chased leaders, hit 3rd, took closer order 4th, one pace from 3 out
with leader, led 4th, headed 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up behind, never dangerous
held up in mid-division and keen, unseated rider 3rd
held up, ridden 3 out, kept on
held up, effort 4th, weakened 3 out
held up, kept on same pace from 3 out
mid-division, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, hit 5th, kept on same pace from 2 out
in touch, hit 3 out when outpaced
mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
mid-divsion, ridden and headway 3 out, one pace
led to 4th, ridden to lead again 4 out, headed after last, one pace
in touch, weakened 3 out
always behind, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway after 3 out, hit 2 out, led after last, driven out
held up, weakening when hit 4 out
held up, weakened after 4 out
mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, no impression from next
held up, headway after 4 out, stayed on from next
A typically competitive curtain raiser can go the way of Poquelin with Song Of Songs and Heathcote put up as lively alternatives. Paul Nicholls has been sparing with Poquelin over the course of the winter and having produced Elusive Dream under similar conditions earlier in the week, we reckon he can repeat the dose here. Song Of Songs caught the eye of many at Cheltenham at the festival. He looks a useful sort but around this tight track will he get the run? Gary Moore is always to be feared in big handicaps and Heathcote looks a player. The ground is a questionmark but he should get the fast pace that he needs in order to be at his best. Hide The Evidence has had a break after leaving the stables of Jessica Harrington. He has lots of weight but has plenty of pace to burn. Kings Quay is a regular in events of this nature. He needs luck in running but is perfectly capable. Bureaucrat appreciates good going and is far better than his run at Kempton suggests. Crossbow Creek takes on this assignment off a much lower mark than over chase fences. He has been campaigned on the level of late. The Duke's Speech hasn't got home over longer trips and is one to note in the market in case of any confidence. Serabad has run well against novices but today represents an acid test against hardened handicappers. Oh Crick has been most progressive. A good race to begin proceedings and we are with Poquelin.
Hide The Evidence (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Led, headed after 4th, 2nd 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 11th of 16, 17l behind Deutschland (10-7) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 gd in Dec.
Astarador (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Raced keenly, chased leaders, hit 5th, ridden before 2 out, weakened quickly approaching last, 20th of 24, 50l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Kings Quay 25-1 (11-0) Always towards rear, 22nd of 24, well behind Wingman (10-0) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb.
Poquelin (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, soon driven and stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 17, 8l behind Jack The Giant (11-0) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gf in Dec.
Heathcote 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway after 4th, ridden after next, stayed on, went 2nd to run-in, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Border Castle (11-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Tarlac (GER) 16-1 (11-5) Never better than mid-division, 13th of 22, 25l behind Ashkazar (10-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Bureaucrat 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders until weakened 3 out, 9th of 13, 28l behind Palomar (9-13) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Platin Grounds (GER) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden, headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 7th of 22, 15l behind Ashkazar (10-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Serabad (FR) 14-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, soon one pace, 6th of 14, 12l behind Celestial Halo (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Oh Crick (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 5th, driven to take narrow advantage last, kept on, driven out, won at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb beating Silmi (10-6) by 1l, 14 ran.
Song of Songs 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 7th, every chance last, weakened flat, 7th of 24, 8l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, blundered 3rd, ridden and one pace from 4 out, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Jack The Blaster (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m nov chs (3) gs in Feb.
Khachaturian (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Prominent, led 4th, clear 5th, ridden after 6th, clear 2 out, ran on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Mar beating Topflight Wildbird (10-3) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Forthright 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd 4 out, no impression under pressure next, weakened before 2 out, last of 7, 11l behind Salford City (11-4) at Tipperary 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Mon Michel (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Held up, ridden and trying to close when not clear run approaching last, stayed on flat, never nearer, 8th of 22, 12l behind Silver Jaro (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Pearl King (IRE) 2-1fav (10-7) Held up, steady headway from 6th, mistake 3 out, led and mistake last, idled flat, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May beating Capitana (10-12) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
European Dream (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden 2 out, ran on, not reach winner, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Five Dream (10-6) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft in Jan.
Pevensey (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Always behind, 12th of 13, 50l behind Soubriquet (10-4) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl (3) gd in Mar.
Ingratitude (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Hypnotic Vibes (10-6) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jan.
Take The Breeze (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, led briefly 2 out, soon ridden, weakened quickly, 4th of 11, 10l behind Motorway (11-4) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Mar.
Dishdasha (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway after 4th, soon ridden, weakened after next, 11th of 14, well behind Border Castle (11-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Crossbow Creek 7-1 (11-12) Keen hold, held up in rear, blundered badly 5th, no chance after, soon tailed off, 5th of 7, 32l behind Hoo La Baloo (10-9) at Kempton 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
