mid-division, blundered 2nd, headway and effort 2 out, soon driven and outpaced, kept on under pressure from last, not reached leaders
in touch, lost place 2 out, rallied approaching last, ridden and stayed on well flat, went 3rd near finish, not reach leading pair
mid-division, headway on inside 2 out, soon chased leaders, stayed on under pressure to challenge last, soon led, ridden and kept on flat, headed post
mid-division, effort on outside to chase leaders 2 out, ridden and one pace approaching last, weakened flat
in touch on outside, lost place 2 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
held up behind, headway after 2 out, ridden to chase leaders approaching last, kept on under pressure flat, never reached leaders
in touch, headway 2 out, soon challenged, every chance last until one pace flat, no extra
tracked leaders on inside, challenged after 2 out, ridden and every chance last, no extra and faded flat
tracked leaders, headway 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened before last
mid-division, dropped towards rear and reminders 4th, no danger after
mid-division on inside, outpaced 2 out, soon lost place, weakened and pulled up before last
mistake 1st, mid-division, dropped towards rear 3 out, still plenty to do next, switched inside and headway approaching last, ridden and ran on well flat to lead post
with leader, led narrowly 4th, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed narrowly last, weakened flat
held up behind, headway when not much room after 2 out, switched inside approaching last, ridden and stayed on flat, never reached leaders
towards rear on inside, blundered 3rd and next, outpaced when not much room bend after 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden, one pace and no impression when fell last
mistakes, always behind
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, stayed on to chase leaders briefly before last, weakened flat
in touch on inside, mistake 4th, outpaced when jumped right 2 out, headway between last 2, soon challenged, ridden to lead narrowly when went right last, soon headed, kept on same pace, lost 3rd near finish
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened
led narrowly to 4th, with leader, lost place approaching 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened
behind, headway into mid-division 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, never on terms
mid-division, lost place 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division on inside, mistake 4th, lost place 2 out, behind when hampered and unseated rider last
tracked leaders, ridden and effort 2 out, soon lost place, weakened before last
Nonrunner
Totesport Trophy runner-up Bothy gave the form a boost on Wednesday and Notus De La Tour and Soldatino, who were close behind that day, can go well and the latter, last year's Triumph Hurdle hero, can come out on top this time. Alaivan, who finished third in the Triumph, has since been in outstanding form and comfortably beat Wednesday's easy winner Carlito Brigante in a two-runner affair at Fairyhouse in January. Final Approach's reputation wasn't exactly enhanced by the performance of Call The Police on Wednesday and he's 9lb higher for beating his stablemate at Leopardstown but BLACKSTAIRMOUNTAIN looks the type for this. Willie Mullins has a tremendous record here and his six-year-old, who was a little disappointing in the Supreme Novices Hurdle a year ago, has bounced back in top form and looks to have been prepared for this by his very astute handler. Ebor Handicap winner Dirar is no slouch over hurdles and Gordon Elliott will have him spot-on. He probably found the ground too quick when third behind Overturn in the Galway Hurdle in July and this should prove ideal. Alarazi's victory in the Imperial Cup has pushed him to the head of the betting and a 5lb penalty shouldn't be enough to prevent Lucy Wadham's star running another big race though this looks slightly tougher than the Sandown event. Ski Sunday, runner-up in the Fred Winter two years ago, returned to action with a spectacular victory at Kempton and a 10lb rise still puts him in the picture.
Salden Licht 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, staying on on inside when hampered and brought down next, in a race won by Recession Proof (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Nearby 40-1 (11-3) Mid-division, not much room and lost place bend after 4 out, never on terms, 10th of 15, 25l behind Recession Proof (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 2 out, no impression approaching last, weakened flat, 8th of 15, 15l behind Recession Proof (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Soldatino (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway 4 out, effort next, ridden between last 2, kept on same pace under pressure flat, 5th of 15, 2 1/4l behind Recession Proof (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Dee Ee Williams (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Tended to jump left, tracked leading pair, lost place 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 43l behind Nadiya De La Vega (10-8) at Kempton 2m nov chs (2) gs in Jan.
