jack Kennedy doing the steering.
Arctic Fire (GER) 8-1 (11-10) Chased leaders in 3rd, slight mistake 5th, improved into 2nd entering straight, ridden and no impression on winner before last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 5, 15l behind Faugheen (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Jan.
L'Ami Serge (IRE) 2-1jfav (11-3) Held up in rear, headway after 6th, 3rd after 4 out, no impression on winner, well held before 2 out, getting very tried before last, 3rd of 7, dist behind Camping Ground (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gs in Feb.
Ivanovich Gorbatov (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) In rear, pushed along briefly 4th, pushed along again 5th, soon no danger, left distant 3rd from last, 3rd of 4, dist behind Petit Mouchoir (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m (1) gd in Jan.
Renneti (FR) 9-2 (11-3) Reluctant to race and slowly away, held up in last, headway into 6th 3 out, went 4th on inner next, ridden in 4th at last, kept on without threatening leaders to go 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 6 1/4l behind Sutton Place (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Diego Du Charmil (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, led approaching last, ran on strongly, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Feb beating Dominada (11-0) by 5l, 10 ran.
North Hill Harvey 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, soon led, driven flat, pressed final 150 yards, stayed on gamely, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Modus (10-13) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Court Minstrel (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, no impression after 2 out, 9th of 14, 21 1/2l behind William H Bonney (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Tell Us More (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Raced 3rd, 2nd after 1st, 3rd after 5th, soon closer in 2nd, travelled well to lead before 2 out where jumped left, ridden after last, kept on well, won at Naas 2m (1) Good - Yielding in Nov beating The Game Changer (11-10) by 4 1/4l, 5 ran.
Wakea (USA) 5-2 (11-1) Led, headed 2nd, not fluent 4th, 2nd halfway, ridden and no extra in 4th after 2 out, weakened, 4th of 5, 27l behind Labaik (11-1) at Navan 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Nov.
Boite (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, lost place next, ridden and no impression between last 2, 8th of 16, 18 3/4l behind Ballyandy (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Winter Escape (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, shaken up after 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 16, dist behind North Hill Harvey (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Joey Sasa (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up behind leaders early, closer before 4 out, 2nd 4 out, close 3rd on outer before 2 out, disputed 2nd 2 out and left disputing lead, soon ridden in 2nd, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace and pressed for 2nd run-in, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Forge Meadow (10-10) at Naas 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Air Horse One 7-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, challenged and when went right 2 out, went 2nd between last 2, soon ridden, led run-in, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Divine Spear (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Vosne Romanee 15-8fav (9-11) Held up in touch, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, stayed on strongly to lead inside final furlong, ridden out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Feb beating Marshall Aid (8-13) by 1l, 7 ran.
Bertimont (FR) 4-1 (11-10) In touch, headway on outside chasing leaders 4th, slightly impeded 3 out, 2nd after 3 out, led going well before 2 out, joined when hit last, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Tommy Silver (11-9) at Taunton 2m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Baltimore Rock (IRE) 6-4fav (11-13) In touch, keen, headway to lead after 4th, headed before 4 out, weakened next, last of 5, dist behind San Benedeto (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Crievehill (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, in 3rd before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Neon Wolf (11-8) at Haydock 2m (1) sft in Jan.
De Name Escapes Me (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Towards rear, outpaced before 3 out, never dangerous, 12th of 16, 36 1/4l behind Ballyandy (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Kapstadt (FR) (9-2) 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Zemindari (9-2) at Chantilly 1m 2f stks pol in Feb.
Wait For Me (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place before 2 out, weakened last, 10th of 16, 31 1/4l behind Ballyandy (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Dominada (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, led before next, headed approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Diego Du Charmil (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Feb.
Jaleo (GER) 9-4 (11-12) Prominent, not fluent 4th, jumped slowly and lost place 6th, soon ridden, plugged on from 2 out, modest 3rd when not fluent last, 3rd of 7, 21 1/2l behind Nietzsche (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Ozzie The Oscar (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, in touch in mid-division, headway tracking leaders in 3rd well before 2 out until pushed along before next, mistake 2 out, left in 3rd at the last, dropped to 4th close home, 4th of 9, 29 1/2l behind River Frost (10-11) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Song Light 14-1 (10-13) In touch, driven after 2 out, kept on same pace in 4th before last, no impression with leaders, 4th of 16, 8 3/4l behind Ballyandy (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Mohaayed 4-7fav (11-3) Chased clear leader, closed before 5th, led approaching 2 out, not fluent last, easily, won at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Feb beating Volpone Jelois (10-13) by 14l, 14 ran.
Mick Jazz (FR) 7-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 5th, headway 3 out, went 3rd on inner next, ridden in 2nd before last, disputed lead at last, ran on well on stands' rail run-in, improved to lead close home, all out, won at Punchestown 2m lst (1) sft in Feb beating Cilaos Emery (11-8) by nk, 7 ran.
