chased leaders on inside, lost place 5th, not fluent next, niggled along 17th, headway approaching 3 out, outpaced on inside before next, no impression, weakened before last
held up in rear, mistake 14th, pushed along and headway but still a bit to do when short of room stumbled and unseated rider soon after 3 out
mid-division, not fluent 10th (water), lost place 18th, slow next (water), slightly hampered after 3 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on and left pressing for 3rd soon after last, no impression and kept on same pace final 100 yards
prominent, mistake 18th, pushed along when mistake 4 out, soon beaten, weakened before 3 out
just about in touch in mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, no real impression after and weakened before 2 out
mid-division on inside, mistake and rider lost irons briefly 5th, lost place and towards rear after, well beaten 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 15th, well beaten 4 out, pulled up after 3 out
not jump well in rear, well behind when pulled up after 4 out
not always fluent, mid-division, ridden and struggling 9th, tailed off when mistake 21st, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, went close 2nd when pecked 2 out, about 5 lengths off winner and looked beaten when awkward last, soon went wrong, lost 2nd and pulled up
made most until 15th, pecked next, led 17th, mistake and headed 19th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 10th (water), headway racing keenly 14th, outpaced 3 out, rallied 2 out, left 3rd soon after last, finished well to gain on 2nd but no impression on winner
soon chasing leaders, blundered 18th, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, mistake 11th, something seemed amiss, lost place and pulled up before 15th
prominent, led 15th, headed 17th, led 19th, headed after 3 out, 3rd when pecked slightly 2 out, left 2nd soon after last, kept on, no impression on winner
chased leaders, mistake 11th, racing keenly before 14th, hit 18th, mistake 20th, challenged 3 out, soon led, drawing clear when left further ahead soon after last, stayed on well
held up in rear, headway approaching 20th, every chance 3 out, soon lost place and eased, pulled up before 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway on outside when not fluent 9th, every chance 3 out, weakened before next
It always pays to take note of jockey bookings in this race restricted to amateur riders. Jamie Codd, who rode the 2015 winner, and Derek O’Connor, successful last year, are two of the more accomplished with mounts. The former partners A Genie In Abottle for Noel Meade and he finished ahead of Haymount and MARTELLO TOWER in a Grade 3 at Naas in January, though blinkers and a longer trip could transform the latter who won the Albert Bartlett here in 2015. Mags Mullins’ charge gets a tentative vote to come good again though O’Connor’s partner Edwulf arrives off the back of a win at Naas and Beware The Bear is unexposed. Champers On Ice usually runs well here so also warrants a mention as he looks a dour stayer. Going left-handed should suit Flintham and he’ll give Mikey Legg an exciting ride if getting into a rhythm, though he will have to reverse Ascot running with Bigbadjohn on worse terms. Missed Approach has long had this race as his target but drying ground would be a worry.
A Genie In Abottle (IRE) 11-4fav (11-2) Soon raced in 4th, 3rd 3 out, pushed along to challenge into straight, gained narrow lead from 2 out, joined last, narrowly headed and kept on well without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Anibale Fly (11-2) at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Arbre De Vie (FR) 10-11fav (11-12) Tracked leader in 2nd throughout, ridden after 3 out, strongly pressed winner at last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 9, 4 3/4l behind Acapella Bourgeois (11-12) at Navan 2m 4f sft in Jan.
Arpege D'alene (FR) 10-11fav (11-4) Never that fluent, chased leading pair until not fluent 11th, chased leading trio, tried to rally after 14th, pushed along and outpaced when went left 4 out, ridden and outpaced when went left final 3, plugged on, 4th of 5, 6 1/2l behind Bigbadjohn (11-4) at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Ballycross 12-1 (10-8) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden 8th, behind 15th, pulled up before next, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Bells 'n' Banjos (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Prominent on outside, led 5th, headed 10th, led 12th until 13th, ridden before 4 out, went left after 2 out, switched right soon after landing last, led flat, stayed on, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Dueling Banjos (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Beware The Bear (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, clear last, idled run-in, always doing enough, won at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Aurillac (11-2) by 1l, 12 ran.
Bigbadjohn (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up tracking leaders on inside, went 3rd 11th, pushed along before 2 out, shaken up and hit 2 out, driven between last 2, 3 lengths 3rd last, went 2nd final 100 yards, stayed on gamely to lead post, won at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Feb beating Flintham (11-0) by shd, 5 ran.
Champers On Ice (IRE) 5-1jfav (11-9) Prominent, not fluent and lost place 2nd, slow and ridden next, last 4th, tailed off 11th, stayed on well after 2 out, no chance, 6th of 14, 20 1/2l behind Royal Vacation (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Dancing Shadow (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway after 5 out, chased leaders next, led 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Musselburgh 4m 1f hcp (2) gd in Feb beating Gonalston Cloud (10-11) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Edwulf 11-2 (11-10) Held up towards rear, progress into 4th 5 out, closer entering straight, disputed before 2 out, led travelling well after 2 out, ridden to assert run-in, kept on strongly, won at Naas 2m 4f hcp hvy in Feb beating Space Cadet (10-11) by 8l, 10 ran.
Flintham 9-2 (11-0) Jumped left most of way, led, 2 lengths ahead last, stayed on gamely run-in, caught post, 2nd of 5, shd behind Bigbadjohn (11-4) at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Haymount (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked clear leader in 2nd, remote 2nd 4 out, ridden 3 out, remote 3rd 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 8, dist behind Acapella Bourgeois (11-3) at Navan 3m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Kerrow (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenged last, every chance run-in, kept on and held near finish, 2nd of 4, nk behind Premier Bond (11-6) at Doncaster 3m (4) gd in Jan.
Martello Tower (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Led, joined 2nd, headed 4 out, 4th 3 out, no impression from next, soon no extra, 5th of 8, dist behind Anibale Fly (11-2) at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Missed Approach (IRE) 6-4fav (11-6) Led until jumped right and unseated rider 1st, at Chepstow 3m (3) sft in Feb.
Tiger Roll (IRE) 5-2 (10-13) Disputed early, led after 4th, ridden and headed entering straight, under pressure in 3rd approaching 2 out, left 2nd, kept on one pace, dropped to 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 10 1/2l behind Bay Of Freedom (10-9) at Wexford 2m 7f lst (1) gd in Oct.
What A Moment (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Always behind, weakened from 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Calett Mad (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 7th, headed after 10th, bumped rival and blundered 12th, lead again 5 out, ridden after next, headed when not fluent 3 out, no chance with winner after next, 2nd of 6, 22l behind Baywing (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Feb.
