towards rear on inside when fell 5th
chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, well held in 6th when blundered last
raced wide and always towards rear
towards rear, in rear when hampered 5th, never on terms, tailed off
towards rear when blundered 3rd, no chance after
always in rear, tailed off 3 out
always towards rear
pressed leader until hit 3 out, soon ridden and weakened rapidly, tailed off
in rear when blundered and hampered 5th, stayed on from after 2 out, never in contention
in touch, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
made most until ridden and headed 2 out, weakened before last
held up in mid-divsion, smooth headway after 3 out, went 2nd on bit 2 out, led between last 2, ridden and headed last, not pace of winner flat
in touch, ridden and outpaced after 3 out
ridden along 4th, always towards rear, tailed off
towards rear, driven along in mid-division on inside after 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off
in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
mid-division, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
in rear, hampered 5th, never on terms
mid-division on inside, steady headway approaching 5th, closed going well approaching 2 out where mistake, went 2nd between last 2, shaken up to lead and hit last, came clear flat, stayed on strongly, driven out
chased leaders until hit 5th, weakened before next
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and headed soon after, one pace and no impression on leading duo last
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, staying on same pace in 4th when hit last
towards rear, hampered 5th, plugged on from 2 out, never any chance
raced wide in touch, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
The Pipe stable has farmed this valuable handicap hurdle in the past and there is likely to be plenty of support here for Arrayan, who would have completed a hat-trick at Taunton last month had he not jinked and unseated his young rider after the last when clear. This quicker ground may not be in his favour, however, while stablemate Ronaldo Des Mottes has a welter burden to overcome. Eradicate usually runs well in these big-field handicaps but he looks to have a bit to find to overturn Cheltenham form in January with ALARAZI, who is lightly raced and still on the upgrade. Lucy Wadham's charge had decent form on the Flat on this sort of surface and should go close though the strong-travelling Via Galilei, who beat Pateese at Newbury last week, is also a possible if Jamie Moore can time his run to perfection up the hill. The Betchworth Kid and Drill Sergeant are others capable of making their presence felt in an open race.
Ronaldo Des Mottes (FR) 12-1 (11-2) Held up in touch on inside, blundered 3rd, went 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no chance with leading pair when jumped right last, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Mille Chief (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Eradicate (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, ridden next, kept on under pressure flat, no impression, 6th of 15, 3 1/2l behind Recession Proof (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Alpine Eagle (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, 8th halfway, headway into 2nd after 3 out, no extra in straight and dropped to 6th at last, 8th of 26, 9l behind Final Approach (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 sft in Jan.
Kangaroo Court (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Prominent on inner, 4th when fell at 7th, in a race won by Chasing Cars (10-3) at Punchestown 2m 5f nov chs gd in Apr, 18 ran.
The Betchworth Kid 16-1 (10-12) Held up behind, headway on outside 3 out, soon chased leaders, ridden and edged left after last, kept on flat, nearest finish, 4th of 15, 1 1/2l behind Recession Proof (10-8) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Tito Bustillo (FR) 9-4fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, weakened before next, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Ciceron (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Dona 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, hard ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 14l behind Ciceron (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Arrayan 9-2 (11-3) Led, clear approaching last, rider fell off and unseated rider soon after, in a race won by Highway Code (11-3) at Taunton 2m 1f Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-130) (4yo+) (3) gd in Feb, 10 ran.
Numide (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Held up in last, headway on inside approaching 3 out, went 2nd after next, quickened to lead close home, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft beating Devotion To Duty (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Fiulin 11-4 (10-12) Led until 2nd, remained prominent, driven to challenge after 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Dunraven Storm (11-3) at Ascot 2m nh nov hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Ultimate 13-2 (10-13) Led, headed after 4 out, blundered 3 out, no extra when lost 2nd place flat, 3rd of 13, 7l behind Hunterview (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Feb.
Via Galilei (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Raced on inside, held up towards rear, hampered 3rd, smooth headway 4 out, went 2nd on bit approaching 2 out, nudged into lead last, driven out, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs beating Pateese (10-11) by 2 1/4l, 15 ran.
Caravel (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden in 3rd before 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out, 7th of 13, 19l behind Hunterview (11-3) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Feb.
Points of View 33-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, weakened after 3 out, never a factor, last of 7, well behind Sire De Grugy (11-6) at Kempton 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Song of Songs 9-2 (12-8) Held up and off the pace, mistake 3rd, steady headway from 6th, 4th from 9th, went 3rd next, chased winner 12th, mistake 14th, no impression when dropped to 3rd next, struggling when fell 3 out, in a race won by Dante's Storm (12-4) at Folkestone 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Drill Sergeant 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, jumped left and headed 5th, not keen briefly and lost place on paddock bend soon after, not fluent 7th, ridden next, rallied approaching 2 out, went 3rd when jumped left last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Numide (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Cheshire Prince 8-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon chasing leaders, ran on strongly to lead towards finish, ridden out, won at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Sircozy (11-5) by 2l, 12 ran.
Prince Of Fire (GER) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden in 9th 3 out, no impression next, kept on same pace from before last, 5th of 18, 10l behind Tawaagg (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 2f beg chase hvy in Feb.
Alarazi (IRE) 11-1 (10-1) Behind, good headway on inside before 2 out, challenged and hit last, led final 100 yards, stayed on, headed post, 2nd of 16, shd behind Art Professor (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Slightly hampered 1st, held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, chased winner 3 out, driven next, closed before last, head high but stayed on under pressure flat, going on close home, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Tobago Bay (11-4) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft.
Pateese (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, led on inside 3 out, ridden and joined 2 out, headed last, not pace of winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 15, 2 1/4l behind Via Galilei (10-12) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Lucaindubai (IRE) 22-1 (9-13) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge when fell 2 out, in a race won by Tiger O'Toole (10-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan, 14 ran.
Screaming Brave 16-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, smooth headway on inside after 3 out, 3rd and pressing leaders when hit 2 out, soon chasing winner, led last, riddeen and stayed on until headed final 100 yards, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Balerina (10-2) at Kempton 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gs in Feb.
Old Way (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Chased leaders, went 3rd after 2 out, pushed along on outside before last, stayed on well to lead final 150 yards, won at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Cotillion (10-13) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
