chased leaders, lost place before 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, badly hampered and lost place 3rd, well beaten 3 out, mistake 2 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, not much room 2nd, headway before 3 out, 3rd last, stayed on, went 2nd final 75 yards, unable to challenge winner
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, ridden 2 out, close up on last bend, 6th and no extra last, weakened flat
jumped right, chased leaders, ridden and lost place before 4th, well behind 3 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, towards rear and struggling 4th, in rear when hampered next, well behind 3 out
mid-division, headway before 4th, led after 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no impression on winner flat, kept on, lost 2nd final 75 yards
tracked leaders, badly hampered 3rd, lost place after 2 out, kept on with being a threat flat
held up in rear, mistake 4th, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before last
held up in rear, fell 3rd
in touch on outside, hit 3 out, disputing 6th on last bend, went 4th and stayed on flat
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, led before last, soon wandered, still wandering flat but ran on well
held up towards rear on outside, pushed along before 3 out, no impression
led until 2nd, not fluent and left in lead next, headed 5th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, mid-division 3 out, 7th last, kept on, never on terms
mid-division on inside, hampered and lost place 3rd, well behind 3 out, pulled up before last
prominent, led 5th, headed after 2 out, weakened flat
raced keenly, prominent, led 2nd, fell next
tracked leaders, challenged after 3 out, every chance 2 out, beaten last, lost 4th and faded flat
held up in rear, hampered 3rd, headway after 5th, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon well beaten, pulled up before last
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden and hanging right when outpaced after next, no impression on leaders before kept on from before last
Five of the last six winners of this have started at 25/1 or bigger so the market will not necessarily be the best guide. Mastermind was only beaten two lengths by Mitchouka at Fairyhouse last time and is 9lb better off so may prove the pick of a quartet of Irish runners. Paul Nicholls has a good record in this and saddles the maiden Grand Sancy and likely favourite Act Of Valour, who beat Look My Way on debut at Newcastle when Embole was third. The latter wasn’t given a hard time that day, however, and appeared transformed by a tongue-tie and more positive tactics at Wincanton last month. Any further improvement could see him reverse Huntingdon form with Esprit De Somoza and Style De Garde but jockey bookings would suggest Nube Negra, whose only defeat came against Apple’s Shakira, is the Skelton’s first string. Turning Gold was another to show improved form last time at Haydock but the third that day, LISP, is better off at the weights and may well have got much closer had he not blundered through the second-last when in front. He gets a tentative vote, though The King Of May is also worth a market check.
Casa Tall (FR) (11-0) won at Bordeaux Le Bouscat 2m 2f hvy in Nov beating El Gringo (10-12) by 6 1/2l, 10 ran.
Mitchouka (FR) 4-9fav (11-7) Held up in rear of mid-division, smooth headway to lead 2 out, travelled well and asserted approaching last, kept on well run-in, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m (1) sft in Feb beating Mastermind (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Style De Garde (FR) 10-11fav (11-6) Led, quickened before 4th, ridden and headed before 2 out, no impression on winner flat, 4th and fading close home, 4th of 5, 6l behind Esprit De Somoza (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m (2) sft in Jan.
Act Of Valour 7-1 (11-3) Tracked winner, challenged and upsides 3 out, every chance next, soon ridden, readily outpaced by winner flat, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind We Have A Dream (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Mercenaire (FR) 6-5fav (10-7) Led to after 1st, tracked leader, led again before 3 out, ridden and headed soon after, well held in clear 2nd when mistake next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 31l behind Vision Des Flos (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f lst (1) hvy in Feb.
Esprit De Somoza (FR) 4-5fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on and well clear of rest, 2nd of 14, 4 1/2l behind The Russian Doyen (11-8) at Taunton 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Nube Negra (SPA) (11-0) Prominent, smooth headway from 3 out, led on bit after last, hard held, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) sft in Jan beating Present From Dubai (11-4) by 8l, 11 ran.
Look My Way 5-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, joined leader 3rd, led narrowly next, hard pressed approaching last, ridden and headed flat, no chance with winner in clear 2nd final 150 yards, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Apple's Shakira (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Brave Dancing (10-12) won at Pau 2m 1f in Feb beating Slim Risk (10-5) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Lisp (IRE) 15-8fav (11-6) Prominent and keen, led before 6 out, headed before 3 out, regained lead 3 out, blundered and headed 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Turning Gold (10-12) at Haydock 2m (2) hvy in Feb.
Padleyourowncanoe 2-1fav (10-6) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed after 5th, led next, joined 2 out, headed last, stayed on, switched left when held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Canelie (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Veneer Of Charm (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, 7th from 3rd, pushed along into straight, soon no impression, 7th of 9, 18 1/2l behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-0) at Navan 2m hvy in Jan.
Embole (FR) 5-2 (10-7) Made virtually all, not fluent 3rd, steered to stands side after 2 out, clear last, eased towards finish, won at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) sft in Feb beating Sao (10-13) by 7l, 9 ran.
Eureu Du Boulay (FR) (10-13) won at Fontainebleau 2m 2f Soft - Heavy in Nov beating Enfant Du Large (10-6) by hd, 13 ran.
Solo Saxophone (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Held up in last pair, reminders after 3rd, ridden and outpaced by leading trio after 4 out, plugged on to take moderate 3rd before last, 3rd of 5, dist behind Vision Des Flos (11-3) at Exeter 2m 1f lst (1) hvy in Feb.
Oxford Blu 9-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, headway 4 out, led after next, headed narrowly 2 out, 2 lengths down when not fluent last, ridden and rallied to press winner toward finish, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Solomon Grey (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
The King Of May (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outside, outpaced by front pair 3 out, ridden after next, kept on flat, no impression, 3rd of 5, 6 3/4l behind We Have A Dream (11-5) at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Knight Destroyer (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 2nd, ridden and headed before last, soon 3rd and beaten, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 4, 11 1/2l behind Apple's Shakira (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (2) sft in Dec.
Turning Gold 6-1 (10-12) Led, headed before 6 out, regained lead before 3 out, not fluent and headed 3 out, regained lead 2 out, ridden and headed narrowly run-in, kept on to lead post, won at Haydock 2m (2) hvy in Feb beating Cornerstone Lad (11-6) by ns, 6 ran.
Mastermind (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Led, mistake 1st, headed briefly 4 out, pushed along and headed 2 out, no impression on winner approaching last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Mitchouka (11-7) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Grand Sancy (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway and close up 4 out, pressed leader on outside next, outpaced when hit 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to dispute modest 3rd flat, no chance with leaders, 4th of 7, 17 1/2l behind Redicean (11-1) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Eragon De Chanay (FR) 10-3 (11-11) Tracked leaders, disputing 2nd after 2nd, led before 2 out, soon quickened clear, eased towards finish, won at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Erick Le Rouge (11-2) by 11l, 6 ran.
