chased leaders,
held up towards rear
always behind, tailed off 9th, pulled up soon after
jumped right, led, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, weakened quickly between last 2
never that fluent, in touch in mid-division, went 2nd 7th until 4 out, chased leaders, 2nd again and hanging left when hampered 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, hung left and no extra in 4th run-in
mid-division, steady headway before 4 out, chased leaders went 2nd at the last, ridden to lead run-in, stayed on well
always towards rear, never on terms
jumped right, chased leaders, pecked 12th, outpaced 2 out, kept on into 3rd run-in
chasing leaders when blundered and unseated rider 8th
chased leader until 4th, prominent, 2nd again 4 out, led soon after next, headed and no extra run-in
always towards rear, never on terms
held up towards rear, never involved
mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders 10th, outpaced before 4 out, plugged on, no danger
mid-division on inside, weakened after 10th
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until 7th, chased leaders, weakened before 10th, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear
Paul Nicholls has a terrific record in this Grade 3 and has a trio of entries this year. Dolos heads the weights having come good dropped back to 2m at Ascot. He’s not one who finds a lot off the bridle, however. Warriors Tale was pulled up in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster five weeks ago but had won the Grand Sefton at Aintree before that and is a course and distance winner. Mercian Prince jumped boldly when successful at Kempton but was allowed to do his own thing and won’t get an uncontested lead here. War Sound has been well supported but has run poorly since making a winning reappearance at Aintree and Value At Risk is is upped in grade after getting back to winning ways at Market Rasen while Dustin Des Mottes has plenty to prove over the trip. HAPPY DIVA (NAP) is a tough and genuine mare who is a specialist over this distance, despite running well here last season over 3m. She beat an in-form rival in a Listed race at Huntingdon last time and went close in this grade at Cheltenham at the turn of the year so ticks plenty of boxes as all of her victories have come under today’s pilot.
Dolos (FR) 4-1cfav (11-7) Chased leaders, 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, came clear next, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Gino Trail (11-9) by 4l, 10 ran.
Warriors Tale 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, hit 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off 4 out, mistake next, pulled up before 2 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Master Dee (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Led, mistake 9th, soon headed, under pressure 4 out, son weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-10) Jumped well, made all, in command from 4 out, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Poker School (11-0) by 17l, 4 ran.
Javert (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, one pace and no impression before next, weakened flat, 6th of 18, 17l behind Baron Alco (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
San Benedeto (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Held up in last pair, some headway 12th, weakened 4 out, last of 10, dist behind Cyrname (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
War Sound 8-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 13th, struggling after 3 out, 8th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Siruh Du Lac (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Jan.
Valdez 25-1 (11-10) Held up in last trio, steady headway before 11th, modest 4th 4 out, kept on, 4th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Hell's Kitchen (11-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Happy Diva (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, challenged 4 out, led before 2 out, 4 lengths clear flat, reduced lead towards finish, kept on, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan beating Magic Of Light (11-4) by 1l, 7 ran.
Gala Ball (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway on outside 6 out, soon in touch, challenged 4 out, ridden and one pace after 2 out, 2 lengths down last, stayed on under pressure closing stages, not reach winner, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Warriors Tale (11-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Azzuri 14-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, driven and lost place after 4 out, behind when left 4th next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 5, 23l behind Magic Saint (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Value At Risk 7-1 (12-1) In rear, headway 8th, led 3 out, ridden and joined next, asserted towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Terry The Fish (11-10) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Dustin Des Mottes (FR) 5-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, hit 2nd, closed 8th, lost place when not fluent 11th, not fluent 13th, hit 4 out and well beaten after, 6th of 7, 35l behind Aso (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Jan.
Nightfly 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 12th, 3rd and beaten last, no extra flat, 4th of 7, 9 1/2l behind Happy Diva (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Jan.
Shanahan's Turn (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, last from next, well beaten 5 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Eamon An Cnoic (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Zalvados (FR) 5-4fav (10-11) Held up in 3rd, close up in 2nd at 6th, led before 4 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, readily outpaced by winner flat, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Veinard (11-0) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
