always towards rear
rear division, pushed along 4 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, pushed along before 5 out, soon tailed off
held up mid-division, mistake 6 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened after 4 out
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, chased winner run-in, always held
tracked winner to 2 out, weakened before last
in touch, pushed along before 3 out, chased winner from 2 out, kept on and lost 2nd place run-in
always towards rear, pulled up
always towards rear
held up mid-division, pushed along before 6 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
made all, soon clear, kept on well from last
always towards rear
tracked leaders in 4th, weakened before last
in touch, ridden before 2 out, kept on
always towards rear
These Pertemps qualifiers are always well contested and a few of these might need a win to get into the final itself. Jonjo O'Neill runs two and veteran Sunnyhillboy looks fairly treated while Kelvingrove has been edging closer. But AP McCoy rides AQALIM, who makes his handicap debut, for John Ferguson. He's less exposed than the majority of these and should stay the longer trip. Tony Martin's Buddy Bolero is interesting back over hurdles while Run Runctions Run has place claims again. Bygones Sovereign made all and won easily at Newbury last week but has been raised a massive 13lb and is unlikely to get an uncontested lead here. Racing Europe may be best of the rest as this is possibly too tough for Invicta Lake and Vicente is probably having a confidence-booster. Dolatulo is much better over fences nowadays.
Cape Tribulation 4-1 (11-10) In touch on inside, lost place 11th, soon behind, lost touch 13th, tailed off next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Lie Forrit (10-10) at Kelso 3m 2f hcap ch (2) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Vicente (FR) 8-13fav (11-2) Jumped sketchily first three fences, led, went slightly left 14th, 1 length ahead when fell 4 out, in a race won by Warden Hill (11-2) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (3) sft in Nov, 3 ran.
Buddy Bolero (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Towards rear, 14th from 7th, went moderate 9th before straight and no impression, kept on, 6th of 15, 24l behind Page Turner (10-5) at Limerick 2m 3f hcap ch in Dec.
Dolatulo (FR) 14-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden to lead 2 out, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec beating Cape Tribulation (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Across The Bay (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 8th to 17th, weakend after 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 25, well behind Oscar Time (10-12) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Dec.
Run Ructions Run (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) In touch, outpaced 5 out, kept on from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Dawalan (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl (2) gd.
Abracadabra Sivola (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Chased leader, hit 4th and 7th, mistake and lost 2nd 4 out, weakened rapidly after next, 6th of 8, 24l behind Baradari (10-4) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Aqalim 4-6fav (11-11) Mid-division, blundered 3rd, tracked leaders next, reminder after 6th, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden before next, led between last 2, driven out from last, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Stilo Blue Native (11-5) by 10l, 8 ran.
Invicta Lake (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, good headway and switched left before 2 out, ridden to lead last, driven clear run-in, won at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Jan beating El Dancer (11-2) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Stonebrook (IRE) 4-1fav (10-12) Not fluent 2nd, held up in touch on inside, driven 3 out, effort when hampered next, not recover and soon eased, 14th of 22, 37l behind Clondaw Kaempfer (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Apr.
Kelvingrove (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, chased winner, rallying and every chance when not much room on outside rail and slightly hampered 100 yards out, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Pull The Chord (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Bygones Sovereign (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Made all, 10 lengths clear 3rd, maintained strong pace and over 20 lengths ahead 3 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft beating Araldur (11-4) by 28l, 11 ran.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway on outside 7th, challenged 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Dec '13 beating Return Spring (10-10) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Leviathan 15-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, plugged on from 2 out, went 4th before last, no impression, 4th of 9, 20l behind Tornado In Milan (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Racing Europe (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Tracked leader, led from 2nd, mistake 4 out, pushed along and headed 3 out, kept on, 4th of 7, 4l behind Shanroe Santos (11-7) at Musselburgh 3m nh nov hdl (2) gd.
Bell Weir 9-1 (9-12) Held up behind, headway 2 out, ridden before last, weakened run-in, 9th of 12, 18l behind Dawalan (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl (2) gd.