Blackstairmountain (IRE) 4-5fav (11-10) Settled in 3rd, 2nd 5 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, asserted before last where slight mistake, ridden run-in, pressed closing stages and headed last stride, 2nd of 5, shd behind Rick (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Jan.
Alaivan (IRE) 1-3fav (11-8) Tracked leader in 2nd, improved to challenge 2 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on strongly run-in, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5yo hdl sft in Jan beating Carlito Brigante (11-8) by 4l, 2 ran.
Ski Sunday 4-1 (11-11) Raced keenly, tracked leaders on outside, headway 3 out, ridden to lead next, stayed on to go clear flat, won at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Jan beating Skint (11-3) by 6l, 16 ran.
Notus De La Tour (FR) 10-1 (11-1) Led, ridden after 2 out, headed last, kept on and every chance flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Recession Proof (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Inventor (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) In touch main group, dropped to mid-division 4th, headway under pressure 3 out, ridden to chase leading trio when hit 2 out and last, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 9, 9l behind Alazan (10-6) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Aug.
Bellvano (GER) 1-5fav (11-0) Raced keenly, held up 4th and last, left 3rd at 3rd, went 2nd 9th, pecked 3 out, challenged when blundered next, kept on and every chance, ridden flat, just held near finish, 2nd of 4, nk behind Hold Fast (11-0) at Southwell 2m nov chs (4) gs in Jan.
Final Approach 6-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, good headway on inner to lead entering straight, slight mistake last, kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 sft in Jan beating Call The Police (10-8) by 2l, 26 ran.
Hunterview 11-4fav (11-3) With leaders, led after 4 out, not fluent and jumped slightly left 2 out, kept on well, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Feb beating European Dream (10-10) by 5l, 13 ran.
Dirar (IRE) 4-1fav (10-4) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, headway into 2nd 3 out, ridden 2 out, no impression leader before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 19, 6l behind Overturn (11-6) at Galway 2m hcp hdl gf in Jul.
Grey Soldier (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Mid-division, progress after 3 out, 5th and effort after 2 out, no extra early straight, eased last, 14th of 19, 39l behind Peak Raider (9-3) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Feb.
Ciceron (IRE) 11-4 (10-3) Held up in touch, smooth headway and quickened to challenge before 2 out, led soon after, not fluent last, in command when rider dropped rein flat, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Numide (10-0) by 2l, 7 ran.
Tarkari (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, in touch, pushed along 4 out, never on terms, last of 5, 40l behind Celestial Halo (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Zanir (FR) 20-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, driven after 3 out, staying on same pace when fell next, in a race won by Recession Proof (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Cockney Trucker (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Jumped right throughout, led until went right and headed 4th, lost 2nd next, stayed chasing leaders until went badly right 2 out, rallied to 3rd approaching last, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Art Professor (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Spring Jim 20-1 (11-4) Held up, some headway 2 out, not trouble leaders, 9th of 13, 28l behind Aegean Dawn (9-9) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Ellerslie Tom 50-1 (11-10) Chasing leader when badly hampered 3rd, behind and not recover, tailed off when went left last 2, 14th of 15, well behind Via Galilei (10-12) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Alarazi (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Mid-division on inside, steady headway approaching 5th, closed going well approaching 2 out where mistake, went 2nd between last 2, shaken up to lead and hit last, came clear flat, stayed on strongly, driven out, won at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd beating Via Galilei (10-6) by 2 3/4l, 24 ran.
Gloucester 11-2 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 8, 11l behind Black Jack Blues (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gf in Oct.
Secret Dancer (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Tended to jump right, behind, stayed on before last, kept on flat, nearest finish, 5th of 16, 14l behind Art Professor (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Praxiteles (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) In touch on inside, dropped to mid-division 3rd, headway between last 2, challenged last, ridden to lead narrowly flat, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 17, 1 3/4l behind L'Accordioniste (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
Premier Dane (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Mid-division on inside, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up, in a race won by James De Vassy (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan, 19 ran.
Snap Tie (IRE) 1-2fav (11-2) Tracked leader, closed 4th, led 4 out, pressed briefly after last, soon asserted, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (2) gf in Oct '09 beating Safari Journey (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Cheshire Prince 25-1 (10-1) Mid-division, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Alarazi (10-3) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd, 24 ran.
