tracked leaders, led after 6th, joined approaching 4 out, headed before 3 out where slight mistake, soon no extra and pulled up
waited with towards rear, hit 7 out, soon no impression, pulled up before 2 out
waited with, 5th from 6th, improved to get on terms before 3 out, soon led travelling smoothly, asserted from 2 out, stayed on well run-in, easily
prominent, slight mistake 5th, 4th from 6th, pushed along from 6 out, no impression from before straight, kept on without troubling winner into 2nd run-in
led, a little slow 4th, headed after 6th, remained prominent, on terms approaching 4 out, headed from 3 out, 3rd 2 out, soon no extra and one pace
waited with in rear early, took keen hold, chased leaders from before 3rd, 3rd from 6th, mistake 4 out, dropped to 5th before next, no extra approaching straight, pulled up before last
waited with towards rear, not fluent 8th, mistake 10th, some headway and under pressure from 4 out, no extra from next and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, closed up 5 out, ridden along approaching 3 out, 3rd approaching straight, 2nd 2 out, soon no impression, dropped to 3rd again and kept on same pace run-in
The five-year-old A Plus Tard receives a weight-for-age allowance which is certain to aid his cause. A very impressive winner of the Close Brothers Handicap at Cheltenham, this is an obvious step-up in grade but he's rapidly improving and the longer trip shouldn't pose a problem. Getabird is also stepping up in distance but comes here fresh having just failed to match Hardline in a Grade 1 at Limerick in December. He won a point-to-point as a youngster so this looks a natural target. DELTA WORK ran a fine race in the RSA and is guaranteed to stay the distance. Gordon Elliott has been in tremendous form recently and Davy Russell's mount looks the form pick on that Cheltenham run and he also holds sixth-placed Drovers Lane.
Articulum (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) In touch behind leaders, slightly hampered 6th, mistake next (water), outpaced after jumping right 4 out, went 3rd on home turn after 3 out, jumped right 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 16 3/4l behind Duc Des Genievres (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Chris's Dream (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway on outside 5 out, close up next, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off from next, 5th of 6, 25 1/2l behind Lostintranslation (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Delta Work (FR) 15-8fav (11-4) Mostly in touch in mid-division until closed 13th, led 3 out, headed after 2 out, slightly checked after last, switched right, 3rd and held after, kept on, 3rd of 12, 2 1/4l behind Topofthegame (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Discorama (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Held up behind, headway when hampered 17th, hampered again next, tracked leaders 4 out, challenged on outside after next, led narrowly last, soon ridden, stayed on gamely when headed inside final 100 yards, just held, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Le Breuil (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m (1) sft in Mar.
Drovers Lane (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place after 2nd, headway 12th, not fluent 14th, ridden and not able to go with leaders before 2 out, no extra, 6th of 12, 20 3/4l behind Topofthegame (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Getabird (IRE) 8-15fav (11-10) Led and disputed, led from 6th, travelling best approaching last when mistake and soon headed, ridden and kept on run-in without matching winner, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Hardline (11-10) at Limerick 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Winter Escape (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, slight mistake 6th, ridden into 3rd entering straight, no impression before 2 out, no extra before last and weakened, 3rd of 5, 30 1/2l behind Voix Du Reve (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
A Plus Tard (FR) 5-1fav (11-5) Led until 2nd, tracked leaders, led before 2 out, clear approaching last, stayed on strongly, impressive, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar beating Tower Bridge (11-3) by 16l, 20 ran.
