raced wide in mid-division, pushed along home turn, weakened before 3 out
chased leader until 5th, chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, left in 3rd place 3 out, went 2nd next, soon ridden, upsides last, led 1f out, ridden out
led, hit 5th, already headed when mistake and unseated rider 3 out
held up in last pair on inside, not fluent 1st and next, headway tracking leaders when left in 4th place 3 out, left 3rd at the last, switched right driven and one pace run-in, not pace to challenge
chased leaders, went 2nd at 5th, hit 2 out, and lost 2nd, hung left and one pace in 3rd when fell last
held up in rear, never on terms, left remote 4th at the last, never involved
chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
off the pace in last trio, never on terms, plugging on in remote 5th when hampered and unseated rider last
chased leaders on inside, led 3 out, ridden and joined when hit the last, headed and not pace of winner 1f out
I Have A Voice is the most exposed of these but has won two of his last three. Snapius has proved consistent in Ireland but clearly needs to improve to win a race like this and the filly Cianciana appears to hold stronger claims. Bo Zenith represents last year’s winning yard but he disappointed on his UK debut. The Nicholls stable has a good record in this contest and their representative this year, AFADIL, has won both starts over hurdles with plenty in hand. A hat-trick beckons here, though Punta Del Este is something of an unknown quantity and Planet Legend took a big step forward at Huntingdon.
Afadil (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, every chance next, led approaching last, ridden and edged right towards finish, won at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) gd in Feb beating The Churchill Lad (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Bo Zenith (FR) 4-11fav (11-10) Tracked winner, pushed along and no impression before 2 out, lost 2nd soon after 2 out, no extra in 3rd, mistake last, finished tired, 3rd of 4, 27l behind I Have A Voice (11-6) at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Jan.
I Have A Voice (IRE) 17-2 (11-6) Bit keen early, hurdled well, made all at good pace and soon clear, reduced lead after 3 out, went readily clear again before 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Jan beating Mombasa (11-10) by 17l, 4 ran.
Punta Del Este (FR) (10-7) won at Cagnes-sur-Mer 2m hvy in Dec beating Arazzo (10-7) by 7l, 9 ran.
Planet Legend (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, led before 5th, headed 5th, led again before 3 out, pushed along and went clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well after last, won at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) gd in Jan beating Elogio (11-2) by 15l, 8 ran.
Apologise (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Pulled hard out wide, headway chasing leaders 2nd, led 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon lost 2nd, weakened quickly, 6th of 10, 32 1/4l behind Tying The Knot (11-0) at Hereford 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Snapius (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Soon tracked leader on outer, dropped to 7th after 5th, ridden approaching straight, stayed on in 5th before last, ridden and ran on well run-in to 3rd close home, 3rd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Theonewedreamof (10-2) at Punchestown 2m hcp sft in Jan.
V Twelve (IRE) 11-1 (9-9) Wore hood to post, tracked leader, led 3f out, led field centre in straight, ridden and narrowly headed inside final 2f, in front again inside final furlong, stayed on gamely, won at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (5) sft in Oct beating Chips And Rice (9-9) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Cianciana 28-1 (11-0) Towards rear early, headway into mid-division after 4th, pushed along after 3 out, edged left under pressure from 2 out, ran on into third closing stages, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Greyval (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f lst fll (1) gd in Jan.
