tracked leader, hit 5 out, led approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, stayed on well from last
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, kept on approaching last, no extra towards finish
towards rear, mistake 1st, blundered 5th, tailed off from 5 out
held up towards rear fell 2nd
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, weakened 2 out
led, headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, soon weakened
prominent, lost place 7th, in rear from next, tailed off when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
held up towards rear when fell 3rd
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
KALAHARI KING can be crowned at the expense of Forpadydeplasterer and Albertas Run. A winner at last year's festival, he would probably prefer the ground to dry out although he proved at Doncaster that he is more than capable of delivering a match winning performance on softer. Forpadydeplasterer had an interrupted prep for Cheltenham though finished ahead of our selection on that occasion. The ground will prove key to his chances in this affair. Albertas Run has so often been seen as a nearly horse but he puts Grade 1 form on the table courtesy of his victory over Poquelin in the Ryanair Chase. Twelve months ago, he was a well beaten third in the Totesport Bowl. Schindlers Hunt ran his best race of the season in last year's renewal. He has been disappointing this year and the visor has been applied today. Deep Purple and Monet's Garden would both be players on their "A" game. The latter invariably seems to be underestimated at his advancing age though as his best has obtained on flat tracks, it would be folly to dismiss him out of hand again. Tartak will be a big price outsider and while a lamentable run of form has to be overlooked, he does have the raw ability to trouble the places at juicy odds. With Voy Por Ustedes absent, a new name is on the prize and Kalahari King appears the obvious pretender to the throne.
Albertas Run (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, led 5th until next, ridden to lead 4 out, driven clear before last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs G1 (1) gs in Mar beating Poquelin (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Deep Purple 11-1 (11-10) Led until 5th, led 6th until 4 out, relegated to 4th and beaten before 2 out, hit last, 4th of 13, 10l behind Albertas Run (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Forpadydeplasterer (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Hit 1st, led narrowly, driven and hard pressed 3 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on until no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Big Zeb (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Jack The Giant (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 8th, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 13, 30l behind Albertas Run (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Kalahari King (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Held up in touch, pushed along 8th, driven and outpaced on inside 3 out, went 4th when hit next, soon ridden and no impression, stayed on under pressure to take 3rd towards finish, not troubled leading pair, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Big Zeb (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 66-1 (11-10) Held up behind when fell 5th, in a race won by Big Zeb (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Mar, 9 ran.
Monet's Garden (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Joined leader 2nd, led 5th, made rest, driven 2 out, 5 lengths clear last, pushed out, won at Ascot 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Feb beating Albertas Run (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Oh Crick (FR) 66-1 (11-10) Behind, outpaced 4 out, kept on under pressure approaching last, no impression, 5th of 9, 13l behind Big Zeb (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Poquelin (FR) 11-4fav (11-10) Tracked leaders and travelling well, moving into 2nd when lent left and bumped rival on bend before 2 out, jumped left 2 out stayed on same pace, no impression on winner, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Albertas Run (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Schindlers Hunt (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) In touch when blundered 1st, held towards rear, last 10th, blundered and unseated rider 12th, in a race won by Albertas Run (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f chs G1 (1) gs in Mar, 13 ran.
Tartak (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Prominent, challenged 5th, every chance after 3 out, relegated to 3rd before 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 19, 13l behind Pigeon Island (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
