held up behind leaders, smooth progress between horses to lead 2 out, drew clear before last, ridden out
held up towards rear, ridden and headway when awkward 2 out, kept on without troubling leaders from last
pressed leader, led before 3rd, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened
led narrowly, headed before 3rd, still in touch 3 out, ridden before 2 out, faded before last
always in rear
tracked leading pair, ridden to lead before 2 out, headed 2 out, kept on under pressure but no chance with winner flat
NonRunner
Sceau Royal, equally adept over hurdles and fences, beat Teqany more than seven lengths in this last year and confirmed that form with the runner-up at Kempton on his reappearance, despite worse terms. Sole Pretender won a Grade 3 at Tipperary in July before running well in the Galway Hurdle when five lengths ahead of fellow Irish raider Belfast Banter but GOSHEN (NAP) looks the one to beat. He was hugely impressive in the Kingwell Hurdle here in February and is best on flat tracks which place the emphasis on speed.
Sceau Royal (FR) 7-4 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden and headway to lead approaching last, ran on, won at Kempton 2m lst (1) gd in Oct beating Silver Streak (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Belfast Banter (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, pushed along in 5th when not fluent next, ridden and no impression in 5th when fell last, at Listowel 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Sep.
Sole Pretender (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Mid-division and 7th from halfway, pushed along before 2 out and soon ridden, no impression from before last and kept on same pace run-in, 8th of 20, 7 1/4l behind Saldier (11-10) at Galway 2m hcp gd in Jul.
Christopher Wood (IRE) 4-7fav (10-12) Kept bit wide, tracked leader until pushed along 3 out, no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Beyond The Clouds (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m (4) gd in May.
Hatcher (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, headway on outside from 4 out, went 3rd and not fluent last, no impression on winner, kept on, 3rd of 7, 6 1/2l behind Before Midnight (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Teqany (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 4, 5l behind Sceau Royal (11-6) at Kempton 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
Goshen (FR) 8-1 (12-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, took keen hod, mistake 2nd, disputed lead 4th, headed next, ridden in 2nd 2 out, no impression straight, 5th of 8, 16 1/2l behind Honeysuckle (11-7) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding in Apr.
