held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, unable to reach leaders
prominent, led after 1st, headed 4th, led again next, hit 2 out, soon headed, weakened before last where blundered
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, ridden after 3 out, hung left approaching last, no extra flat
mid-divisison, closed on outside 3rd, ridden when hit 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd just after last, stayed on, no impression on winner
mid-division, hit 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch in mid-division, hit 5th, soon dropped out
held up in rear, some headway when hit 2 out, no impression
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, hit 5th, mistake 3 out, soon well beaten
mid-division, good headway on inside before 3 out, hampered on bend before last, soon switched right, stayed on same pace
prominent, ridden and every chance approaching last, soon beaten, weakened flat
prominent, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, mistake 3rd, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, mistake 4th, closed from 5th, went 2nd before last where mistake, soon dropped to 3rd, stayed on
held up towards rear, ridden and effort after 3 out, no impression and well beaten from next
in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakening when not fluent last
mid-division, some headway 4th, never on terms, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, headway going well 5th, led after 2 out, ridden clear flat, ran on well, comfortably
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, ridden after 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, went 4th towards finish, no impression on leaders
took keen hold, led, jumped left 1st, soon headed, remained close up, every chance 2 out, beaten before last, weakened flat
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, tracking leaders next, beaten when mistake last
prominent, led 4th, headed next, weakened before 2 out
held up, headway 4th, never on terms with leaders, no impression before last
Another big field and a really competitive handicap in which a number are unexposed and open to further improvement. SAPHIR DU RHEU may well go off favourite off the back of a first win at Taunton. He certainly won't mind ground conditions and looks fairly handicapped so gets the nod racing off the same weight as stablemate Ptit Zig and Bangor and Sedgefield winner Counsel. Market Rasen winner Bordoni looks the pick of John Ferguson's trio on jockey bookings, though Ruacana had Blood Cotil behind when a fair third to Triumph Hurdle favourite Our Conor at Leopardstown and was ahead of Zamdy Man when left clear in the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow in December. Blood Cotil's stable companion Fatcatinthehat looks progressive but Pistol and Totalize will need to improve again to complete the hat-trick. Habesh has had an unusual preparation, racing twice on the Polytrack since winning at Listowel in the autumn. But he is capable of running well at decent odds with Paddy Kennedy taking off 5lb.
Blood Cotil (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders on inner, 3rd 3 out, ridden after next and no impression on first 2 early straight, dropped to 4th run-in and kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 10l behind Our Conor (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Feb.
Fatcatinthehat 8-15fav (11-0) Made all, jumped right at 2nd and 3rd, went clear from 2 out, stayed on well from last, easily, won at Leopardstown 2m 4yo mdn hdl hvy in Jan beating Ibsen (10-9) by 8l, 13 ran.
Ruacana 6-1 (11-0) Settled towards rear, pushed along in 5th before 2 out, no impression in 4th early straight, kept on one pace under pressure to go 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Our Conor (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Feb.
Megalypos (FR) 17-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, led before 3 out, headed when left in lead and badly hampered last, soon headed, not recover, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Ruacana (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) hvy in Jan.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 20-1 (9-9) Chased leaders on outside, hit 4th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 21, 18l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-2) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Pistol (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Made all, not fluent 2nd, ridden before last, edged left and idled flat, edged right towards finish, driven out, won at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Sash Of Honour (10-12) by 1l, 6 ran.
Bordoni (USA) 1-2fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 2nd, led before 2 out where not fluent, clear last, ran on well, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f 4yo mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Somemothersdohavem (10-12) by 9l, 11 ran.
Kalmann (FR) 20-1 (10-5) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 1f 3yo hdl hvy in Nov beating Vanilla Crush (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Hilali (IRE) 7-4 (11-6) Mid-division, headway before 2 out, soon challenged, narrow lead last, ridden and headed flat, kept on, no extra near finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Grand Gold (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 1f 3yo hdl (2) gd in Sep.
Totalize 9-4 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, led before last, kept on well towards finish, won at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Phoenix Returns (10-10) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
South South West (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, on terms from 5th, 2nd before 3 out, ridden before straight, soon 3rd and no impression, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Stocktons Wing (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Counsel (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, with leader 3rd, led next, clear before last, eased towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Three Kingdoms (10-4) by 8l, 11 ran.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 7-4fav (10-7) Led until 3rd, stayed close up, led last, soon clear, won at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating God Of The Kop (11-5) by 11l, 13 ran.
Ptit Zig (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Prominent in chasing group, not fluent 3rd, led before 3 out, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb beating New Year's Eve (11-3) by 6l, 16 ran.
Mcvicar 4-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, mistake 3 out, ridden to chase winner next, no impression when bad mistake last, one pace, 2nd of 7, 18l behind Irish Saint (11-8) at Kempton 2m 3yo hdl (3) hvy in Dec.
Zamdy Man 5-4fav (10-12) Tracked leader, ridden before 3 out, lost 2nd place 2 out, kept on to take 2nd close home, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Only Orsenfoolsies (11-3) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Another Sensation (FR) 5-2fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, in 3rd and staying on when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Captain Cardington (10-12) at Sandown 2m 3yo hdl (4) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Flaxen Flare (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Settled towards rear, mistake 5th, ridden in 6th after 3 out and soon no extra, no threat in straight, 5th of 7, 26l behind Our Conor (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Feb.
Milord (GER) 7-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 2nd, disputing 2nd approaching last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Chatterbox (11-8) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Habesh (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Always prominent in chasing group, closer in 2nd into straight, challenged and on terms 2 out, soon led, went on from before last, stayed on under pressure run-in, reduced lead at the finish, won at Listowel 2m 3yo hdl sft in Sep beating Top Man Michael (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Three Kingdoms (IRE) 11-10fav (10-7) Led, hit 4th, mistake 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, chased leader until between last two, weakened and mistake last, 4th of 11, 12l behind Runswick Royal (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Knight Of Pleasure 8-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway to go 4th from 5th, ridden before 3 out, one pace and no impression, 4th of 6, 10l behind Only Orsenfoolsies (11-3) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Angelot Du Berlais (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, jumped slowly 4th, led after 5th, headed 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 15l behind Chris Pea Green (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Ibsen (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Soon tracked leaders, ridden in pursuit of winner from 3 out, came towards stand's side straight, no extra and kept on same pace from before last, 2nd of 9, 14l behind Djakadam (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo mdn hdl hvy in Feb.
