led to 2 out, weakened quickly before last
held up in mid-division, headway under pressure to chase leaders after 2 out, stayed on same pace
chased leaders until weakened after 3 out
behind, some headway under pressure approaching last but no chance
some headway 5th, weakeend under pressure approaching 3 out
started slowly, good headway after 3 out, chased leaders and hit 2 out, blundered last and pulled up flat
close up, led 2 out, soon headed, every chance last, weakened flat
toward rear, hampered bend after 2nd, never dangerous after
in touch, until ridden and weakened after 5th
in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders to 3rd, hit next, soon behind, blundered 2 out
in touch, mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
held up in rear, steady headway approaching 4th, chased leaders 3 out, chased winner and upsides last, strong challenge flat, just held near finish
chased leader to after 5th, weakened after 2 out, eased when well beaten before last
prominent, ridden 3 out weakened next
always in rear
held up in mid-division, steady headway 5th, led soon after 2 out, ridden and joined last, edged right flat, held on gamely near finish
behind, hard ridden and stayed on from 2 out, kept on flat but never going pace to reach leaders
always behind
in touch, hit 4th, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous
in touch, hit 3 out, weakened after next
Traditionally one of the toughest races of the year for punters and once again this year's renewal is no exception with Akilak, Penzance, Yankeedoodledandy, Strangely Brown, and Faasel all shortlisted and the vote is given to the unbeaten Akilak. The selection emerged as a major force with an impressive debut success over course and distance when beating the more experienced Yankeedoodledandy in facile fashion. The latter has a pull in the weights for that defeat but the selection has since improved again to win a Class B event at Haydock on ground that was softer than ideal when defeating Karelian. He has scope for further improvement and may have too much class for his rivals. Strangely Brown heads a strong team from Ireland and is unbeaten in three starts Penzance is another who remains unbeaten over hurdles and his trainer has had this race as his target for a long time. However, the horses he has beaten have hardly franked the form and he will find this much more competitive and at the likely odds he looks worth taking on. Faasel is another English hope who is well-regarded by connections, but he was beaten by the Howard Johnson-trained Mephisto at Kelso last time. That race gives Howard Johnson a line on the form and he also trains our selection so he should know where he stands. Cerium won well last time out when defeating Fandani and is another that will not be far away. But all his best form has been on ground no faster than good-to-soft and on that basis he is hard to recommend. Diego Cao and November handicap winner Carte Diamond are lively outsiders that could be worth a play and it would be no surprise to see them go well. But Akilak has a progressive profile and has already proven he acts on this demanding track and he gets the tentative vote.
Akilak (IRE) 4-9fav Held up in touch, challenged on bit 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, edged left flat, kept on, won at Haydock 2m 4yo nov hdl (B) sft in Feb beating Karelian by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Barati (IRE) 8-1 Tracked leaders in 2nd, 3rd 2 out, ridden to lead before last, strongly pressed run-in, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Strangely Brown at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb.
Biscar Two (IRE) 7-1 Tracked leaders, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced from 3 out, 4th of 6, 11l behind Akilak at Haydock 2m 4yo nov hdl (B) sft in Feb.
Bonbon Rose (FR) 7-1 Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, upsides 2 out, weakened and mistake last, 6th of 16, 16l behind Akilak at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Carte Diamond (USA) 1-3fav Made all, hit 5th, shaken up after 2 out, ran on, won at Musselburgh 2m 4yo nov hdl (D) gf in Feb beating Credit by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Cerium (FR) 5-4fav Prominent, chased leaders 3 out, headway on bit to lead 2 out, ridden approaching last, driven out flat, won at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (D) gs in Feb beating Fandani by 5l, 14 ran.
Courant d'Air (IRE) 16-1 Tracked leader, weakened after 6th, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 45l behind Credit at Musselburgh 2m 1f 4yo nov hdl (B) gf in Feb.
Danaw (FR) 7-2 In touch when sprawled on landing 3 out, no chance after, 9th of 16, 24l behind Akilak at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Diego Cao (IRE) 8-1 Held up in touch, headway after 3 out, ridden to chase leader 2 out, disputed lead last, led flat, all out, won at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (C) gs in Jan beating Nation State by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Don't Be Bitin (IRE) 7-1 Led, strongly pressed 3 out, ridden and headed after next, rallied and every chance after last, no extra near finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Majlis at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Etendard Indien (FR) 8-13fav Led, ridden before 3 out, headed 2 out and soon weakened, 5th of 14, 13l behind L'oudon at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gd.
Faasel (IRE) 6-4 Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, challenged flat, no extra close home, 2nd of 9, hd behind Mephisto at Kelso 2m 2f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft.
Loyal Focus (IRE) 11-10fav Tracked leaders in 5th, 4th and driven along after 4 out, 3rd before 2 out, ridden and no impression, kept on from last, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Majlis at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Majlis (JPN) 5-1 Always prominent, close 3rd 3 out, 2nd and challenged entering straight, led after 2 out, strongly pressed after last, all out, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb beating Don't Be Bitin by a nk, 8 ran.
New Entic (FR) 33-1 Towards rear, hit 5th, some headway approaching 2 out, 7th of 16, 21l behind Akilak at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Penzance 10-11fav Held up in touch going well, headway after 3 out, led 2 out, in command well before last, eased flat, impressive, won at Kempton 2m juv nov hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb beating Amarula Ridge by 7l, 8 ran.
Phar Bleu (FR) 7-2 In touch, ridden when hit 3 out, weakened next, 2nd of 9, 14l behind New Rock at Warwick 2m 4yo nov hdl (C) sft in Feb.
Simonovski (USA) 40-1 Raced keenly, chased leaders, pushed along after 4th, jumped right next, blundered 2 out, weakened and jumped right last, 4th of 14, 13l behind L'oudon at Newbury 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gd.
Skyhawk (IRE) 7-1 Always prominent, 2nd and challenged before straight, led 2 out, soon ridden clear, comfortably, won at Gowran Park 2m mdn hdl hvy in Feb beating Slightly Shifty by 7l, 16 ran.
Sound Blaster (IRE) 4-5fav Chased leaders, closer order in 3rd approaching 4 out, ridden in 4th from next, no impression from before straight, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 22l behind Impartial at Thurles 2m hdl sft in Feb.
Strangely Brown (IRE) 7-2 Settled 4th, dropped to last and ridden 2 out, headway approaching last, 2nd and challenged early run-in, stayed on well to lead close home, won at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grd 2 (A) sft in Feb beating Barati.
Yankeedoodledandy (IRE) 7-2 Tracked leaders, ridden and upsides 2 out, one length down and held when mistake last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 6l behind Akilak at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan.
Waltzing Beau 16-1 Tracked winner until 6th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 3rd of 4, well behind Gold Medallist at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (B) sft in Feb.
