towards rear, headway before 5 out, weakened from next
led and soon clear, ridden before last, headed soon after, no extra and lost 2nd place close home
towards rear, weakened from 4 out
held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, lost place and in rear before 6th
mid-division, headway before 3 out, led after last, kept on well
tracked leaders, chased leader before 3 out, lost 2nd before last, kept on run-in, regained 2nd place close home
tracked leaders in 4th, ridden before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
in rear, headway 6th, lost place before 4 out, tailed off, pulled up
tracked leader, ridden after 4 out, weakened next
There is a very strong Irish challenge for this qualifier and Tony Martin’s Leopardstown runner-up Mydor is expected to go close. There are also possibilities about Chain Gang following a recent pipe-opener at Punchestown but Charlie Stout is upped in grade and distance as he bids for a fourth win in five starts. Eminent Poet in another chasing a hat-trick at a higher level but the mare Nordic Nymph has been carrying all before her this season. Call To Order landed a gamble in a very competitive handicap at Cheltenham in December and Dadsintrouble is equally unexposed and won nicely over course and distance last month. BIG RIVER couldn’t quicken on good ground at Musselburgh after scoring on heavy going at Ayr earlier. Well regarded, he might be worth another chance over this trip.
Knock House (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 11th, ridden before 6 out, soon weakened, pulled up, at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Theo's Charm (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, some headway before 8th, pecked 4 out, well beaten after, 7th of 14, 32 1/2l behind Royal Vacation (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Mydor (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Towards rear, headway still travelling smoothly from before straight, pushed along before last where slight mistake, ridden to chase winner run-in, kept on well without threatening, 2nd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Oscar Sam (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m hcp gd in Jan.
Chain Gang 28-1 (10-1) Rear of mid-division, 9th 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 10th of 20, 17l behind Isleofhopendreams (9-10) at Punchestown 3m hcp sft in Feb.
Eminent Poet 15-8fav (11-12) Mid-division, tracked leaders after 6th, challenged on outside approaching 2 out, led last, ridden clear flat, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Mwaleshi (11-3) by 3 3/4l, 11 ran.
Dadsintrouble (IRE) 9-2 (10-3) Behind, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Splash of Ginge (11-9) by 6l, 10 ran.
Big River (IRE) 10-3fav (11-11) Mid-division, headway before 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Clondaw Kaempfer (11-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Call To Order 11-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, jumped right 4 out and went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, edged left before last, wandered flat, driven clear towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec beating For Good Measure (11-5) by 3 3/4l, 12 ran.
Charlie Stout (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-6) Tracked leader in 2nd led after 4th and made rest, ridden from 2 out, stayed on well run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 4f Soft - Heavy in Jan beating Cadeau Du Bresil (11-8) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Nordic Nymph 3-1fav (10-9) Chased leader, led after 9th, clear between last two, driven out, won at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec beating Midnight Sapphire (10-10) by 2l, 8 ran.
