always behind
held up in touch, hampered and lost place after 5th on bend, rallied approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, led approaching last, kept on
held up in touch, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, soon weakened
led to 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching 6th
held up towards rear, headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened flat
mid-division, hampered on bend after 5th, effort 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders and keen, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
with leader, hit 5th, weakened approaching next, tailed off
held up, headway 6th, every chance approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out
held up, outpaced 4 out, no impression from next
with leaders, led 2nd, headed approaching 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
held up, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up, headway 7th, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
with leaders, led approaching 3rd, headed after 3 out, weakened next, mistake last
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, every chance next, kept on same pace
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
behind when unseated rider 2nd
held up, ridden and weakened after 4 out, blundered last
held up mid-division, effort when blundered 8th, soon weakened
held up, headway after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, blundered last
held up, headway 5th, outpaced 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, rallied approaching next, stayed on
tracked leaders, lost place 5th, stayed on from last
Motorway is taken to stop the winning run of Temoin, with Saltango, Strangely Brown and Pirate Flagship just a few more in with live chances. What a cracking end to day two, and as such only a narrow vote can go to Motorway who was balloted out of the Count Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The Philip Hobbs-trained five-year-old has won four of his last five starts over timber, his only blip coming when falling at Sandown the time before last. Richard Johnson has built up a good relationship with the former Roger Charlton inmate, and off 10st here he is set to run a big race. He receives a stone from Temoin who lines up unbeaten in three outings over timber, and who, judged by the manner of his latest victory at Newbury, is still improving. It should be a good battle between the pair, with the weight factor likely to prove decisive. Saltango has solid form but carries a penalty for his recent Wincanton success and would not want the ground to dry up any more. Strangely Brown is another with claims on his four-length second to The Sky's The Limit in the Coral Cup, but that run at the Festival may have left its mark and he has plenty of weight to carry. Pirate Flagship makes more appeal than the other Nicholls challenger Phar Bleu but has it to do, while best of the northern hopes could be Hernando's Boy who will have been sharpened up by a spin on the Flat seven days ago. All in all it has the look of a competitive finale, but we shall stay loyal to Motorway.
Blue Canyon (FR) 80-1 (11-10) Led until headed 8th, weakened and eased before 2 out, 16th of 20, well behind My Way de Solzen (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Strangely Brown (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 30, 4l behind Sky's The Limit (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Phar Bleu (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear on outside, slipped on bend after 4th, headway approaching 2 out, ran on flat, 4th of 30, 5l behind Sky's The Limit (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Desert Air (JPN) 25-1 (11-9) In touch, lost place approaching 3rd, no danger after, 11th of 30, 18l behind Sky's The Limit (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Hasty Prince 33-1 (11-8) Held up, going well and not fluent 2 out, took closer order on inside after 2 out, no impression when mistake last, 14th of 24, 24l behind Kadoun (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Temoin 7-2fav (11-12) Held up in touch, smooth headway to track leaders approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, drew upside on bit last, soon led, cheekily, won at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar beating Jaunty Times (11-2) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Akilak (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Mistake 5th, always in rear, 25th of 30, well behind Sky's The Limit (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Perle de Puce (FR) 100-1 (10-7) Chased leaders until blundered, weakened 2 out, 18th of 29, 18l behind Desert Quest (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, some headway after 2 out, no danger when brought down last brought down at the last in race won by Sky's The Limit (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar, 30 ran.
Lunar Crystal (IRE) 40-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, ridden when blundered 3 out, weakened, 17th of 29, 18l behind Desert Quest (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Leaders Way (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, some progress approaching 3 out, no extra next, virtually pulled up from last, tailed off, 13th of 18, more than 16l behind Aghacashel Angel (9-12) at Navan 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-123 sft in Mar.
Zipalong Lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden 8th, mistake next, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 19, 20l behind Black Jack Ketchum (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Mar.
Pirate Flagship (FR) 10-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, ridden, outpaced when hit 2 out, driven, hung left approaching last, hung left, kept on flat, 4th of 29, 7l behind Desert Quest (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Motorway (IRE) 4-6fav (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden to challenge from 3 out, upsides last, hard driven run-in to gain upper hand final 100 yards, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar beating Bound (11-1) by a hd, 11 ran.
Alpha Royale (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Towards rear, moderate 10th before 2 out, ran on well, 3rd of 13, 22l behind Conna Castle (11-5) at Naas 2m nov hdl hvy in Mar.
Texas Holdem (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 19l behind Torkinking (11-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Saltango (GER) 7-2 (11-8) Prominent, led 3 out, ridden and quickened clear 2 out, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Mar beating Best Profile (11-3) by 11l, 8 ran.
Hernando's Boy 7-2fav (11-1) In touch, led approaching 2 out, strongly challenged flat, ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd in Dec beating Irish Wolf (10-11) by a shd, 12 ran.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Behind, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer, 7th of 17, 16l behind Detroit City (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Bougoure (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, challenged to dispute lead 3 out, kept to inside in straight, weakened rapidly before 2 out, 12th of 17, well behind Killaghy Castle (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Mar.
Chelsea Harbour (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Mid-division, closer order from 4 out, 3rd next, ridden to challenge and lead from 2 out, mistake last, clear run-in, eased close home, won at Thurles 2m 6f hacp hdl sft in Feb beating Take Your Mark (10-1) by 3l, 18 ran.
Overstrand (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 20l behind Torkinking (11-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Arrayou (FR) 16-1 (11-1) In touch, not fluent 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression from next, 6th of 11, 15l behind Motorway (10-12) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Back To Ben Alder (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Held up, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never going pace to trouble leaders, 4th of 9, 9l behind Afrad (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
