prominent, led 2nd, reached at 3 out and headed, no impression on winner in 3rd before last, no extra close home
held up towards rear, hampered 1st, outpaced 5th, mistake 3 out, no impression, well beaten 2 out
tracked leaders, slow 4th and 5th, weakened quickly after 3 out, pulled up before last
led until 2nd, led 3 out, clear approaching last, stayed on strongly
held up towards rear, headway 4th, chased winner from final bend, no impression, kept on
tracked leaders on inside, jumped right and awkward 1st, lost place 2nd, ridden next, well beaten 3 out
held up, hampered 1st, closed 2nd, outpaced 2 out, 4th and stayed on same pace last
held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, mistake 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, no impression and weakened after 2 out
tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd before 2 out until final bend, no extra
The last three winners of this have won the JP McManus colours. Joseph O’Brien’s Fine Brunello and Pagero are in the green and gold this year and the latter must be held in high regard to make his hurling debut in a race like this. The Henderson stable has won four of the last six renewals and ADJALI can recoup losses incurred in a narrow reverse in the Grade 1 Finale Hurdle at Chepstow, despite giving weight away. Our Power has only lost once so far and is on an upward curve so much respected but Nelson River will need to up his game to extend his unbeaten record. Dogon won over fences when last seen and the French import may not have the pace for this but Protektorat could go close with a clear round and makes more appeal than Cork maiden winner Fakir D'Oudairies.
Adjali (GER) 4-6fav (11-0) Tracked winner, driven to challenge before last, every chance flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 5, nk behind Quel Destin (11-0) at Chepstow 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Nelson River 6-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 5th, outpaced in 4th 2 out, rallied in 3rd before last, stayed on well flat, led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) gd in Dec beating Fanfan Du Seuil (11-5) by 1l, 7 ran.
Dogon (10-7) won at Fontainebleau 2m 2f hvy in Nov beating Fou Du Bresil (10-12) by 17l, 6 ran.
Fakir D'Oudairies (FR) 11-4 (10-8) Tracked leader, 3rd halfway, pushed along and headway to lead approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Cork 2m mdn sft in Jan beating Fast Buck (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 22 ran.
Fine Brunello (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, took closer order in 5th from 3 out, pushed along from next and soon no impression, kept on without threatening into 4th run-in, 4th of 17, 6l behind Band of Outlaws (11-0) at Limerick 2m mdn Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Fukuto (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Chased winner until before 3rd, chased leading pair, ridden and weakened before left in modest 3rd 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance, 2nd of 7, 22l behind Torpillo (11-8) at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Jan.
Our Power (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, 2nd after 3 out, led 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, edged right ridden and came clear run-in, won at Newbury 2m (4) sft in Dec beating Style De Vole (11-4) by 6l, 7 ran.
Pagero (FR) (9-2) 5th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Mr Satchmo (9-5) at Chantilly 1m 2f lst stks sft in Nov.
Protektorat (FR) 5-2fav (10-12) Held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 4th, at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) gd in Dec.
