led, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, soon lost place, well held before last, lost modest 4th flat
tracked leaders, lost place 2 out, soon weakened, behind, when pulled up before last
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, never on terms, ridden and weakened before last, tailed off
towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, never on terms, weakened before last
mid-division, headway on outside after 3 out, close up when badly hampered and lost place next, soon under pressure, ridden and stayed on to take modest 4th flat, unable to challenge
mid-division, steady headway after 3 out, tracked leaders on inside when carried left and hampered approaching next, ridden between last 2, soon no impression, 6th and beaten when blundered and unseated rider last
prominent, pressed leader from 6th, driven and lost place after 2 out, ridden and weakened before last
tracked leaders, switched inside approaching 2 out, led between last 2, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace, no impression with winner flat
held up behind, headway on outside after 3 out, carried right next, switched inside to lead approaching last, ridden clear flat, ran on well
pressed leader to 6th, close up, lost place when hampered 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, with leaders and every chance when fell next
behind, blundered 4th, outpaced 2 out, never on terms, well held when hampered last
mid-division, mistake 7th, lost place next, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, tracked leaders after 3 out, challenged next, every chance between last 2, one pace in 3rd when switched left before last, no impression with front pair after
held up behind, blundered 8th, struggling before 2 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure from last, never nearer
Proven form at Grade 2 level or above is a key pointer in this. Wholestone has lost just once this season and has vital course experience. His jumping has improved with time and he beat Ami Desbois over track and trip in December. Constantine Bay found stepping up to 3m no problem at Doncaster but would probably need even more to figure in a race like this. Death Duty was driven out to beat subsequent Grade 3 winner Monalee at Navan and then accounted for Turcagua in a Grade 1 at Naas, though the result may have been different had Augusta Kate not come down when challenging at the last and Gordon Elliott’s runner is tackling 3m for the first time today. THE WORLDS END is making rapid strides and there was a lot to like about his nine-length defeat of No Hassle Hoff, who was receiving 7lb, at Haydock. A line through the latter gives him a big chance against a number of these. Penhill got back to winning ways stepped up to 3m at Limerick but he is Flat-bred and this has not been a good race for similar types in the past.
Ami Desbois (FR) 15-8fav (11-12) Made all, hard pressed 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on well flat, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Sam Red (11-6) by 3l, 8 ran.
Any Drama (IRE) 2-7fav (11-10) Made all, clear and travelling easily before 3 out, not fluent next, flashed tail and looked reluctant briefly soon after, soon shaken up and ran on, easily, won at Exeter 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb beating Brahms De Clermont (11-3) by 15l, 9 ran.
Baden (FR) 9-1 (11-6) Mid-division, reminder after 4th, lost place when hampered next, soon behind, tailed off 7th, pulled up after, at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan.
C'Est Jersey (FR) 15-8fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway into 4th 3 out, progress on inner into 2nd approaching last, ridden to lead at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Navan 2m 4f mdn sft in Jan beating Black Key (11-9) by 4 1/4l, 21 ran.
Constantine Bay 4-1 (11-5) Rear division, headway after 4 out, led before 3 out, headed 2 out, rallied from last, kept on to lead towards finish, gamely, won at Doncaster 3m (1) gd in Jan beating No Hassle Hoff (10-12) by hd, 9 ran.
Death Duty (IRE) 5-6fav (11-10) Raced in 3rd, slight mistake 4 out, 2nd before 2 out, led between last 2, strongly pressed and joined last where left in lead again, stayed on well to assert run-in, won at Naas 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan beating Turcagua (11-10) by 9l, 6 ran.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, mistake 5th, lost place after normal 2 out, weakened approaching omitted last, 5th of 10, 25 3/4l behind Wholestone (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Monalee (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, closer after 3 out, disputed entering straight, shaken up to assert after 2 out, easily, won at Clonmel 3m (1) hvy in Feb beating Battleford (11-2) by 4 3/4l, 6 ran.
Penhill 3-1 (11-6) In rear, closed from before 9th, slight mistake 3 out, soon prominent travelling smoothly, led approaching 2 out, quickly asserted, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Limerick 3m (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Call The Taxie (11-3) by 7l, 5 ran.
Step Back (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Made all, ridden when edged right and rider dropped whip after 3 out, stayed on gamely, won at Ludlow 3m mdn (4) gs in Feb beating Forgetthesmalltalk (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
The Worlds End (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Mid-division, went 3rd before 6 out, led 3 out, kept on well from last, won at Haydock 2m 7f (1) gs in Feb beating No Hassle Hoff (11-0) by 9l, 7 ran.
Tommy Rapper (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Hit 1st, held up in 4th place, dropped to last 5th, rallied chasing leaders approaching 2 out, every chance last, stayed on same pace run-in, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Keeper Hill (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Feb.
Turcagua (FR) 11-4 (11-2) Held up towards rear, slight mistake 6th, ridden and no impression 4 out, soon no extra and weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Clonmel 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Wholestone (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Pressed leader, mistake 3rd, led 5th, edged right flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan beating William Henry (11-7) by 3l, 10 ran.
Augusta Kate 11-4 (11-3) Towards rear, progress and wandered slightly before 2 out where 3rd, soon challenged, on terms and every chance when fell last, at Naas 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
