held up towards rear, headway on wide outside 5f out, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up in rear, never a factor
towards rear, pushed along over 3f out, never on terms
led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace
led over 1f, settled in 3rd after 3f, ridden along over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
chased leaders, weakened 5f out, tailed off and eased
held up in mid-division, good headway 5f out, went 2nd 5f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well
always in rear, never involved, tailed off
mid-division, pushed along 6f out, weakened soon after
held up towards rear, some headway 5f out, ridden 4f out, weakened soon after, tailed off and eased
soon pushed along towards rear, headway over 3f out, stayed on to 3rd over 1f out
chased leader after 3f, pushed along and weakening when hamered over 3f out, eased final 2f, tailed off
behind, headway towards inside 2f out, stayed on to 4th over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, pressed for 3rd close home
in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
Last year's winner Descaro is among a number of these to have seen action over jumps during the winter. David O'Meara's charge is only 4lb higher this year and has a good record at the track so can't be ignored, but it's interesting to see Akarshan has made the trip up from south Wales after a couple of easy wins over fences and Jeu De Roseau is a useful dual-purpose performer. Tarantella Lady and Rosairlie have both won over hurdles recently but the weights point to a big run from HIGH RANSOM. Successful over hurdles at Carlisle in November, he kept good company over timber thereafter and the booking of in-form Frederick Tylicki suggests there is plenty of confidence behind him back on the Flat.
Riptide 17-2 (9-12) Held up in touch, with leader halfway, led 6f out, headed over 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Descaro (9-9) at Pontefract 2m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Descaro (USA) 4-1fav (10-3) Held up mid-division, outpaced over 3f out, some headway over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 35l behind Gaselee (9-9) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct.
Sam Lord 33-1 (9-10) Held up in touch, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on to 4th towards finish, 4th of 9, 4l behind Cotton King (9-12) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Ambrose Princess (IRE) 12-1 (8-9) Led early, chased winner, hung left from over 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace final furlong, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Danvilla (9-3) at Newmarket 2m hcp 0-90 (3) gd in Aug.
Jeu De Roseau (IRE) 5-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Hunting Tower (9-6) at Newcastle 2m hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Sep.
Akarshan (IRE) 15-2 (9-6) Held up in touch, improved 5f out, ridden 2f out, well held when switched left over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Stars In Your Eyes (8-12) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Feb.
Cloudy Spirit 7-1 (9-8) Tracked leader, led after 4f, came wide entering straight, headed 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Bob's World (8-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
High Ransom 16-1 (9-10) Held up towards rear, soon in rear, ridden over 2f out, some headway over 1f out, never dangerous, 5th of 12, 29l behind Gaselee (9-9) at Catterick 2m hcp 0-70 (5) sft in Oct.
Tarantella Lady 22-1 (8-6) Chased leaders, lost place halfway, soon beaten, last of 14, 29l behind Ultimate (9-2) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Sep.
Sansili 25-1 (8-10) Tracked leader 1f, ran in snatches in touch, ridden in 4th over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 9, 13l behind Cotton King (9-12) at Wolverhampton 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Mar.
Rosairlie (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Close up, ridden over 3f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 8, 10l behind The Absent Mare (8-12) at Kempton 2m hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Nov.
Cotton Grass 11-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, effort over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 5, 3l behind Belle Josephine (9-6) at Lingfield 2m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Blackstone Vegas 11-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Frederick William (9-4) at Kempton 2m hacp 0-70 (5) pol in Mar.
Dubara Reef (IRE) 14-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 5f out, reminders over 4f out weakened over 3f out, 10th of 11, 26l behind Holden Eagle (8-13) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f app hcp (0-55) (6) pol in Mar.
Polly Holder (IRE) 11-4 (9-1) Tracked leader until led 9f out, headed over 4f out, soon clear with winner, ridden over 3f out, switched right over 2f out, driven and soon beaten, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Carnac (9-1) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-65 (6) fbs in Mar.
