midfield, headway approaching 3 out, kept on same pace approaching last, never on terms
tracking leaders when fell 4th
always behind
midfield, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on after 2 out, never on terms
in touch, hampered 4th, weakened before 3 out
midfield, under pressure when fell 3 out
led until 4 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, headway on outside after 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra closing stages
midfield, hampered on bend after 1st, hampered again 4th, weakened before 3 out
pulled hard in midfield, weakened after 4 out, behind when pulled up before last
pulled hard in rear, headway 3 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, hampered 4th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, challenging after next, led before last, ran on strongly
midfield, weakened after 3 out
tracked leader, led 4 out, hard pressed after next, headed approaching when blundered last, no extra closing stages
chased leaders, effort 3 out, soon weakened
behind, headway on inside after 3 out, stayed on well closing stages, never nearer
in touch, hampered on bend after 1st, headway to chase leaders 4 out, under pressure after next, weakened flat
chased leaders, weakened quickly after 4 out, pulled up before next
midfield, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, chased leaders next, kept on well
behind, some headway 3 out, never dangerous
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, ridden to challenge next, stayed on same pace approaching last
Blazer has been all the rage for this since it was confirmed that Barry Geraghty, who will be riding at his minimum, will be in the saddle. He has a penalty for a recent win at Leopardstown but wouldn't have got into the handicap without it and should go close to giving Willie Mullins, who has five in the race in total, a first success in Europe's richest handicap hurdle. Modus was surprisingly beaten at Taunton in December but had excuses and it would be no surprise to see the smart novice bounce back in his first handicap. Philip Hobbs holds a strong hand with last year's runner-up Cheltenian, course and distance winner Sternrubin - who is bidding for a four-timer - and last year's Swinton Hurdle hero War Sound while Forest Bihan is one of those that will benefit from the likely fast pace. Agrapart could be a decent each-way bet but AFFAIRE D'HONNEUR also has plenty of scope. Though raised 8lb since a fast-finishing second at Kempton on his UK debut, Harry Whittington's maiden still looks well treated off a mark of 132 and no-one rides this course better that Gavin Sheehan.
Cheltenian (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Held up behind, headway on outside 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on to take 2nd final 100 yards, no impression with winner, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Solstice Star (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Dicosimo (FR) 5-4fav (11-7) Soon led, joined from 3 out, led again travelling smoothly approaching 2 out, soon clear, stayed on well run-in, easily, won at Limerick 2m lst (1) hvy in Dec beating Theophilus (11-1) by 10l, 6 ran.
War Sound 6-1fav (10-13) Held up in rear, headway from 4th, challenged 3 out, led next, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Haydock 2m hcp (1) gs in May beating Barizan (10-8) by 3 1/4l, 16 ran.
Kalkir (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 2nd halfway, progress to lead briefly approaching last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 23, 2 1/4l behind Henry Higgins (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Jan.
Ivan Grozny (FR) 33-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ran freely, 5th halfway, pushed along and no extra approaching last, weakened, 15th of 23, 27 1/4l behind Henry Higgins (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Jan.
Buiseness Sivola (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 7th halfway, 4th 2 out, soon no extra and weakened, eased before last, 22nd of 23, dist behind Henry Higgins (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Jan.
Sternrubin (GER) 9-1 (10-10) Led and set strong pace, ridden and narrowly headed run-in, rallied to force a dead heat on line, won at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec beating Jolly's Cracked It (11-3), 21 ran.
Waxies Dargle 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division, 9th 3 out, pushed along and no extra after 2 out, 16th of 23, 27 1/4l behind Henry Higgins (10-10) at Leopardstown 2m hcp sft in Jan.
Mad Jack Mytton (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden to challenge last, hung left and every chance flat, no impression final 75 yards, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Solstice Star (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Forest Bihan (FR) 9-4 (11-12) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 5 out, led 3 out, pressed last, ridden run-in, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Tomkevi (10-2) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Montbazon (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden before 3 out, stayed on approaching last, went 4th flat, not get on terms, 4th of 13, 15 3/4l behind Purple Bay (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gs in Jul.
Modus Evensfav (11-8) Mid-division, headway when mistake 4 out, tracked leaders after next, effort between last 2, ridden and one pace in 3rd flat, 3rd of 13, 5 1/2l behind Miles To Milan (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) hvy in Dec.
Agrapart (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, beaten 3rd when not fluent last, no extra, 3rd of 5, 10 1/4l behind Yorkhill (11-7) at Sandown 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Matorico (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, ridden and headway to track leaders 2 out, hit next, driven and stayed on one pace, 4th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Baron Alco (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Starchitect (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led, headed after 3rd, led again 4th, headed before 2 out, weakening when fell last, at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Zarib (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, plugged on run-in, 6th of 21, 6 3/4l behind Jolly's Cracked It (11-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Affaire D'Honneur (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, went 2nd from next, stayed on flat, not quite able to challenge, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Zulu Oscar (11-4) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Blazer (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, closed up travelling smoothly 2 out, challenged at last, pushed along to lead from 150yds out and edged left, stayed on well to quickly assert, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp hvy in Feb beating Mighty Concorde (10-1) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Chieftain's Choice (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Led to after 4th, tracked leader, mistake 6th, lost place before 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind One Track Mind (11-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Champagne At Tara 6-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway 2 out, close up and effort on inside before last, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression final 100 yards, 5th of 9, 6 3/4l behind Solstice Star (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Baby King (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 3 1/4l behind Floresco (10-13) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Flying Angel (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) In touch, headway to chase leaders when hung left 2 out, weakening when hit last, 5th of 14, 12 1/4l behind Baron Alco (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
