led until 13th, chased leaders, weakened 16th, soon lost touch, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
in touch, headway chasing leaders 10th, led 3 out, ridden and stayed on run-in, headed last strides
chased leaders, mistake and lost place slightly 11th (water) chased leaders, weakened 16th, behind and pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, ridden in mid-division after 17th, no headway after
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 17th
held up towards rear, mistake 6th, pushed along after 17th, never on terms
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, losing pace when mistake 9th, towards rear and no chance after, tailed off and pulled up before 15th
mid-division, smooth headway chasing leaders before 4 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, strong challenge run-in, led final strides
behind, steady headway approaching 4 out, staying on when fell next
chased leader until 9th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out, blundered next and pulled up
chased leaders, went 2nd 9th until approaching 13th, chased leaders, weakening when hampered 3 out
chased leaders, led 13th, headed 4 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
soon towards rear, never involved
held up towards rear, never involved
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
chased leaders, weakened before 14th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 17th
chased leaders, led 13th, headed 4 out, lost 2nd approaching next, weakened 2 out,
chased leaders, weakened approaching 12th, tailed off 16th, pulled up soon after
towards rear, headway on inside approaching 4 out, plugged on same pace in 5th
NonRunner
Genie In Abottle beat subsequent Troytown winner Mala Beach at Galway in October and followed up in a Listed race at Wexford. He was a smart novice last term and has obviously improved so should make a bold bid to give Ireland a first victory in this since 2002. Willie Mullins saddles both Munster National winner Total Recall and Pleasant Company with Paul Townend riding the former. He is also respected while Present Man is much improved and won the Badger Ales at Wincanton last month. Stablemate Braqueur D'or is coming along nicely but the jury is out on former Gold Cup winner Coneygree after he was pulled up at Wetherby. Label Des Obeaux could go well at a price but he was no match for AMERICAN at Exeter around this time last year when Missed Approach was behind. Harry Fry’s seven-year-old went on to win at Warwick and Uttoxeter in the style of potentially top-class stayer and can extend his unbeaten record over the larger obstacles. Whisper also has plenty of class but has picked up a penalty for winning a match at Kempton. Cogry beat Singlefarmpayment at Cheltenham but the runner-up can reverse the form here and has solid each-way claims.
Coneygree 7-4fav (11-0) Led, reached at 3rd and hind legs landed in fence, pecked next, headed 8th, slow and lost place next, pulled up before 10th, at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Whisper (FR) 4-6fav (11-9) Tracked leader, brushed 2nd, not fluent 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, looked held next, closed to lead last, idled in front but always doing enough, won at Kempton 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov beating Clan Des Obeaux (11-9) by 1/2l, 2 ran.
American (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Always handy, not fluent 8th, led after 14th, clear 4 out, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Mar beating Rock The Kasbah (11-6) by 8l, 9 ran.
Carole's Destrier 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway from 13th, not fluent 17th, 7th 5 out, weakened from next, 9th of 20, dist behind Native River (11-12) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Label Des Obeaux (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Held up 4th and last, outpaced 3 out, ridden and stayed on to challenge for modest 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 3rd of 4, 8 1/2l behind Might Bite (11-7) at Sandown 3m lst (1) gs in Nov.
A Genie In Abottle (IRE) 1-2fav (11-4) Made all, ridden entering straight, strongly pressed 2 out, kept on best run-in, won at Wexford 2m 7f lst (1) sft in Oct beating Tiger Roll (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Regal Encore (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Held up, always behind, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 12th of 16, dist behind Go Conquer (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) With leader, led 7 out, headed 5 out, ridden before 4 out, soon lost place, 3rd of 6, 23l behind Guitar Pete (10-1) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Total Recall (IRE) 2-1fav (10-5) Rear, 14th at 7th, progress to 10th after 9th, headway to 6th 3 out, closed approaching straight, led narrowly 2 out, asserted before last, eased run-in, easily, won at Limerick 3m hcp sft in Oct beating Alpha Des Obeaux (11-7) by 7l, 16 ran.
Singlefarmpayment 11-2 (11-4) Held up behind, headway 3 out, went 2nd approaching next, ridden and one pace between last 2, kept on under pressure flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 4l behind Cogry (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Double Ross (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Held up towards rear when blundered badly and unseated rider 2nd, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Present Man (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Led, jumped well, headed after 3rd, led again 11th, strongly challenged from 2 out, hard ridden after last, held on gamely, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov beating Final Nudge (10-11) by hd, 16 ran.
Missed Approach (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) With leader, lost place before not fluent 7th, pulled up after 4 out, at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Bigbadjohn (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, no impression, tailed off, 7th of 8, 34 1/2l behind Sir Mangan (11-2) at Bangor 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Vyta Du Roc (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden and one pace when not fluent 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 10, 14l behind Louis' Vac Pouch (10-6) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Braqueur D'Or (FR) 7-1 (10-11) Mid-division, hit 3 out, soon outpaced, chased leaders under pressure next, ridden between last 2, went 3rd last, kept on, not trouble front pair, 3rd of 16, 7 1/2l behind Go Conquer (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Cogry 13-2 (10-5) Pressed leader, led after 3 out, driven clear after next, ridden out flat, kept on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Singlefarmpayment (11-4) by 4l, 16 ran.
Potters Legend 9-4fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway under pressure 4 out, chased leaders after 2 out, kept on same pace after last, 4th of 8, 4 3/4l behind Sir Mangan (11-2) at Bangor 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Southfield Royale 8-1 (10-10) In touch, struggling 4 out, weakening when mistake next, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Pilgrims Bay (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Behind, not fluent 8th, headway 4 out, chased leaders after next, never on terms, 6th of 16, 18 1/4l behind Present Man (11-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Pleasant Company (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Mid-division, tracked leaders 11th, blundered 25th (2nd valentines), driven and one pace after 2 out, no impression after, 9th of 40, 28 1/4l behind One For Arthur (10-11) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
