tracking leaders on inside when fell 4th
chased leader until before 2 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened quickly soon after
chased leaders, lost place before hampered by faller 2 out, towards rear when hampered again on inside home turn, never dangerous after
mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, led home turn, driven and stayed on well run-in
always behind, never involved
towards rear, slightly hampered by faller at 4th, headway before the last, ridden and stayed on run-in, never going pace of leading duo
held up in mid-division, pushed along and losing place when hampered by faller 2 out
mid-division on inside, lost place 4th, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, one pace when not much room and squeezed out last, ridden and weakened run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, slightly hampered last, hung left and no extra run-in
mid-division, hit 3 out, headway chasing leaders before next, went 2nd and stayed on under pressure run-in, always held
towards rear, never a factor, tailed off 2 out, pulled up before the last
hampered by faller 4th, always towards rear
raced on inside towards rear, never involved
led, stronly pressed from 3 out, kept slight advantage until pushed along and headed home turn, lost 2nd run-in, plugged on pressing for 3rd
chased leaders, pushed along when fell 2 out
raced wide, held up towards rear, pushed along and headway chasing leaders out wide 3 out, ridden before the last, weakened run-in
off the pace and always towards rear
hampered by faller 4th, always towards rear
chased leaders on inside, plugged on run-in, went 3rd towards finish, never going pace of leading duo
The usual plethora of Irish entries in this big field with improving Tramore maiden winner Gentle And Kind and the equally-progressive Fathom Two both worth a second look. Pinnacle Peak beat decent opposition here last month and was successful earlier at Worcester. He was beaten eight lengths by WHITE RHINO at Southwell in March but is now 14lb better off. However, the latter hasn’t stood still either in the interim and was always travelling best when sauntering to victory on his reappearance at Carlisle – he acts on any ground. Doughmore Bay could be anything after just two hurdle starts while Off To A Flyer signed off last season with a victory at Ayr. Uncle Bert is race-fit but conceding weight all round.
Uncle Bert 11-4fav (11-3) Led, pushed along and headed after 2 out, gradually weakened, 4th of 14, 12 3/4l behind Pyramid Place (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Skytastic (FR) 3-1 (12-0) Led, headed 4th, tracked leader until pushed along 4 out, tracked leaders, ridden next, weakened flat, 4th of 5, 20l behind Grandads Cottage (11-13) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Doughmore Bay (IRE) 11-8fav (11-6) In rear, in touch, headway home turn, went 2nd 3 out, pushed along and pressed leader approaching last, ridden and every chance run-in, no extra final 75 yards, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Ikarak (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f (3) gs in Oct.
American Sniper (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Off the pace and always towards rear, 10th of 20, dist behind Hyland (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Skradin (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led, pushed along and joined 3 out, pecked 3 out, soon headed, no impression in 4th 2 out, no extra, 6th of 12, 10 3/4l behind Conyers Hill (11-10) at Cork 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Prince Zaltar (FR) 4-1 (10-11) Mid-division, 7th 5 out, pushed along in 8th after next, 6th when mistake 3 out, ridden in 4th when mistake 2 out, no impression, kept on one pace, 4th of 11, 13l behind Lady Rita (10-9) at Killarney 2m 7f hcp Good - Yielding in Jul.
Off To A Flyer (IRE) 9-2fav (11-3) Chased leaders, led 2 out, stayed on well flat, driven out, won at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr beating Aramax (11-13) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Takarengo (IRE) 10-3 (12-0) Tracked leaders when slightly hampered 1st and dropped to rear of mid-division, 7th halfway, slow 5 out, headway after 3 out and challenged next, pushed along early run-in, ridden 1f out and no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 9, 9 1/2l behind Hascoeur Clermont (11-11) at Galway 2m 7f hcp hvy in Oct.
Whatsupwithyou (IRE) 5-1 (12-1) Led, mistake and headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 30 1/4l behind Oscars Moonshine (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Pinnacle Peak 28-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, led 2 out, jumped right last, stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Angels Breath (12-0) by 4 3/4l, 16 ran.
White Rhino (IRE) 10-3fav (11-3) Midfield, took closer order before 4 out, going best when led on landing at 2 out, soon asserted, ridden to maintain advantage on run-in, comfortably, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Oct beating Dalileo (10-2) by 9l, 10 ran.
Fathom Two (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, mistake 2 out and dropped to 4th, a bit short of room before last and soon ridden, again a bit short of room run-in, went 3rd inside final 200 yards, kept on without matching principals, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Bukhill (11-1) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp sft in Oct.
Arabian King 20-1 (10-8) Mid-division, mistake 5th, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, nudged along before next, ridden approaching last, no extra from last, 5th of 16, 9 1/2l behind Pinnacle Peak (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Son Of The Somme (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Led, not fluent 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, rallied approaching last, kept on but lost second towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Glinger Flame (11-5) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
High Stakes (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, jumped right and awkward 3rd, hit 13th, outpaced when mistake 15th, no impression after, 7th of 12, 15 3/4l behind Only The Bold (11-11) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Knockanore (IRE) 18-1 (10-7) Close up, led after 3rd, shaken up approaching bypassed 2 out, joined before omitted last, headed inside final furlong, rallied towards finish, ran on, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Crambo (11-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Gentle And Kind (IRE) Evensfav (10-11) Tracked leaders, 4th 3 out, soon headway on outer, pushed along in 2nd before 2 out, challenged 2 out, ridden and led after last, kept on well, won at Tramore 2m 5f mdn sft in Aug beating Silver Gazette (11-4) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Foillan (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Led, shaken up when headed 10th, dropped to rear from 4 out, weakened, fell 2 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Hauraki Gulf 6-4fav (11-6) Not that fluent, chased winner, mistake 4 out, soon ridden, held from 2 out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Exmoor Forest (11-6) at Warwick 3m 1f mdn (4) gd in May.
Paricolor (FR) 20-1 (8-13) Towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, never on terms, 6th of 9, 31 1/4l behind Black Kalanisi (9-6) at Newmarket 2m hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
