held up, some late progress, never a factor
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden to lead last, soon headed, no extra
always behind
held up towards rear, ridden and headway after 2 out, stayed on, not reach leaders
led, ridden and headed when mistake last, faded
not fluent 1st, mid-division, headway after 3 out, hit next, soon ridden, kept on flat
soon chasing leaders, ridden after 3 out, hit next, soon beaten and eased
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakening when hit next
in touch until 5th
in touch, ridden after 3 out, every chance when mistake last, kept on
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, every chance last, no extra
held up towards rear, smooth headway approaching 2 out, ridden and every chance when mistake last, no extra
always towards rear
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, no further impression
held up towards rear, ridden and headway after 2 out, stayed on, not reach leaders
mid-division until 6th
held up towards rear, good headway after 2 out, led soon after last, soon ridden and edged right, no extra when headed final 100 yards
mid-division, headway and hit 2 out, soon ridden, ran on and every chance flat, no extra close home
mid-division, hampered 2 out, good headway and not much room last, led final 100 yards, driven out
chased leaders until weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
mid-division, hit 3 out, weakened next
always mid-division
chased leader, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last
always towards rear
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, mistake 4th, weakened soon after 2 out
always mid-division
It will be interesting to see how Fair Along performs off what looks a fair mark back over hurdles just three days after an ultimately disappointing third in Tuesday's Arkle but this race may just come too soon for him and preference is for Ouninpohja, with Osana rated the best of the rest. The selection was Listed class on the flat and has made a pleasing start to his hurdling career, latterly when looking as though he would come on for the run when narrowly beaten on his handicap debut at Ludlow. Sweet Wake has not been seen since finishing down the field in the Greatwood Hurdle here in November and is probably a shade high in the weights, while Pedrobob may prefer more testing ground. Nicky Henderson's Caracciola is generally best when fresh, while stablemate Trompette may now be a shade high in the weights. Similar comments apply to the third of Henderson's runners in the race Papini, the mount of Mick Fitzgerald and of more interest may be David Pipe's lightly raced Osana. The Paul Nicholls-trained Desert Quest, who won this off a 30lb lower mark last year, heads the weights but it is his stablemate Ouninpohja that really takes the eye and he gets the vote.
Desert Quest (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Mostly tracked leading pair until 3 out, driven and no impression before 2 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Jazz Messenger (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Dec.
Arcalis 16-1 (11-8) Held up behind leaders, took closer order 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 6, 25l behind Detroit City (11-8) at Sandown 2m lst hdl (1) gs in Feb.
Flame Creek (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Prominent, 2nd when pecked badly and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Crow Wood (10-1) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov, 6 ran.
Crow Wood 33-1 (11-4) Held up behind leading trio, ridden approaching last, not quicken, went 3rd run-in, 3rd of 4, 11l behind Detroit City (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Dec.
Osana (FR) 5-2 (11-4) Led, ridden and quickened approaching 2 out, ran on well from last, won at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Song of Songs (11-2) by 6l, 17 ran.
Callow Lake (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, 4th when mistake 5 out, 6th next, soon ridden and no impression, 4th of 7, 14l behind Blueberry Boy (11-4) at Punchestown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Fair Along (GER) 10-3fav (11-2) Chased leaders, lost place from 8th, progress from 3 out, left 4 lengths 3rd when hampered 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat, not trouble winner, 2nd of 13, 5l behind My Way de Solzen (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) sft.
Whispered Promises (USA) 66-1 (11-0) Led until 3rd, chased winner, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Detroit City (11-8) at Sandown 2m lst hdl (1) gs in Feb.
Papini (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Led until 2nd, tracked leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed next, weakened, 13th of 20, 11l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Kawagino (IRE) 100-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, hampered 3 out, staying on at one pace, no chance when pecked 2 out, 5th of 10, 19l behind Sublimity (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) sft.
Caracciola (GER) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost place after 5th, headway after 3 out, challenged 2 out, kept on, 4th of 20, 3l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Sweet Wake (GER) 9-4 (11-1) Held up, hit 4th, headway 3 out, chased winner after 2 out until last, no impression and soon weakened, 8th of 9, 27l behind Detroit City (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
O'Toole (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division, effort after 4th, struggling approaching 3 out, 7th of 9, 27l behind Detroit City (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Trouble At Bay (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Prominent, ridden and lost place 3 out, soon no impression, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Straw Bear (11-10) at Wincanton 2m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Tarlac (GER) 9-2fav (11-2) In touch until lost place approaching 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 15th of 20, 12l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Trompette (USA) 11-8fav (11-12) Held up, headway to join winner at 3 out, upsides when fell 2 out in race won by Clouding Over (9-7) at Southwell 2m mrs hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Made In Japan (JPN) 20-1 (10-1) With leader, led 6th until after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, 8th of 16, 29l behind Material World (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Ouninpohja (IRE) 5-6fav (11-12) Held up, steady headway after 6th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, every chance after last, no extra close home, 2nd of 8, shd behind Kickahead (10-1) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Premier Dane (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Always behind, 14th of 15, 25l behind Forthright (10-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Feb.
Pedrobob (IRE) 11-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 20, 2 1/2l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Lord Henry (IRE) Evensfav (11-0) Tracked leader until led after 2nd, drew clear after 3 out, eased flat, won at Hereford 2m 3f beg chs (4) gf in Jun beating Serbelloni (11-0) by 20l, 13 ran.
Baron De Feypo (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, close up 3 out, went 2nd briefly and not fluent last, stayed on one pace flat, 3rd of 28, 8l behind Burntoakboy (9-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs.
Cadogan (FR) 7-2fav (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, close 8th 2 out, ridden in 5th at last, went 2nd inside final furlong, 2nd of 16, 4l behind Maralan (10-12) at Naas 2m hcp hdl 0-130 hvy in Feb.
Gods Token 13-2 (10-6) Prominent, led approaching 3 out, headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Fenix (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Maralan (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Always prominent, disputed lead briefly 3rd, led entering straight, ridden and kept on well from 2 out, won at Naas 2m hcp hdl 0-130 hvy in Feb beating Cadogan (11-4) by 4l, 16 ran.
The Spoonplayer (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Held up, progress from 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon not much room, no impression after, 12th of 28, 14l behind Burntoakboy (9-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs.
New Field (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on, 7th of 20, 5l behind Heathcote (10-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Ameeq (USA) 8-1 (10-3) Held up, last when hit 5th, still going well enough after 3 out, ridden and headway after 2 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 14l behind Detroit City (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
