held up in mid-division, pushed along after 7th, soon in rear, no danger after
prominent until pushed along and weakened after 10th
held up in mid-division, headway 8th, went 2nd 3 out, switched right and blundered last, stayed on under pressure to lead last strides
held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and progress on outside approaching 3 out, ridden when hit 2 out, weakened approaching last
always in rear, lost touch and pulled up after 7th
close up, not fluent 4th, joined leader 10th, every chance when carried right and blundered 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, niggled along and weakened approaching 10th, behind when pulled up before last
prominent early, soon held up in mid-division, behind when mistake 10th, ridden and beaten approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, niggled along when slightly hampered on inside after 10th, soon struggling
held up in mid-division, short-lived effort approaching 3 out
held up and behind, not fluent 1st, steady progress on inside 5th, pushed along and weakened 3 out
held up in rear, steady progress approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
led, jumped right 7th and 3 out, ridden after 2 out, mistake last, headed near finish
held up in rear, steady headway 9th, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, slight lead near finish, headed last strides
Last year’s winner, Identity Thief, was the first in 15 years to start at odds bigger than 11/2 so it may to concentrate on those at the head of the market. Sam Spinner was back to his best when runner-up to this season’s leading stayer, Paisley Park, in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. He had a host of today’s rivals well behind and there is no reason why any of them should reverse the form if Jedd O’Keeffe’s charge produces a similar effort. The experiment in running Apple's Jade in the Champion Hurdle failed to pay dividends as she was quickly outpaced once headed. Jack Kennedy looked after her in the closing stages and she’s twice trounced Thursday’s Aintree Hurdle winner Supasundae this season so it would be no surprise to see a return to winning ways back over a more suitable trip. IF THE CAP FITS is having only his second run in a Grade 1 and his first over 3m but he’s by Milan, who has sired plenty of smart stayers. He has a bit to find on bare form but by-passed Cheltenham for this and is the least exposed and the one with most potential. Kilbricken Storm and Clyne will love conditions and could reward each-way support but Roksana was a lucky winner of the Mares’ Hurdle last month.
Agrapart (FR) 25-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, ridden in last next, well beaten after 3 out, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Jan.
Clyne 3-1 (11-2) Keen, prominent, mistake 7th, effort after 3 out, weakened before last, 4th of 7, 8 1/4l behind Shades Of Midnight (11-2) at Haydock 3m (1) gd in Feb.
If The Cap Fits (IRE) 13-8fav (11-9) Never really travelled in last pair, jumped slowly and reminder 4th, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, headway into 3rd and mistake 2 out, went 2nd and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Vision Des Flos (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gs in Feb.
Kilbricken Storm (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden and hung left after 2 out, soon weakened, edged right off last bend, 11th of 18, 35 1/2l behind Paisley Park (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Lord Napier (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 5th, ridden and not much room after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 6th of 18, 20 1/4l behind Poker Play (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 100-1 (11-10) Led until 8th, weakened quickly after 3 out, last of 18, dist behind Paisley Park (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Sam Spinner 33-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, challenged before 7th, led next, hard pressed from 2 out, headed approaching last, showed good attitude and stayed on, no impression on winner final 75 yards, 2nd of 18, 2 3/4l behind Paisley Park (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Sykes (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Made all, driven 3 out, strongly challenged after last, held on gamely, won at Haydock 3m hcp (2) gd in Feb beating Silva Eclipse (10-5) by nk, 13 ran.
The Worlds End (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Led until 4th, stayed handy, slow 5th, lost place before 3 out, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Unowhatimeanharry 11-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, no impression when jumped left last, 8th of 12, 30 3/4l behind Paisley Park (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Jan.
West Approach 33-1 (11-10) Mid-division, some headway before last, no impression, 9th of 18, 31l behind Paisley Park (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Wholestone (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, 2nd from 3 out, every chance 2 out, beaten after last bend, soon weakened, well held 5th last, 5th of 18, 19l behind Paisley Park (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
William Henry (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear on outside, headway under pressure after 2 out, chased leaders on outside before last, soon ridden, stayed on strongly flat, led final strides, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar beating Wicklow Brave (11-12) by shd, 25 ran.
Apple's Jade (FR) 7-4fav (11-3) With leader, hit 2nd, lost 2nd 4 out, well beaten before 3 out, 6th of 10, 29 3/4l behind Espoir D'Allen (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Roksana (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) In touch, close up on outside 2 out, chased leader turning in, soon ridden, 3 lengths down and looked held when left in lead last, flashed tail and hung right across track flat, wandered towards finish, kept on, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Mar beating Stormy Ireland (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
