chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, weakened 13th, towards rear when blundered 17th, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 14th, pushed along and every chance 4 out, slight peck 3 out, weakened and mistake 2 out
chased leaders, weakened 12th, behind 16th, tailed off
always towards rear, tailed off
jumped right, led, hit 3rd, headed 3 out, chased winner, held from next, kept on gamely to hold 2nd
held up in mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 11th (water), every chance 4 out, no extra from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 12th, chased leaders 4 out, led 4 out, came clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly
behind, struggling in rear 14th, moderate progress 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 15th, challenged 4 out, outpaced and edging left before 2 out, rallied last, edged left and kept on to 3rd flat, pressed for 2nd but no chance with winner
mistake 1st, held up and behind, headway 9th, driven after 16th, weakened next, tailed off
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened 16th, soon struggling, tailed off
chased leader, hit 12th, every chance 4 out until next, stayed on same pace last
in touch, headway chasing leaders 12th, reminders after next, soon lost place, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Surprisingly, given the race title, none of the Alan King entries have stood their ground but several other big yards are represented. Paul Nicholls' BUCK'S BOND is a law unto himself but very capable if in the mood and his best efforts have come on good going. He still isn't badly treated so gets a very tentative vote ahead of the classy-but-luckless Highland Lodge and Roalco De Farges. Philip Hobbs also runs Bertie Boru but Richard Johnson rides the nine-year-old who should now be approaching peak fitness and was second to Tidal Bay in the 2012 bet365 Gold Cup off a 7lb higher mark. Storm Survivor chased home Night In Milan in a Class 2 handicap at Doncaster three weeks ago and can't be ignored while Reblis won a couple of staying handicaps at Plumpton earlier this season, though has shot up the weights since. Niceonefrankie's defeat of Double Ross at Ascot in November is very solid form and he's been keeping good company since - he's another to consider.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 9-4fav (10-5) Took keen hold, led until 2nd, led 8th until 12th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Restless Harry (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) sft in Feb.
Niceonefrankie 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden in 9th after 4 out, stayed on to modest 6th from 2 out, never a threat, 6th of 13, 6l behind Bally Legend (10-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Feb.
Sivola De Sivola (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Raced wide, chased leader, led 6th, pushed along briefly before 8th, headed before 3 out, weakened next, 9th of 11, 19l behind Mister Dillon (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Dec.
Reblis (FR) 5-1 (10-13) Mid-division, pushed along before 11th, ridden 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan beating Smoking Aces (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
No Secrets (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Led and disputed until 9th, hit next, weakened 12th, well beaten and tailed off when blundered 2 out, 5th of 6, well behind Theatrical Star (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
What A Warrior (IRE) 8-1 (10-6) Prominent on outer, pushed along before 7 out, soon lost place, ridden and weakened before 5 out, last of 6, 19l behind Persian Snow (10-8) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Feb.
Roalco De Farges (FR) 10-3fav (11-5) Mid-division, in touch on outside 13th, challenged 4 out, every chance last, ridden and one pace in 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Firebird Flyer (10-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Feb.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) Towards rear, struggling 14th, tailed off 16th, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Shotgun Paddy (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Samingarry (FR) 100-1 (11-4) In rear, mistake 8th, lost touch 10th, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by O'Faolains Boy (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd, 15 ran.
Bertie Boru (IRE) 9-1 (10-13) Chased leaders on inside until mistake and lost place 9th, in touch, outpaced 13th, headway and rallied to chase leaders approaching 4 out, went 3rd and not fluent 3 out, kept on same pace flat, closed on 2nd near finish, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Dare To Endeavour (11-1) at Exeter 3m (3) sft in Feb.
Upham Atom 14-1 (11-7) Led until ridden before 3 out, weakened soon after, 4th of 5, 25l behind Veauce De Sivola (11-8) at Taunton 3m nov hcp 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb.
Ballypatrick (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway before 16th, ridden before 3 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 16, 2 3/4l behind Wyck Hill (11-0) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Feb.
Loughalder (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 4th, blundered 14th, clear from 4 out, not fluent last, eased close home, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs beating Jaunty Journey (10-7) by 9l, 10 ran.
Storm Survivor (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway when not fluent 6th, went 2nd before 2 out, stayed on same pace, no impression on winner, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Night In Milan (10-12) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd.
Buck's Bond (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Chased leaders to 5 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Count Guido Deiro (11-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
