led until after 3rd, behind from after 6th
in touch until 6th, soon in rear
mid-division until weakened approaching 3 out
hampered on bend approaching 5th, always in rear
in touch, ridden when hit 3 out, weakened after next
held up towards rear, headway after 7th, soon ridden, went right and weakened last
held up towards rear, headway after 6th, hit 2 out, soon led, kept on well, ridden out
hit 5th, always behind
never better than mid-division
held up behind, ridden and steady progress from 3 out, hit 2 out, kept on, not paced to get on terms
mid-division until weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division until weakened after 7th
held up towards rear, headway on outer approaching 7th, ridden in 4th after 2 out, stayed on well from last, held towards finish
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, close 3rd 2 out, no extra approaching last
mid-division, ridden when hit 3 out, stayed on approaching last, not paced to reach leaders
always towards rear, virtually pulled up run in
mid division, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next, hampered last
raced keenly in touch, effort approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, went left last
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, close 4th 2 out, stayed on under pressure
held up towards rear, stayed on past beaten horses from after 2 out, never a threat
prominent, led after 3rd, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra
held up towards rear, ridden and some progress into mid-division 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden when mistake 2 out, stayed on
chased leaders, blundered 6th, weakened next
in touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders until 5th, soon behind
Nonrunner
Lough Derg is used to carrying big weights but David Pipe's gelding faces no easy task giving weight away all round here and, in a typically competitive renewal of this handicap, it is stable companion GREAT ENDEAVOUR that gets the vote with Ninetieth Minute rated the pick of the remainder. The selection has done everything asked of him over hurdles, winning every one of his four starts, latterly over this trip in a novices' hurdle at Towcester, and David Pipe's gelding looks worth chancing off what seems a decent mark for his handicap debut. Tony Martin's runners always warrant plenty of respect and his representative, Psycho, is no exception but he is far from certain to stay this far so he looks best watched. Nicky Henderson's The Polomoche is relatively lightly raced and he has to be respected as does Emma Lavelle's improving Pause And Clause. Peter Bowen's Serabad and Pierrot Lunaire, who is trained by Paul Nicholls are closely matched with Lough Derg on recent form and both have to be considered. Franchoek is another with form to tie into the top weight but he is not as good as he looked like being and last season's Triumph runner-up may again have to settle for minor honours. Jim Best's Gee Dee Nen has more to do than when landing a maiden hurdle at Ludlow last time and a bigger threat may come from Martin Brassil's Ambobo, who ran well behind Quevega at Punchestown last month. Mirage Dore has won his last two starts but has not been seen since October and more solid claims are held by Tom Taaffe's lightly raced Ninetieth Minute, who looks to be going the right way having won his last two starts and he should appreciate the step up in trip. Marginal preference though is for David Pipe's Great Endeavour, who has improved with each start, has a nice racing weight and he is taken to make it five from five.
Lough Derg (FR) 5-2fav (11-11) Led, ridden after 7th, narrowly headed approaching 2 out, rallied gamely, led last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb beating Pierrot Lunaire (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Franchoek (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Chased clear leader, close up 5th, hit 3 out, led next, driven 2 lengths clear approaching last, headed flat, outpaced by front pair final 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 2l behind Lough Derg (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Pierrot Lunaire (USA) 10-3 (11-7) Held up, smooth headway after 3 out, ridden after 2 out, every chance last, kept on but no extra final 75 yards, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Lough Derg (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb.
Serabad (FR) 16-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, challenged last, led flat, all out to hold on near finish, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb beating Lough Derg (11-12) by a hd, 14 ran.
The Polomoche (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, stayed on again from last, 5th of 15, 10l behind Sentry Duty (11-0) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Nov.
Psycho (IRE) 11-2fav (10-10) Rear of mid-division, headway into 9th after 2 out, 6th entering straight, ridden to 3rd last, kept on to challenge run-in, just held, 2nd of 29, hd behind Penny's Bill (9-7) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 gs in Jan.
Ninetieth Minute (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Made all, ridden from 2 out, strongly pressed when flicked tail before last, kept on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m lst hdl sft in Dec beating Solwhit (11-9) by 3/4l, 3 ran.
Larkwing (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Rear of mid-division, 7th 3 out, ridden and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 9, 26l behind Brave Inca (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 hvy in Jan.
Onnix (FR) 9-1 (10-6) Always behind, ridden and struggling after 3 out, 10th of 14, 36l behind Serabad (10-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Dancing Tornado (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, ridden 4 out, headway on outside approaching 2 out, soon challenging, every chance last, unable to quicken towards finish, 3rd of 14, 3/4l behind Serabad (10-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Chief Yeoman 9-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, ridden to chase leaders before last, no extra flat, 5th of 14, 3l behind Serabad (10-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Ambobo (USA) 8-1 (11-2) Settled behind leaders, 4th halfway, dropped to rear 2 out, ridden into 4th entering straight, no extra before last, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 8l behind Quevega (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl sft in Feb.
Mirage Dore (FR) 10-1 (10-10) Held up in mid-division, progress from 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, led approaching last, ran on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct beating Fair Along (11-5) by 2l, 16 ran.
Kirbybroguelantern (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 24th of 29, 47l behind Penny's Bill (9-7) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl 0-145 gs in Jan.
Kawagino (IRE) 28-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 14, 21l behind Synchronised (10-4) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Pouvoir (FR) 11-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 7, well behind Lough Derg (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb.
Door Boy (IRE) 4-11fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased winner next, soon ridden, lost 2nd between last 2, no extra, 3rd of 14, 10l behind What A Buzz (11-5) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Great Endeavour (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) In touch, close order 6th, led 2 out, kept on gamely flat, won at Towcester 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Nov beating Any Currency (10-12) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Gee Dee Nen 4-6fav (11-4) Held up, soon in touch, went 2nd 8th, led 3 out, mistake 2 out, ridden clear flat, won at Ludlow 3m mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Threatening To Pay (11-4) by 16l, 10 ran.
Pause And Clause (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Made virtually all, in command after 2 out and stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Helpston (11-12) by 8l, 8 ran.
Convincing 33-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, headway to 3rd after 4 out, ridden in 5th before 2 out, no impression and kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 36l behind Catch Me (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m hdl Grd 2 sft in Dec.
Copsale Lad 12-1 (10-10) Prominent, weakened from 4 out, 12th of 15, well behind According To Pete (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Thundering Star (SAF) 8-15fav (11-8) Chased leaders, left 2nd 5th, ridden to lead after 7th, clear 2 out, no extra, headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Another Display (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft.
Star Of Angels 7-1 (11-0) In touch, hit 3 out, weakened under pressure before next, 5th of 14, 27l behind Micheal Flips (11-8) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (2) gd in Dec.
Doubly Guest 10-1 (11-1) Held up, blundered 4th, ridden, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 14, well behind Oscardeal (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Feb.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 6-4 (11-9) Always prominent, chased winner approaching 8th, ridden before 2 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Kayf Aramis (11-9) at Warwick 3m 1f nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Swordsman (GER) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 2nd, ridden 5th and tailed off from 9th, 6th of 8, well behind Heathcote (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Altilhar (USA) 12-1 (10-9) Held up, headway after 7th, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 4th of 7, 7l behind Hernando Royal (9-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd.
