led after 1st, driven and hard pressed between last 2, headed and in 3rd when blundered last, weakened flat
held up in touch, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, challenged between last 2, driven to lead when mistake last, soon headed and ridden, kept on same pace flat
tracked leading pair, reminders after 6th, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened from next
held up behind, headway on outside after 3 out, outpaced soon after next, weakened and pulled up before last
tracked leaders in 4th, driven and outpaced before 2 out, kept on same pace until weakened approaching last
mid-division, not fluent 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up towards rear on outside, reminder after 8th, never able to challenge, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led to after 1st, tracked leader, driven 4 out, not fluent next, lost place 2 out, stayed on to chase clear pair flat, lost 3rd near finish
held up in touch, headway 3 out, chased leaders under pressure 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on flat, went 3rd near finish, no impression with front pair
mid-division, switched right and headway before 2 out, switched inside and chased leading pair between last 2, ridden to lead soon after last, stayed on well
held up behind, outpaced 3 out, never able to challenge, weakened 2 out, tailed off when hit last
mid-division, pushed along after 4 out, never near leaders, weakened 2 out
in rear, mistake 7th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before last
Nonrunner
No Big Bucks this year so a new champion will be crowned, albeit temporarily if Paul Nicholls can resurrect his stayer's career in the autumn. Wonderful Charm has attracted some support after winning a Grade 2 novice event on his UK debut but no five-year-old has ever won this. This looks too far for stablemate Celestial Halo and though Oscar Whisky was only beaten a neck over course and distance in January he again gave the impression he doesn't really stay. He'll have to held up until the last possible minute which may not be possible in this grade and he only managed fifth last year, finishing behind Smad Place. REVE DE SIVOLA was the one that overturned Oscar Whisky here last time and he's been a revelation since being switched back to hurdles. He only found Big Bucks too good on his reappearance and left Smad Place for dead in the Long Walk at Ascot in December. That looks the best form on offer. Solwhit beat So Young over 2m3f at Naas in January and the latter went on to beat Zaidpour over 2m at Gowran last month. Bog Warrior also beat Zaidpour last time but the Irish runners appear very closely matched and predicting which one of the quartet will come out on top today isn't easy. Get Me Out Of Here has a tremendous record having been placed three times previously but his stamina will have to be taken on trust today.
Bog Warrior (IRE) 8-11fav (11-6) Made all, asserted after 2 out and jumped left last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Zaidpour (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Celestial Halo (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, mistake 3rd, led after 3 out, ridden and headed when mistake 2 out, one pace last, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 6, 10l behind Zarkandar (11-10) at Wincanton 2m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Cross Kennon (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, chased leaders before 4 out, went 2nd soon after, ridden before 2 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Across The Bay (11-4) at Haydock 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Get Me Out Of Here (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up in last pair in touch, outpaced after 3 out, weakened and pulled up before next, in a race won by Darlan (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl G1 (1) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Oscara Dara (IRE) 7-2fav (11-10) Mid-division, jumped left 3rd, headway on outside 6th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Medinas (10-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f ltd hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Oscar Whisky (IRE) 2-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, steady headway 3 out, switched inside between last 2, went 2nd approaching last, ridden to challenge and every chance flat, kept on, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Reve De Sivola (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Peddlers Cross (IRE) 1-5fav (11-0) Tracked leader, led 3 out, shaken up and kept on well from last, won at Musselburgh 2m 6f hdl (2) gd in Feb beating Cue To Cue (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Reve De Sivola (FR) 15-8fav (11-8) Always prominent on inside, led before last, ridden and hard pressed flat, held on gamely, won at Cheltenham 3m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Jan beating Oscar Whisky (11-8) by nk, 10 ran.
Smad Place (FR) 15-8fav (11-7) Held up in last pair, steady headway to 3rd after 10th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden and mistake 2 out, soon struggling and no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 14l behind Reve De Sivola (11-7) at Ascot 3m 1f hdl G1 (1) hvy in Dec.
Solwhit (FR) 4-5fav (10-13) Chased leader mainly 3rd, 2nd from 4 out and smooth headway to close early straight, travelled best to lead before last, pushed out and kept on well run-in, won at Naas 2m 3f hdl Gr3 (1) hvy in Jan beating So Young (11-6) by 4l, 6 ran.
So Young (FR) 11-4 (11-7) Chased leaders, closed from before 3 out, 2nd before straight, travelling well before 2 out where not fluent, soon switched and in front before last, stayed on well to draw clear run-in, won at Gowran Park 2m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb beating Zaidpour (11-12) by 6l, 5 ran.
Wonderful Charm (FR) 8-11fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 4 out, stayed on to chase leader before last, led last, pushed clear flat and stayed on strongly, won at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Oct beating Ballybough Pat (11-4) by 6l, 9 ran.
Zaidpour (FR) 4-6fav (11-12) Waited with, mistake 5th, closed from before 3 out, 3rd before straight, challenged in 2nd 2 out, soon briefly in front, headed and no impression from before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 6l behind So Young (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Cloudy Spirit 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division on outside, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 12th of 19, 24l behind Quevega (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) sft.
