held up in rear, pushed along after 8th, reminders after 11th, left behind before 4 out, plugged on from before last
led, headed over 4 out, weakening when pulled up quickly before 3 out
raced in 3rd early, tracked leader after 2nd, led going well over 4 out, ridden and extended lead after 2 out, clear before last, idled and reduced lead flat, always holding on
chased leaders on outer, pushed along after 13th, lost position over 4 out and soon held
mid-division, lost ground before 9th, reminder after 12th, dropped to last 13th, beaten well over 4 out
held up, niggled along after 5th, reminder after 10th and soon detached, headway after 13th, outpaced over 4 out, no impression and beaten 2 out
close up early, slightly hampered 1st, tracked leaders after 2nd, lost position after 13th and soon outpaced, headway over 3 out, ran on into 2nd after last, kept on
held up in rear, closer after 8th, headway after 14th, ridden in 3rd under 3 out, no impression and dropped to 4th before last, held flat
mid-division, headway before 14th, ridden in 3rd under 4 out, outpaced by leader after 2 out, kept on same pace
Ami Desbois and Give Me A Copper are in the veteran stage now and efforts this season suggest neither is the force of old. Al Shahir has been prolific between the flags but has yet to show the same dash over regulation fences and Coup De Pinceau has changed stables again after just one run for Colin Tizzard. Formerly with Willie Mullins, DRAGON D’ESTRUVAL ran well in a valuable handicap at Punchestown when last seen under Rules. He’s won a couple of points for Philip Rowley and gets the nod in this ahead of Tristran Durrell’s mount Solomon Grey.
Coup De Pinceau (FR) 9-4 (11-13) Led, joined 10th, headed next, led again 13th (water), jumped left 16th, joined next, headed after 3 out, soon ridden, no extra next, 5th of 7, 10l behind Keltus (10-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Al Shahir (IRE) 13-8 (12-0) (tt) made all; drew clr 2 out; unchall, won at Kingston Blount 3m in Feb beating Streets Of London (12-0) by 15l, 6 ran.
Ami Desbois (FR) 18-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, soon led again, headed 5th, lost 2nd 14th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 9, 30 1/2l behind Flegmatik (10-10) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Dalahast (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced 5 out, last of 6, dist behind Capitaine (11-12) at Leicester 2m (5) gs in Mar.
Diplomate Sivola (FR) 4-7fav (11-7) (cp) (tt) made all; clr 14; unchall, won at Guilsborough 3m sft in Mar beating Sam Red (11-7) by 12l, 4 ran.
Dragon D'Estruval (FR) 1-2fav (12-5) (cp) (tt) a.p; led 12; drew clr 3 out; unchall, won at Horseheath 3m gs in Feb beating Always On The Run (12-0) by 30l, 4 ran.
Give Me A Copper (IRE) 8-13fav (11-12) Led until 7th, led 9th, headed 2 out, rallied flat, unable to get back to winner, 2nd of 3, 1/2l behind Gesskille (12-6) at Ludlow 3m (4) sft in Mar.
Maitree Express 10-3 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 9th, 9 lengths down when left disputing lead 2 out, slithered on landing last, no impression flat, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Wagner (12-6) at Wincanton 2m 4f (6) sft in Mar.
Solomon Grey (FR) 9-4 (12-6) Behind, slow 1st, closed before 5th, went 3rd from 11th, mistake 13th, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 5, 16l behind Stratagem (12-2) at Ludlow 2m 4f (4) gd in Mar.
