not much room 1st, held up towards rear, hanging left and struggling after 4 out, driven 3 out, plugged on approaching last, went never dangerous 3rd close home
led, hard pressed 2 out, headed last, soon hung left, about 1 length down when short or room and snatched up inside final 100 yards, held after
held up in rear, slow 2nd and 3rd, not fluent 5th, pushed along before 9th, not fluent 4 out, no impression, hanging left after 2 out, plugged on flat
mid-division, lost place after 4 out, well beaten 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, closed from 9th, went 2nd after 4 out, joined leader 2 out, led last, edged left inside final 100 yards, stayed on
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake 2 out, plugged on
chased leaders, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced before 3 out, went modest 3rd after 2 out, mistake last, dropped to 5th close home
chased leader, not fluent 4th or 9th, lost 2nd after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
NonRunner
Sire Du Berlais hasn’t reproduced the form he showed when runner-up to FLOORING PORTER in the Stayers’ Hurdle last year but still has each-way claims in this. However, Gavin Cromwell's dual champion looks the one to beat again as he simply kept pulling out more at Cheltenham last month when, firstly, Champ and then Thyme Hill came to have a crack at the seven-year-old off the final turn. Thomas Darby looks held by the latter pair on Ascot running and was pulled up last time at Haydock, along with Molly Ollys Wishes. It’s difficult to make a case for any of the others.
Champ (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Mid-division, headway going well 3 out, went 2nd 2 out until hung left before last, held flat, stayed on, 4th of 10, 4l behind Flooring Porter (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Flooring Porter (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Jumped well, made all, clear at times, went left last, soon straightened up and asserted, stayed on well, well in command final 75 yards, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar beating Thyme Hill (11-10) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Koshari (FR) 100-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 3 out, effort after 2 out, switched left before last, no impression on leaders, 7th of 10, 7 3/4l behind Flooring Porter (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Roi Mage (FR) 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 2nd from 11th, challenged after 3 out, ridden to dispute before 2 out, kept on well run-in, asserted close home, won at Down Royal 3m 2f Yielding - Soft in Mar beating Agusta Gold (10-11) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Sire Du Berlais (FR) 11-2cfav (11-12) Mid-division, badly hampered 4th, dropped towards rear and switched wide before next, nudged along bypassing 3 out, headway when not fluent next, soon pushed along, ridden approaching last, no extra flat, 11th of 22, 11 1/2l behind Third Wind (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Thomas Darby (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up in 6th, closer at 2nd, not fluent 5th, pushed along in 4th after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Haydock 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Thyme Hill 11-2 (11-10) Mid-division on inside, not fluent 9th, pushed along after 3 out, headway 2 out, stayed on and went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, just held onto 2nd, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Flooring Porter (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Molly Ollys Wishes 2-1fav (11-3) Raced without hind shoes, tracked leader, pushed along and lost 2nd turning in, weakened and lost 3rd 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next, at Haydock 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Ashdale Bob (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Led, clear when awkward 2 out, ridden and headed run-in, weakened into 3rd soon after, 3rd of 23, 5 1/2l behind Commander Of Fleet (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
