in touch, mistake 4 out, driven to chase leaders after next, ridden before last, kept on same pace in 5th flat, never on terms
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, one pace before last, no extra
in touch, lost place 6th, outpaced and towards rear 3 out, stayed on into mid-division under presure before last, never near leaders
mid-division on inside, driven 3 out, never on terms, weakened before last
held up towards rear of mid-division, driven 2 out, chased leaders under pressure between last 2, never on terms, weakened from last
tracked leaders on inside, driven and effort after 2 out, soon chased leading pair, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, closed on front pair towards finish, just held
mid-division, lost place 4 out, soon behind
chased leaders, lost place 2 out, weakening when fell last
mid-division on outside, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened
towards rear, driven and headway on outside before 2 out, soon one pace, weakened last
led, driven 2 out, soon hard pressed, ridden last, headed narrowly final 110 yards, kept on, just held
prominent when fell 4th
in touch, driven to chase leaders 2 out, one pace before last, never able to challenge
towards rear of mid-division, hampered 4th, outpaced 3 out, weakened after next
raced keenly, driven 3 out, chased leaders under pressure when blundered next, never on terms, weakened before last
pressed leader after 2nd, lost place 3 out, fell next
towards rear, hampered 4th, some headway under pressure into mid-division after 2 out, never near leaders
in touch on outside, headway and close up 3 out, outpaced after next, weakened last
mid-division, towards rear after 4th, headway 3 out, chased leaders after next, 4th before last, ridden and kept on flat, closed on leaders towards finish, just held
in touch, hampered 4th, outpaced 2 out, weakened last
in rear when hampered and brought down 4th
tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, headway to challenge 2 out, upsides last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead narrowly final 110 yards, just held on
mid-division on outside, close up 3 out, one pace after next, weakened last
mistake 1st, mid-division, badly hampered and lost place 4th, outpaced 3 out, weakened after next
held up behind, headway after 3 out, ridden to chase leaders between last 2, kept on same pace, never on terms
Withdrawn
Class has told in this in the last couple of years with Medinas and Whisper both defying big weights. Lac Fontana is interesting, therefore, as he was last seen contesting a Grade 2. He also won at The Festival last year before landing a Grade 1 at Aintree and Sean Bowen's claim will aid his cause. Un Atout hasn't really taken to fences but catches the eye back over hurdles off a decent mark but another Grade 1 winner, Hisaabaat, appears to have gone backwards. ZABANA had Marinero and Daneking behind when winning over 2m at Navan in January. He's also won over 2m4f and ran very well at that trip at Aintree last year in the Grade 3 handicap won by Clondaw Kaempfer. Andrew Lynch's charge gets a tentative vote but there are dangers aplenty. Dell' Arca was fifth in this last year and has been knocking on the door this season. He's only 3lb higher while Activial was staying on dourly when third in the betfair Hurdle at Newbury and should stay the extra. Baradari beat Lyvius at Ascot in January while Nicky Henderson runs six. The once well-regarded Rolling Star could prove the pick and French import Aux Ptits Soins could be anything, though faces a stiff task on his first start for Paul Nicholls.
Volnay De Thaix (FR) 2-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, went 2nd when not fluent 2 out, driven flat, stayed on, unable to trouble winner, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Rock On Ruby (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec.
Bear's Affair (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden before next, kept on same pace before last, no impression, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Batavir (10-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Lac Fontana (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along from 7th, ridden after 3 out, weakened after next, last of 4, well behind Rock On Ruby (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec.
Vulcanite (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Road To Riches (10-11) at Galway 2m 6f hcap ch gd in Jul, 22 ran.
Blackmail (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in 5th and slight mistake 1st, ran freely early, left 4th at 5th, ridden before 2 out, no impression before last, kept on one pace (finished 5th - promoted to 4th), 4th of 6, 11l behind He'llberemembered (11-9) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl sft in Dec.
