mid-division on outer, hit 5th, effort approaching 2 out, soon ridden and weakened before last
raced wide, chased leaders in 5th until weakened well before 2 out
always behind, struggling 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, headway on outside and hung right approaching 2 out, chasing leaders when hit last, kept on strongly under pressure run-in, just held
chased leaders, ridden well before 2 out, weakened 2 out
never better than mid-division
behind, hit 5th, headway approaching 2 out, never reach leaders and no danger
behind, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, weakening when hit 2 out
chased leaders until ridden and lost place 5th, stayed on under pressure after 2 out, kept on well run-in, finished well
always behind
led at fast pace, headed 4th, stayed with leader until weakened 2 out
mid-division, under pressure and weakened from 5th
behind, driven and struggling before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, driven along after 3 out, weakened 2 out
pressed leader, led 4th, mistake and headed last, no extra run-in
never going well and always behind
behind, headway approaching 2 out, kept on run-in, no danger
mid-division, driven to challenge 2 out, weakened run-in
in touch until weakened before 5th
held up last, smooth headway on wide outside well before 2 out, soon challengening, led last, hard driven run-in, held on, all out
Martin Pipe has done well in this race in the past but none of his trio this year make much appeal with Nous Voila probably the pick of them and preference is for Tarlac, who gets the vote over Ursis. Tony McCoy takes the ride on the selection for owner J P McManus and while still clearly rather novicey over hurdles the Group 3 winner on the level in Germany is undoubtedly potentially way ahead of the handicapper. McCoy will have knowledge of Ursis having ridden Jonjo O'Neill's gelding to success last time but has been harshly punished by the handicapper for that success and now has more to do. United has plenty of ability but also has plenty of weight, while Paul Nolan's Irish raider Escrea looks to be plenty high enough in the weights at present. The Venetia Williams-trained Gods Token has won his last two but the stable's horses have tended to struggle of late and he looks a shade high in the weights now anyway. Euro American is clearly going the right way but this looks tougher than the race that he won at Newcastle last time, while Fier Normand would be the less fancied of Jonjo O'Neill's two runners behind Ursis but does have a decent racing weight. Alph and Perle de Puce are others to consider but it is a stablemate of the last mentioned Tarlac who gets the vote.
United (GER) 6-1 (10-9) Settled 4th, improved to lead after 2 out, soon drew clear, unchallenged, won at Punchestown 2m 4yo hdl Grd 1 sft in Apr beating Strangely Brown (11-0) by 12l, 7 ran.
Nous Voila (FR) 7-2 (11-6) Prominent, led approaching 7th, ridden and headed approaching last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Dom d'Orgeval (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy in Feb.
Euro American (GER) 5-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, smooth headway when mistake 3 out, led between last 2, ridden and kept on well flat, won at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb beating You Do The Math (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Dusky Warbler 8-1 (11-2) Led, hit 3rd, driven and headed 2 out, weakened quickly last, last of 9, 33l behind Dom d'Orgeval (10-11) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Alph 25-1 (11-0) Held up, mistake and outpaced 3 out, headway under pressure before 2 out, disputing 3 lengths 2nd last, one pace run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Royal Shakespeare (11-4) at Sandown 2m lst hdl (1) gd in Feb.
Perle de Puce (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, headway to track leaders 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Bold Fire (9-13) at Southwell 2m mrs hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Cloudy Grey (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, soon eased, 16th of 20, 39l behind Desert Air (10-9) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Ursis (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Held up, headway, going well 4th, led on bit 2 out easily, won at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Jan beating Private Be (11-4) by 2l, 7 ran.
Bongo Fury (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, joined leaders 4 out, weakened approaching next, hung left from 2 out, blundered last, 5th of 7, 19l behind Mags Benefit (9-9) at Ayr 2m mrs hcp hdl (B) gd in Apr.
Verasi 14-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 15th of 20, 35l behind Desert Air (10-9) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Escrea (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Prominent, 5th 3 out, 3rd and ridden after 2 out, no impression from before last, 6th of 27, 10l behind Studmaster (10-3) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan.
Gods Token 2-1 (11-2) Led to 3rd, led after 5th, headed after 3 out, led again after 2 out, ran on, won at Warwick 2m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb beating Neveesou (11-6) by 8l, 5 ran.
Fenix (GER) 11-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden after 9th, soon weakened, 6th of 14, well behind Dom d'Orgeval (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy in Feb.
Dont Call Me Derek 7-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, effort approaching 3 out, ridden and effort next, kept on same pace, under pressure flat, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Torkinking (11-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Distant Prospect (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) In touch, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Material World (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb, 20 ran.
Lunar Crystal (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Led, joined 2 out, headed approaching last, rallied, always just held, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Tarlac (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Silencio (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, headway and led approaching 2 out, headed last, kept on but not pace of winner, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Nippy Des Mottes (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jan.
Monte Cinto (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Held up, effort 4th, weakened next, 4th of 5, 34l behind Gods Token (11-2) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Tarlac (GER) 5-6fav (11-2) Held up, headway 3 out, led approaching last, ran on well, won at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Feb beating Lunar Crystal (11-9) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Ballyjohnboy Lord (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, led approaching 5th, headed and hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 12l behind Bumper (11-1) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.
Victram (IRE) 4-1fav (10-0) Held up towards rear, no extra 2 out, pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Studmaster (10-3) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 hvy in Jan, 27 ran.
Fier Normand (FR) 8-11fav (11-9) Chased leaders, led approaching 3 out, comfortably, won at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb beating Four For A Laugh (11-2) by 3l, 11 ran.
