held up in mid-division, hampered on inside after 3 out, well beaten after
held up in mid-division, headway after 3 out, travelling strongly before 2 out, driven approaching last, no extra final 50 yards
mid-division, fell 2nd
held up in touch, ridden and lost place after 2 out, weakened before last
in touch in mid-division, effort before 2 out, challenging for 2nd on home turn, unable to quicken last, stayed on final 100 yards
tracked leaders on inside, lost place before 3 out, well beaten next
mid-division, took keen hold, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next
in touch in mid-division on inside, hit 2 out, soon beaten
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway before 2 out, tracking leaders on home turn, weakened before last
led, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on under pressure flat
held up in mid-division, not fluent and struggling 3 out, well beaten after
in touch in mid-division on outside, effort after 3 out, challenged next, soon led, driven and stayed on well flat
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, nudged along after 3 out, never involved
held up in rear, headway after 2 out, tracking leaders on stands side before last, no extra flat
held up towards rear on outside, pushed along after 3 out, closed next, soon slightly outpaced, not clear run and switched right before last, stayed on flat
pressed leader, not fluent and went right 1st, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, behind 4 out
held up in rear, hampered 2nd, modest progress 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden before 2 out, 8th and fading when not fluent last, weakened
held up, badly hampered and unseated rider 2nd
held up rear of mid-division, stayed on approaching last, never going pace to get involved
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, every chance before last, stayed on under pressure flat, no impression on winner final 100 yards
prominent, ridden and weakened before 2 out, soon behind
NonRunner
This is another Festival handicap that has been dominated by first and second-season hurdlers. Champagne Classic is potentially well treated on his handicap debut on an improved third in a Grade 3 at Thurles but NO COMMENT (NAP) was giving 10lb to a subsequent Grade 3 winner at Plumpton in January and by-passed the Coral Cup to take in this slightly easier contest - a mark of 137 appears to have underestimated his ability. Lac Fontana won the County Hurdle on this day three years ago and won a Grade 1 subsequently. But he’s been below par this season while stablemate Tommy Silver was raised 6lb for winning at Taunton. Dell' Arca could be an interesting runner at decent odds as he wasn’t far behind Doesyourdogbite at Kempton on Boxing Day, though is hard to catch right and didn’t perform as well next time behind Verni at Taunton. Castello Sforza is preferred to Battleford of the Mullins’ runners and Thomas Campbell may be the pick of Nicky Henderson’s three entries as little went right for him last time at Ascot and he’s had a break since.
Taglietelle 66-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, no impression from 3 out, never a factor, 6th of 9, 34 1/4l behind Sutton Place (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Born Survivor (IRE) 8-11fav (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led after 3 out, fell when being hard pressed 2 out, at Kelso 2m 2f (2) hvy in Feb.
Gibralfaro (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 10, 18 1/4l behind Kalondra (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Tommy Silver (FR) 7-2 (11-9) Chased leading pair on inside, went 2nd 5th until after 3 out, 2nd again before 2 out, upsides last, led run-in, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m hcp (2) gd in Feb beating Bertimont (11-10) by 1l, 10 ran.
Runfordave (IRE) 2-9fav (11-8) Close up and disputed lead, led after 3 out, travelling smoothly straight, pushed along after 2 out, asserted last, stayed on well run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 2f hvy in Feb beating Ben Dundee (11-8) by 11l, 5 ran.
Lac Fontana (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, lost place 4 out, stayed on to challenge 2 out, ridden and every chance between last 2, no extra from last, 5th of 8, 17 3/4l behind Tobefair (11-7) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
I Shot The Sheriff (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up behind leaders in 5th, improved into 3rd before last, soon pushed along briefly and no impression on leaders, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 12 3/4l behind Hidden Cyclone (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 2f hvy in Mar.
Remiluc (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Took keen hold early, tracked leader, led on long run before 3 out, made rest, clear 2 out, hit last, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Chesterfield (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Castello Sforza (IRE) 8-11fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 6th 4 out, headway into 2nd entering straight, ridden to lead narrowly at last, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, headed and no extra near line, 2nd of 18, nk behind Mossback (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f mdn hvy in Feb.
Coo Star Sivola (FR) 6-5fav (11-12) Made all, drew clear after 3 out, very easily, won at Warwick 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb beating Chateau Robin (11-2) by dist, 6 ran.
Dell' Arca (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 5th, not much room 7th, lost place next, well beaten from 2 out, 7th of 10, 14 3/4l behind Verni (10-13) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Champagne Classic (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, progress on inner after 4 out, disputed approaching straight, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra in 3rd run-in, eased, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Tin Soldier (11-0) at Thurles 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb.
Massini's Trap (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 5th at 4th, lost place when mistake and hampered 3 out, soon no extra, 11th of 12, dist behind Automated (10-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
No Comment 2-1 (11-12) Raced wide, held up tracking leaders, headway into 2nd going well before 2 out, led 2 out, edged right run-in, driven clear, won at Plumpton 2m 5f (3) sft in Jan beating Minella Awards (11-2) by 2l, 8 ran.
Thomas Campbell 5-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 3rd, pushed along and lost place after 4th, behind and never on terms after, weakened 3 out, mistake next, 5th of 6, 9 1/4l behind Capitaine (11-7) at Ascot 2m (1) gs in Dec.
Doesyourdogbite (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Chased leadesrs on inside, pushed along before 4 out, weakened next, 10th of 16, 26 1/4l behind Air Horse One (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led after 4th, headed 6th, not fluent 4 out, beaten when hampered next, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 23 1/4l behind Gardefort (11-3) at Wincanton 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Ballyhill (FR) 28-1 (11-2) Led, driven and headed before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next, 15th of 16, dist behind Ballyandy (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Dadsintrouble (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, led after last, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Big River (11-4) by 2l, 10 ran.
Rather Be (IRE) 5-4fav (11-10) Held up in last trio, steady headway 3 out, chased leading pair before 2 out, 2nd before last, ridden and stayed on run-in, upsides and every chance 50 yards out, no extra last strides, 2nd of 9, hd behind Coeur de Lion (10-10) at Sandown 2m (3) hvy in Feb.
Battleford 5-1 (11-2) Held up on outer, disputed 4th from 8th, slight mistakes 5 out and 3 out, soon closer, challenged entering straight, ridden and disputed before 2 out, under pressure in 2nd before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Monalee (11-2) at Clonmel 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Verni (FR) 6-4fav (10-13) Held up, took keen hold, closed 4th, challenged 2 out, led before last, edged left and clear flat, ran on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Willow's Saviour (11-4) by 5l, 10 ran.
Catamaran Du Seuil (FR) 8-15fav (11-10) Made all, soon clear, very easily, won at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb beating Front At The Last (11-3) by 23l, 9 ran.
Protek Des Flos (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Held up in touch towards rear, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, plugged on in modest 4th before the last, kept on run-in, 4th of 10, 14l behind Kalondra (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