Activial (FR) 8-1 (11-6) In touch, headway before 3 out, chased leaders approaching next, 3rd 2 out, driven and one pace between last two, held when went left last, 3rd of 23, 4l behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Clondaw Kaempfer (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, jumped right at times, headway after 12th, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 7, 42l behind Ptit Zig (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Rolling Star (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in 4th place, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, 44l behind Unique De Cotte (10-3) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Un Atout (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along and no impression entering straight, no extra, 4th of 7, 16l behind Le Vent D'Antan (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 3f beg chs in Dec.
Lyvius 11-2 (10-9) Held up in last trio, headway on outside after 3 out, chased leaders before next, led 2 out, ridden between last two, 2 lengths ahead when not fluent and went right last, hard ridden run-in, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Baradari (10-4) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Zabana (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Raced in 2nd, got on terms 4 out, hit 2 out, ridden to lead last, stayed on well to assert run-in,, won at Navan 2m hdl 0-140 sft in Jan beating Sizing Codelco (10-12) by 6l, 6 ran.
Dell' Arca (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Sometimes jumped left, raced on inside, chased leader until ridden before 2 out, soon no extra in 3rd, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Fox Norton (11-7) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Hammersly Lake (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Raced wide, held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 3 out, pushed along in 5th well before next, weakened soon after, eased from 2 out, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Tea For Two (9-12) at Kempton 2m 5f Listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Plinth (IRE) 100-1 (11-8) Pushed along to lead, joined 4 out, headed and ridden 2 out, soon weakened quickly, 5th of 6, 28l behind Hurricane Fly (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl G1 (1) in Jan.
Goodwood Mirage (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, fell 1st, in a race won by Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb, 23 ran.
Shammick Boy (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Raced wide, made virtully all, pushed along and came clear from 2 out, stayed on strongly, driven out, gamely, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb beating Master Benjamin (10-5) by 4l, 8 ran.
Baradari (IRE) 11-2 (10-4) Held up in last trio, headway approaching 4 out, disputing 3rd next, 2nd soon after 2 out, 2 lengths down last, stayed on well under pressure run-in to lead close home, won at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan beating Lyvius (10-9) by nk, 8 ran.
Vasco Du Ronceray (FR) 28-1 (11-6) Towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, no chance when badly hampered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb, 23 ran.
Taglietelle 5-2 (11-0) Settled 3rd at sedate pace, slow jump at 6th and dropped to 4th, pushed along and soon 3rd, niggled along before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on, lost 3rd 50 yards out, last of 4, 2 3/4l behind Plinth (11-3) at Naas 2m 4f hdl in Nov.
Hisaabaat (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Rear, some progress in 10th and slight mistake 2 out, soon no extra, weakened, tailed off, 14th of 18, well behind Sort It Out (10-7) at Leopardstown 2m hcp hdl in Feb.
Ttebbob (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up early, led after 1st and soon 5 lengths clear, reduced advantage halfway, pressed before straight, strongly pressed before 2 out where ridden, kept on well under pressure from before last, won at Clonmel 2m 4f hdl sft in Feb beating Western Boy (11-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Aux Ptits Soins (FR) (10-12) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 1f 4yo hdl sft in Sep beating Song And Whisper (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Mijhaar 10-1 (11-12) Took keen hold tracking leaders, weakened after 3 out, no chance when blundered last, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Invicta Lake (10-9) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Jan.
Marinero (IRE) 9-4fav (11-1) Raced in 3rd, mistake 4 out, joined for moderate 3rd approaching straight, soon pushed along, no impression from 3 out, dropped to moderate 4th at last, one pace,, 4th of 6, 20l behind Zabana (11-1) at Navan 2m hdl 0-140 sft in Jan.
Daneking 5-2 (11-4) Held up in 5th, a little keen, improved to dispute moderate 3rd 3 out, soon no impression, moderate 5th and no extra last, eased,, 5th of 6, 39l behind Zabana (11-1) at Navan 2m hdl 0-140 sft in Jan.
Barizan (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Made most, not fluent 5th, headed 8th, outpaced when not fluent 4 out, soon lost touch, blundered last, last of 4, 23l behind In The Rough (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Aug.
