led, headed approaching 10th, no impression and well held before 3 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, jumped slowly 6th, ridden after 4 out, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
prominent, jumped slowly 3rd, not fluent 8th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway when not fluent 3 out, soon went 3rd, not fluent 2 out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd flat, not able to troubled winner
mid-division, struggling when mistake 9th, soon well behind, tailed off
held up towards rear, not fluent 8th, headway approaching 3 out, disputing 3rd and staying on when bumped and fell 2 out
tracked leader, led approaching 10th, headed soon after, outpaced before 3 out, stayed on flat
tracked leaders, ridden after 10th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway after 7th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway after 7th, went 3rd briefly approaching 3 out, weakened last
held up towards rear on inside, mistake 6th, behind 10th, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, ridden after 10th, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, stayed on from 3 out, switched right flat, never nearer
mid-division, reminder after 4th, lost place 6th, behind 8th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway after 4th, led after 10th, not fluent 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway after 4 out, weakening when mistake 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 2nd, lost place 5th, behind 9th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, took keen hold, steady headway from 8th, pressed winner after 10th, pushed along to challenge 3 out, no impression when hung left and lost 2nd flat, no extra
held up in rear, headway 3 out, 8th and staying on when fell 2 out
Patrick Rodford and his team have done wonderfully well with SPARKY MAY and the mare has plenty in her favour here. A Grade 2 winner at Ascot in January, she beat all bar the exceptional Quevega in the David Nicholson at Cheltenham and that winner would be very short odds for this. Mossley is the obvious danger having run a superb race in the Albert Bartlett to finish runner-up to Bobs Worth with Court In Motion six lengths back in third, Our Island well beaten and Jetnova fading when falling two out. Still on the upgrade, Nicky Henderson's charge looks certain to go well. Back In Focus had Court In Motion six lengths away when landing a Grade 2 at Haydock so he has the form to get competitive though that success came in very heavy conditions. For Non Stop made a gallant attempt in the Coral Cup where he went clear three out until caught by Carlito Brigante at the last where he fell.
Aikman (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Led, driven and headed approaching 2 out, soon lost place and ridden, no impression approaching last, 7th of 12, 11l behind First Lieutenant (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Back In Focus (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division and keen, went 3rd after 6th, challenged 2 out, soon led and clear, not fluent last, kept on strongly, won at Haydock 3m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb beating Court In Motion (11-11) by 6l, 8 ran.
Basford Bob (IRE) 15-8fav (11-1) Led, jumped left throughout, headed after 4th, led again before and not fluent 5th, mistakes 6th and 4 out, strongly challenged after 2 out, hard driven, all out, won at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Lion On The Prowl (11-7) by nk, 8 ran.
Cantlow (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) In touch on inside, smooth headway to 3rd before 3 out, challenged from 3 out, close 2nd next, upsides when hit last, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Ludlow 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in Feb beating Swingkeel (11-1) by nk, 8 ran.
Cloudy Too (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Settled in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4th, jumped right next, pushed along 4 out, led 3 out, soon clear, eased near finish, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Eighteen Carat (11-9) by 14l, 11 ran.
Court In Motion (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway 8th, challenged 2 out until ridden approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 18, 8l behind Bobs Worth (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Fists Of Fury (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Tracked leader in 2nd, led approaching straight, slight mistake 3 out, ridden and headed before next, soon no chance with winner, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 13l behind Hidden Cyclone (11-10) at Navan 2m 7f nov hdl sft in Mar.
For Non Stop (IRE) 5-1 (10-7) Tracked clear leader, close up 5th, led after 3 out, hard pressed after next, soon ridden, headed and 1 length down in 2nd when fell last, in a race won by Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar, 22 ran.
Handy Andy (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear on outside, headway after 7th, went 2nd, led narrowly before last, stayed on strongly to draw clear final 150 yards, won at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Our Father (11-4) by 4l, 13 ran.
Jetnova (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 9th, niggled along and tracking leaders when fell 2 out, in a race won by Bobs Worth (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar, 18 ran.
Listenlook (FR) 7-4 (11-11) Chased leader, challenged from 5th, led 3 out, blundered badly 2 out, headed when bumped and pushed right last, kept on but always held, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Simply Wings (11-4) at Hereford 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Mossley (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway after 9th, driven to chase winner approaching last, held towards finish, 2nd of 18, 2 1/4l behind Bobs Worth (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Muldoon's Picnic (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, in 3rd approaching last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 14, 2l behind Jack The Gent (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Russian Song (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Raced wide, chased leaders, hit 8th, slightly outpaced after 4 out until ridden and stayed on to 3rd before next, led narrowly 2 out, edged left head high and wanderd before last, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Newbury 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Camden (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Saint Are (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Towards rear, hit 6th, driven before 3 out, stayed on before next, went 3rd before last, strong run flat, finished well, going on close home, 3rd of 13, 1l behind Tobago Bay (11-4) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Westmeath (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Led, headed 3rd, regained lead after 3 out, ridden to assert before last, kept on strongly, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f mdn hdl sft in Feb beating Glenlo Abbey (11-12) by 4l, 11 ran.
Yurok (IRE) 8-11fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, led before 3 out, headed narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, regained lead after last, kept on towards finish, headed close home, 2nd of 7, shd behind Battle Group (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 6f nov hdl (3) hvy in Feb.
Sparky May 4-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, took keen hold, blundered 2nd, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd when not fluent 7th, led when not fluent 2 out, driven and headed approaching last, stayed on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 10l behind Quevega (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gd in Mar.
Indian Daudaie (FR) 25-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra final 100 yards, 4th of 23, 7l behind Sir Des Champs (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Our Island (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, lost place approaching 6th, mistake 8th, hampered 2 out, stayed on approaching last, no chance with leaders, 7th of 18, 24l behind Bobs Worth (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
