tracked leaders, went 3rd after 3 out, challenged on outside next, led between last 2, ridden clear flat, stayed on well
tracked leader to 6th, in touch, lost place 11th, soon behind
mid-division, lost place 10th, soon behind
towards rear, outpaced 4 out, never dangerous
in touch, chased leader after 4 out, challenged next, every chance 2 out, led briefly soon after, ridden and no impression when lost 2nd after last
mid-division on outside, in touch 8th, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
tracked leaders on outside, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, lost place when hit 4 out, soon behind, kept on under pressure approaching last, never near leaders
in touch on inside, dropped to mid-division 8th, chased leaders 3 out, 5th and ridden next, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish, no impression
in touch, 6th and outpaced 2 out, weakened from last
mid-division, headway before 3 out, went 4th next, ridden and stayed on to chase winner after last, no impression
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, never on terms
pecked 1st, hit next, soon lost place, behind when mistake and unseated rider 5th
in touch, outpaced when mistake 3 out, soon ridden and lost place, stayed on under pressure flat, never reached leaders
in touch on outside, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, never on terms
wandered 1st, led and tended to jump left, slow jump and headed 4 out, soon lost place, weakened next
in touch, tracked leader 6th, led 4 out, narrow advantage when mistake 2 out, soon headed, weakened flat
held up behind, fell 4th
held up behind, outpaced 3 out, stayed on into mid-division next, never near leaders
behind, outpaced 4 out, some headway under pressure next, 8th and one pace when fell 2 out
Jockey bookings and the betting suggest that Triolo D'Alene is the pick of his yard's three runners. The French import beat Ackertac and Vino Griego on his UK debut at Ascot in January and is clearly useful, though he'll have to jump better here. Ferdy Murphy has saddled the winner of this twice so will have high hopes for Going Wrong, who has already won twice at Sedgefield this season. Prolific winners Hunt Ball and Quincy Des Pictons must improve again if they are to figure off new career-high marks, however, and Bless The Wings was raised 8lb after winning over C&D last time though that course experience could be invaluable. That'Ll Do is upped in class and hasn't run since the autumn but wouldn't be taking his chance if he wasn't ready and Mic's Delight will be staying on when others have cried enough. Carrickboy had to win at Hereford last week to get into this and did so comfortably while blinkers could sharpen up Battle Group and he wouldn't be the first Pipe runner to rediscover his form at the Festival. The quicker ground may be a problem but the lightly-raced HARPSY CORD is heading in the right direction and the form of his Gowran win has already been franked. He's potentially well treated here and can go well at big odds for Jim Dreaper.
Hunt Ball (IRE) 13-8fav (11-11) Jumped well, close 5th, went 4th 10th, tracked leader 11th, led 4 out, came clear from 2 out, very easily, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb beating Cool Friend (11-3) by 10l, 8 ran.
Saint Are (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Led to 3rd, pressed leader, lost place when mistake and unseated rider 13th, in a race won by Bless The Wings (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gs in Jan, 16 ran.
The Panama Kid (IRE) 40-1 (10-5) Mid-division, behind when blundered and nearly unseated rider 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 18th, in a race won by Hold On Julio (10-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Going Wrong 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, 1 length down last, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Sedgefield 2m nov chs (4) sft in Jan beating Realt Mor (11-0) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Battle Group 13-2 (11-7) Wore ear plugs, reluctant to race in rear, travelled better after 2nd, ridden in rear and no response 3 out, 5th of 7, 22l behind Third Intention (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) gs in Feb.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 12th, left 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gs in Jan beating Lexicon Lad (10-4) by 2 1/2l, 16 ran.
Falcon Island 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leader until ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace last, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Toubab (10-12) at Sandown 2m nov chs (2) gd in Feb.
Quincy Des Pictons (FR) 3-1fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 3rd, headway 8th, went 2nd 10th, led 5 out, clear next, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec beating Chance Du Roy (11-12) by 16l, 14 ran.
Owen Glendower (IRE) 6-5fav (11-7) Led, not fluent and headed 3 out, hampered 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well flat, won at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gs in Feb beating Megastar (11-0) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Triolo D'Alene (FR) 7-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, mistake 9th, mistake and pecked next, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged next, ridden to lead last, stayed on well flat, driven out, won at Ascot 2m 3f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan beating Ackertac (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
White Star Line (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, closer 3 out, went 3rd entering straight, soon ridden and no impression run-in, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Hidden Cyclone (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 3f beg chs gd in Dec.
Mic's Delight (IRE) 9-4fav (11-7) Held up in touch, led 4 out, headed narrowly and bumped 3 out, regained lead flat, kept on, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs (3) gs in Feb beating Maringo Bay (11-0) by 1l, 6 ran.
Charminster (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Towards rear, mistake 4th, ridden 4 out, chased leaders under pressure 2 out, kept on flat, no impression, 4th of 16, 6l behind Bless The Wings (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gs in Jan.
Ackertac (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, chased leader after 3rd, not fluent 12th, led soon after 3 out, ridden and pressed next, headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Triolo D'Alene (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Carrickboy (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Held up in 6th, headway to 3rd at 9th, went 2nd after 11th, led soon after 3 out, clear before next, easily, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft beating Alpha Way (10-0) by 9l, 7 ran.
Cucumber Run (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Held up in touch until fell 2nd, in a race won by Chariot Charger (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (2) gs in Feb, 5 ran.
Vino Griego (FR) 33-1 (10-4) Held up rear of mid-division, steady headway 5th, chased leaders 4 out, driven in 5th after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 12th of 18, 33l behind Bourne (9-11) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
That'll Do 15-8 (11-11) Tracked leader, not fluent 3 out, closed before next, led last, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (3) gf in Oct beating Icy Colt (11-11) by 7l, 4 ran.
Harpsy Cord (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Prominent and soon tracked leader in 2nd, led from 7th, strongly pressed and joined 2 out, slight advantage after last and kept on under pressure run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m 2f beg chase sft in Feb beating Sole Witness (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 18 ran.
Educated Evans (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 5 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure, no chance with winner flat, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Oh Crick (11-12) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Feb.
