led, clear advantage 3 out, ridden and extended advantage 2 out, well clear approaching last, heavily eased after last, comfortably
raced prominently, losing place and ridden before 3 out, plugged on one pace
held up, awkward first, ridden 5 out, plugged on one pace
keen early, held up, ridden 4 out, no impression, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, plugged on one pace
raced prominently, started to lose place after fourth, dropped to detached last 5 out, ridden and no response, finished tailed off
NonRunner
NonRunner
Quinta Do Mar has been raised 9lb for winning at Carlisle while Mercian Prince was successful over fences at Kempton and can race off a lower mark back over the smaller obstacles. Humaniste debuts for a new yard having won a claiming hurdle at Huntingdon a fortnight ago while Natural History placed in novice company back in April. TAP TAP BOOM also returns from an absence but that was the case when finishing second off a higher mark in last year’s renewal and Alistair Ralph’s charge gets the vote. Pyramid Place was due to run at Cheltenham yesterday.
Quinta Do Mar (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Prominent, pressed leader before 3 out, led 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on strongly, readily, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Onehundredpercent (10-9) by 4 3/4l, 9 ran.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 13-8fav (11-11) Tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden and pressed from 3 out, driven out run in, just held on, won at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Goa Lil (11-0) by ns, 6 ran.
Humaniste (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leaders on inside, raced keenly, led 2 out, ridden clear flat, won at Huntingdon 2m (5) gd in Oct beating Great Hall (10-10) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
Natural History 2-7fav (11-6) Raced freely, led until clipped 4th and pecked badly, not fluent 3 out, switched right then challenged 2 out, led between last 2, mistake and headed last, rallied but unable to get back to winner on short run-in, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Opening Bid (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f (4) gd in Apr.
State Crown (IRE) 11-1 (10-7) Jumped right 1st, led, clear before 2nd until before 3 out where not fluent, headed and not fluent 2 out, no extra, 4th of 11, 17 1/4l behind Progressive (10-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Trans Express (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, lost place before 6th, behind after next, last of 6, dist behind Gallow Ford (10-10) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Tap Tap Boom 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 5th, pressed 2 out, pushed along before last where headed, kept on run-in, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Adicci (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Pyramid Place (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, headway when hampered 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, pressing winner when out-jumped last, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Progressive (10-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
