mid-division, lost place 8th, closed 11th, every chance in 3rd 3 out, 2nd when not fluent last, no impression on winner flat, stayed in
tracked leaders, lost place when not fluent 5th, headway 9th, 2nd 4 out, led next, edged left after 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well
in rear, not fluent 3rd, hit 12th and struggling, behind 5 out
mid-division, headway 4th, not much room 7th, jumped left 5 out, lost place before next, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, 4th when hit 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, took 3rd close home
tracked leader, mistake 7th, lost 2nd 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
held up, in rear, took keen hold, hit 10th, in touch when not much room 5 out, soon switched left, never on terms and beaten when jumped left 3 out and 2 out
led, headed 3 out, switched right after next, no extra when lost 3rd close home
Ibis Du Rheu paid the price for trying to keep pace with Thistlecrack at Newbury on his chasing bow but faces nothing of that one’s calibre here. Three of these won their latest starts but POBBLES BAY (NAP) was probably more impressive than Sykes and Pearl Swan, winning by 16 lengths at Uttoxeter despite being eased down in the closing stakes. The third and fourth have won since so the form looks solid and he looks one to follow. Sykes has nothing in hand on Tempestatefloresco and Ballycross here earlier in the month but Definite Outcome still had every chance when unseating his rider last time at Aintree.
Ibis Du Rheu (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Chased leading pair, went 2nd 7th, pushed along before 4 out, no impression when lost 2nd 2 out, plugged on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Thistlecrack (11-9) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Nov.
Pobbles Bay (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, in mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 11th, challenged 3 out, led before next, soon clear, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Crosspark (11-6) by 16l, 13 ran.
Knight Of Noir (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Towards rear of mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, outpaced after next, ridden and no impression before last, soon weakened, 9th of 23, 16l behind Call The Cops (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Mar.
Tempestatefloresco 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, every chance last, ridden and kept on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Sykes (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Ballycross 5-1 (11-6) Prominent until blunderd and dropped to rear 2nd, headway and in touch on outer after 7th, pressed leader next, lost place 5 out, soon ridden and lost place, rallied to take 4th towards finish, 4th of 10, 1 3/4l behind Sykes (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Definite Outcome (IRE) 7-4jfav (11-5) Led until 2nd, led 7th, blundered and unseated rider 2 out (normal 5 out), at Aintree 3m 1f (3) gs in Nov.
Sykes (IRE) 4-1fav (10-13) Mid-division, tracked leaders on inside 5 out, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, held on, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Tempestatefloresco (11-5) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Pearl Swan (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Made all, pushed along before last, kept on well, won at Ffos Las 3m (4) gd in Nov beating West Wizard (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
