chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from last
held up, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up, mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on
mid-division, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from last
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway after 3 out, no impression
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next
held up, ridden and weakened after 4 out, pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 5th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
chased leader, led after 6th, soon ridden, headed flat, no extra
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, mistake 1st, weakened from 5th
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead flat, driven out
led and mistakes, headed approaching 6th, soon lost place
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 5th, led after 5th, headed after next, ridden 3 out, every chance last, one pace
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, headway approaching next, weakened after last
held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on from last
The lightly raced Princelet is less exposed than most of these and, granted a fluent round of hurdling is taken to resume winning ways under conditions that suit and Nicky Henderson's gelding gets the vote ahead of Oslot and Pepporoni Pete. The last mentioned showed decent form in bumpers and looks to be going the right way over hurdles now judged by his success at Newton Abbot last time but he may just be a shade high in the weights. Orcadian is capable but is not the most straight-forward and may prefer a softer surface, while Buster Hyvonen has plenty of weight for what he has achieved. Slew Charm comes here fit from a recent run on the level and should appreciate today's faster ground, while Ameeq should do better than at Cheltenham last time when having to race from out of the handicap. Sunday City has a nice racing weight but has a poor strike-rate and of more interest may be the lightly raced Oslot from the yard of Paul Nicholls. Princelet has plenty going for him though and he is preferred.
Orcadian 3-1fav (11-12) Chased clear leader, closed 5th, led on long run to 3 out, soon clear, stayed on well, easily, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar beating French Saulaie (11-4) by 17l, 10 ran.
Prairie Moonlight (GER) 10-1 (11-1) Towards rear, progress into 7th approaching 3 out, 5th and no extra before last, 5th of 11, 15l behind Wanango (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m nov chs sft in Nov.
Oslot (FR) 9-4 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden to go 2nd approaching 2 out, driven about 1 length down and looked held when blundered 2 out, soon beaten, lost moderate 2nd at last, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Shatabdi (10-13) at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Pepporoni Pete (IRE) 11-10fav (11-6) Held up mid-division, closer order 3rd, mistake 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, clear approaching last, won at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf beating Picacho (10-0) by 7l, 12 ran.
Diego Cao (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 4 out, tracking leaders when slightly hampered bend over 2 out, effort when badly hampered bend over 1 out, ridden to chase winner last, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Festive Chimes (11-2) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-.
Slew Charm (FR) 9-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, hit 6th, fell next fell in race won by Overstrand (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb, 14 ran.
Jubilant Note (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, 7th approaching 4 out, headway next, 2nd briefly before 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, 4th of 9, 9l behind Kalderon (11-1) at Tipperary 2m nov hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Warningcamp (GER) 11-2jt-fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway after 8th, disputing 4th and hanging left when virtually fell and unseated rider in race won by Predator (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Mar, 13 ran.
Ameeq (USA) 16-1 (9-9) Always mid-division, 17th of 28, 17l behind Pedrobob (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Towards rear, ridden after 6th, kept on one pace from 2 out, 7th of 15, 9l behind Bogus Dreams (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Buster Hyvonen (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Held up last but in touch, ridden after 3 out, 4th and no chance when pulled up in race won by Shatabdi (10-13) at Kempton 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb, 5 ran.
Princelet (IRE) 8-13fav (11-6) Raced wide, headway going well 3 out, led on bit approaching 2 out, ahead when sprawled last, soon headed, rallied gamely under pressure, 2nd of 7, nk behind Romany Prince (11-7) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
I'm So Lucky 50-1 (11-7) Raced wide, always towards rear, 16th of 22, 32l behind Ebaziyan (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Mar.
Sunday City (JPN) 10-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 19, 11l behind Adopted Hero (10-8) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Thunder Rock (IRE) 5-2fav (10-8) Mid-division, headway after 5th, every chance last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 13, nk behind Our Jasper (10-3) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
John Forbes 14-1 (10-11) In touch, stayed on from 2 out, 8th of 19, 19l behind Adopted Hero (10-8) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Kings Quay 11-4fav (10-9) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out to chase leaders, weakening when hit last, 6th of 15, 6l behind Bogus Dreams (10-9) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Classic Croco (GER) 25-1 (11-7) Soon prominent on outer, 4th halfway, 3rd 3 out, soon challenged briefly, no extra from 2 out, 12th of 24, 15l behind Bobs Pride (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl 0-123 gd.
Never So Blue (FR) Evensfav (11-9) Led to after 4th, led approaching 5th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, rallied to lead approaching last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Saunders Road (10-10) at Taunton 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar.
Hilltime (IRE) 18-1 (10-7) Chased leader, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 11, 7l behind Festive Chimes (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Oct.
Forthright 5-1 (10-0) Towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, kept on to lead approaching last, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Feb beating Kings Quay (10-2) by 2l, 15 ran.
Dancing Lyra 4-1 (10-9) Towards rear, hit 2nd and 6th, beaten when hampered bend over 2 out, 9th of 12, 8l behind Festive Chimes (11-2) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
