never travelled or jumped with any fluency, mistakes 6th and next, closer on outside 16th, mistake 17th, no chance after
chased leading pair, went 2nd 6th until 9th, chased leaders, 2nd again 13th, every chance 4 out until next, well held when pulled up and dismounted before 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 13th, ridden after 3 out, rallied run-in
raced widest, chased leaders, 3rd at 8th, 2nd next, led 12th, in command and staying on strongly when left in clear lead before 2 out
mid-division, fell 4th
towards rear when slightly hampered 1st and 3rd, mid-division approaching 9th, weakened after 11th, tailed off
held up in mid-division, pushed along before hit 12th, weakened soon after, tailed off when mistake 15th
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, behind when hampered next, never going after, tailed off
held up and behind, headway on inside chasing leaders approaching 12th, 3rd after 4 out, left in well held 2nd and hampered before 2 out, mistake last, lost 2nd run-in
led until 12th, chased winner until 13th, chased leaders, pecked 18th, outpaced 3 out, left modest 3rd before next, plugged on run-in
chased leader until 6th, chased leaders, blundered 17th, kept on run-in
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 10th, pushed along in 6th after 11th, blundered 3 out,
hampered and towards rear after 1st, last pair and struggling 11th, tailed off when blundered 15th, pulled up soon after
Only one of the last nine winners of this historic chase has started at bigger odds than 4/1 so it may to concentrate on those near the head of the market. RATHLIN ROSE and Guy Disney won this in 2017 and the partnership was second last year. The pair still had every chance when coming to grief in last month Royal Artillery Gold Cup here last month won by Carlos Du Fruitier but could take revenge if that tumble hasn’t affected confidence. Keltus and A Tail Of Intrigue look held on the form book but Le Reve and Pete The Feat are both course specialists and the former came right back to form over a longer trip at Lingfield. Mr Mercurial has won six times under Rules and five times between the flags. He faced a stiff task on his reappearance at Kelso and can’t be ignored.
Rathlin Rose (IRE) 11-4 (12-10) Held up, dived at 13th, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, 4th and going ok when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Feb.
Carlos Du Fruitier (FR) 7-4fav (12-0) Chased leader until 4th, chased leaders, pecked 10th, 2nd next, led before 12th, made rest, almost joined last, wandered under pressure and kept on well run-in, won at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Feb beating Huff And Puff (12-5) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place after 7th, behind 4 out, last of 9, dist behind Captain Cargo (10-11) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Le Reve (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 4th, drew well clear 7th, hard driven from 3 out, held on gamely closing stages, won at Lingfield 3m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Ballymalin (11-9) by 1 3/4l, 17 ran.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 14th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before last, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
A Tail Of Intrigue (IRE) 66-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, tracked leader 4th, led next, headed before 12th and dropped to 3rd, slightly lost place next, impeded 17th, outpaced 4 out, plugged on run-in, 4th of 8, 10 1/2l behind Carlos Du Fruitier (12-0) at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Feb.
Cabragh (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, unseated rider 3rd, at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Feb.
Keltus (FR) 7-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, hit 8th, slight peck 13th, blundered 17th, went 2nd before 3 out until before next, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 8, 8 3/4l behind Carlos Du Fruitier (12-0) at Sandown 3m (3) sft in Feb.
Mr Mercurial (IRE) 11-2 (12-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, led 3 out, bumped on landing last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Shantou Flyer (12-6) at Kelso 2m 7f (5) gd in Feb.
Royal Palladium (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Led until 4th, led again 8th, headed 10th, under pressure 5 out, weakened next, 9th of 10, dist behind Reikers Island (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Sentimentaljourney (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Drpd rr 8; t.o, last of 6, dist behind Jack Snipe (12-0) at Badbury Rings 3m gf in Feb.
Spanish Arch (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) (tt) in tch to 13, 8th of 19, 28 1/2l behind Vivaldi Collonges (12-0) at Didmarton 3m gd in Mar.
Vieux Lille (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Chased leading trio until 5th, dropped to last at 8th, mistake 11th, struggling when blundered badly and eventually unseated rider next, at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
