prominent, lost touch 15th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division when fell 3rd
mid-division, ridden and headway 17th, one pace
held up in mid-division, ridden and kept on from 4 out, mistake 3 out, not quicken after
badly hampered 1st, soon behind, never on terms and pulled up before 17th
prominent, ridden 17th, weakening when unseated rider last
held up towards rear, ridden and lost touch 17th, kept on one pace after
prominent, ridden 4 out, kept on well to go 2nd 3 out, stayed on
chased leader, ridden 4 out, led approaching 3 out, driven clear from 2 out
led, ridden clear 4 out, weakened and headed approaching 3 out, no chance after
The short list for the big race, which often throws up a number of Hennessy Gold Cup clues, contains Iris Bleu, Ladalko and Sweet Diversion, with the selection being Iris Bleu. Beaten a whisker in the Scottish National on his final start last season, Ladalko has been raised three pounds for that effort but still looks fairly competitively weighted to us. Nil Desperandum is not the force he was but maybe Venetia Williams can get another hurrah out of him. Celtic Boy, Sweet Diversion, Alderburn and Ballycassidy maybe still have it to prove from their current marks in terms of winning, while Keltic Bard ran pretty well at Southwell last time following a long absence and, if he can be kept sound, he would be interesting from his current mark based on his 2004 promise. Fork Lightning is another that would hold very good claims based on his 2004 best, while Iris Bleu is now back to the mark from which he won this race last year, so is an obvious contender. Parson's Legacy would hold place claims based on his Cheltenham April second to Sweet Diversion, although of course Sweet Diversion can be fancied to bag some money based on that effort too, while Swansea Bay would be a good thing based on his 2003 win in this race, but he is not the same force as in those halcyon days. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Iris Bleu.
Ballycassidy (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) In touch until 8th, gradually faded, tailed off 15th, 10th of 11, well behind See You Sometime (10-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gf in Oct.
Ladalko (FR) 7-1jt-fav (10-4) Mid-division, blundered 2nd, mistake 7th, headway 18th, shaken up to lead run-in, headed post, 2nd of 30, shd behind Run For Paddy (10-2) at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Nil Desperandum (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Always in rear, never dangerous, 11th of 30, 42l behind Run For Paddy (10-2) at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Celtic Boy (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened 6th, lost touch and virtually pulled up flat, 15th of 16, well behind Desert Tommy (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
Keltic Bard 14-1 (11-6) Held up, headway halfway, every chance 3 out, ridden and slightly hampered next, no extra approaching last, 3rd of 15, 11l behind A Glass In Thyne (10-12) at Southwell 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Jan.
Fork Lightning (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders and jumped right throughout, kept on one pace, 3rd of 17, 11l behind Sweet Diversion (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Sweet Diversion (IRE) 8-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on to go 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 11, 9l behind See You Sometime (10-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gf in Oct.
Iris Bleu (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Towards rear, pushed along 14th, soon outpaced, 7th of 8, 27l behind Harlov (10-0) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in May.
Preacher Boy 11-2 (11-10) Led to 4th, led again approaching 8th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Chilling Place (11-6) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs in Apr.
Alderburn 9-2 (11-9) Held up, closer order 11th, tracked leaders 15th, mistake 17th, close up when brought down 4 out in race won by Napolitain (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr, 6 ran.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Prominent, led after 3 out, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 17, 6l behind Sweet Diversion (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
Swansea Bay 10-1 (10-11) Led, ridden and headed 4 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 14, 3l behind Tribal Venture (10-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
