tracked leaders, fell 4 out
prominent, every chance 2 out, one pace approaching last
mid-division, ridden and struggling after 4 out
tracked leaders on outside, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, headway when hampered after 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on flat, not able to get on terms
held up, behind when hampered 4 out, some late progress, never involved
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 2 out, headway approaching last, stayed on well flat, went 3rd post
mid-division on outside, ridden and struggling after 4 out
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, ridden from 2 out, stayed on same pace last
held up towards rear, closed after 4 out, one pace before last, no impression on leaders
held up in rear, headway last, edged left and ran on flat, nearest finish
took keen hold, led, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace flat, lost 3rd post
held up in mid-division, headway after 4 out, went 2nd from last, every chance flat, stayed on, held towards finish
in touch in mid-division, ridden after 4 out, bumped next, one pace and beaten before last
held up in touch, challenged 2 out, soon slightly short of room and switched right, led briefly before last, one pace flat
always towards rear
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led last, driven and pressed flat, stayed on well, asserting towards finish
prominent, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, lost place next
held up towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 4th, not fluent and hampered 4 out, well beaten after
mid-division, closed after 2nd, badly hampered 4 out, not recover and well held after
mid-division on outside, headway after 4th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place before 3 out, soon behind
This looks as wide-open as usual but the Pipe stable has a decent record in the contest, though Unanimite has been beaten by both Starchitect and Golden Doyen in his last two runs. Jonjo O'Neill runs three and, while Sebastian Beach will be a big outsider, the two J P McManus-owned runners, The Saint James and Box Office, are interesting. McCoy rides the latter so he's presumably the pick. Paul Nicholls is another trainer who is mob-handed and Kempton second All Yours could give a boost to Beltor's hopes in the Triumph Hurdle by going close. Souriyan is another to consider having just been caught under a penalty last time at Ffos Las while Hostile Fire wasn't winning out of turn at Fairyhouse. Arabian Revolution has some decent form to his name but there didn't look to be any fluke about GWENCILY BERBAS' victory in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last time, even though he started the outsider of three. Alan Fleming's decision to target this contest under a big weight rather than the Triumph is significant and can be rewarded.
Golden Doyen (GER) 10-3 (11-8) Tracked leader, led 3rd, joined 2 out, ridden between last two, headed approaching last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Top Notch (11-8) at Ascot 2m 4yo hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Gwencily Berbas (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Raced 2nd early, led after 1st and made rest, 4L clear from halfway, ridden further clear 2 out, stayed on well under pressure from last, comfortably, won at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb beating Lettre de Cachet (10-7) by 11l, 3 ran.
Dai Bando (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Soon mid-division in 7th, a little keen, 8th 2 out, soon no impression, one pace, 4th of 12, 23l behind Fiscal Focus (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec.
Arabian Revolution 2-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, ridden and ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m 4yo hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Matorico (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
All Yours (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Held up in last pair, headway on inside approaching 2 out, ridden between last two, went 2nd approaching the last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Beltor (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb.
The Wallace Line (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Held up, behind before 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, went 3rd last, never near front pair, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Bristol De Mai (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3yo hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Dec.
The Saint James (FR) 2-1 (11-8) Reluctant leader, set steady pace until before 2nd, chased clear leader, closed to lead before 2 out, blundered and headed 2 out, weakened between last two, eased run-in, 4th of 5, 16l behind Pain Au Chocolat (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Thunder Zone 20-1 (10-4) In rear, pushed along at stages, detached from 5th, not fluent 6th, soon closed, moderate 4th when not fluent 3 out, left 3rd from 2 out, kept on into 2nd without troubling winner run-in, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Kitten Rock (11-9) at Gowran Park 2m hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Box Office (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, went 3rd before next, one pace and no impression, 3rd of 9, 19l behind Tornado In Milan (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Buiseness Sivola (FR) 8-15fav (11-0) Led, pressed from halfway, strongly pressed 2 out and collided with rival, ridden and headed entering straight, no extra before last, 5th of 14, 25l behind Theophilus (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 3yo mdn hdl hvy in Dec.
Unanimite (FR) 11-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, hampered 1st, not fluent 4th, headway next, 4th and one pace when not fluent last, 4th of 9, 7l behind Golden Doyen (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Starchitect (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Prominent, headway after 4 out, ridden before 3 out, led 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Hargam (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m 4yo lst hdl (1) gd in Feb.
Bouvreuil (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders 3 out, riddden and not quicken between last two, kept on same pace after, 4th of 13, 11l behind Qewy (11-2) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Souriyan (FR) Evensfav (10-11) In touch, bumped 1st, dropped to mid-division after 2nd, mistake 4 out, chased leading pair before next, ridden to challenge after 2 out, led narrowly flat, kept on, headed final stride, 2nd of 9, nk behind Glenwood Star (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Zarib (IRE) 1-4fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, led next, clear before 2 out, not fluent last, very easily, won at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Courtlands Prince (10-12) by 9l, 12 ran.
Mr Gallivanter (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden before 3 out, lost place before next, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 35l behind Hargam (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 3yo hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Qualando (FR) 10-11fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, 2nd soon after 2 out, ridden to lead run-in, edged right, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Gold Present (11-3) by 1l, 15 ran.
Verawal (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leader, 3rd halfway, fell 3 out, in a race won by Dicosimo (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl in Jan, 6 ran.
Hostile Fire (IRE) 3-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, ran freely, 3rd halfway, progress to lead entering straight, asserted after 2 out, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m mdn hdl in Jan beating Zafayan (10-8) by 3l, 15 ran.
Baron Alco (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Led, mistake 4th, not fluent 4 out, headed before 3 out, no extra approaching last, 4th of 10, 19l behind Bristol De Mai (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3yo hdl Grd 1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Beatabout The Bush (IRE) 7-4fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, led approaching next, drew clear on bit before last, very easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Jan beating Nafaath (11-11) by 11l, 7 ran.
Sebastian Beach (IRE) 8-13fav (11-5) Tracked leading pair and not fluent, pushed along after 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, 27l behind Bishop Wulstan (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Feb.
