hampered 1st, always towards rear, struggling 11th, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, steady headway on outside from 6th, went 2nd 14th, led 3 out, headed after next, 3rd and beaten last, weakened into 5th towards finish
mid-division, mistake and lost place 9th, well beaten 14th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, pushed along before 14th, switched right approaching 3 out, went 2nd before last, led flat, stayed on well
mid-division, badly hampered and lost place 1st, not fluent next, never in contention, well beaten 14th, pulled up before last
chased leaders, hampered 1st, not fluent 9th, lost place before next, blundered badly 12th, well beaten after
tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 14th, soon weakened
led until not fluent 12th, mistake 14th, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent when fell 1st
reminder leaving start, in rear, headway approaching 13th, 7th and chasing leaders when slipped up on bend before 3 out
prominent, not fluent 8th or 13th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, some headway when hampered on bend before 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd towards finish, no impression on leading pair
mid-division, headway approaching 10th, not fluent 11th, weakening when mistake 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 13th, mistake next, stayed on same pace from 3 out, no impression
chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 10th, led 12th, mistake and headed 3 out, led again after next, headed flat, held towards finish
Ballinvarrig beat Shangani a short-head in this last year and there should be little between the pair again on today's terms. The quirky Loose Chips threw the race away at Ascot last month when only beaten a nose with Sands Cove just behind. Opening Batsman will strip fitter for his reappearance, as will The Last Samuri and Foxbridge, while Ned Stark has his sights lowered. But recent winners Harry's Farewell and Viva Steve step up a grade and Howlongisafoot took a tumble at Newbury last month and is possibly more effective over shorter distances. BALLYHEIGUE BAY gets a speculative vote as he won over track and trip in February and was progressive in general last season. He made a very promising reappearance behind Carole's Destrier at Sandown considering he probably found the 3m5f trip a shade too far.
Open Hearted 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, some headway and mid-division before 6th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 12, dist behind Missed Approach (10-7) at Newbury 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Slight mistake 2nd, prominent, not fluent 3rd, on terms before 7th, not fluent 8th, led 11th, slight mistake 3 out, headed approaching straight, no extra from before 2 out, 9th of 16, dist behind Sadler's Risk (11-6) at Limerick 3m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Howlongisafoot (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Held up, mistake 1st, headway 9th, chasing leaders when fell next, at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
The Last Samuri (IRE) 5-1jfav (10-13) Mid-division, chased leaders 14th, outpaced before 4 out, rallied 2 out, soon ridden, no impression in 3rd before last, 3rd of 12, 7 1/2l behind Wakanda (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Ned Stark (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 16th, weakening when mistake 4 out, 8th of 15, 37 1/2l behind Smad Place (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
No Buts 16-1 (10-4) Never fluent towards rear, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Ardkilly Witness (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Prominent when pecked 1st, soon lost place, mistake 8th, well behind when jumped right 16th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Loose Chips 5-1jfav (11-10) Led and set decent pace, headed 15th, chased winner, pushed along before 2 out, ridden between last two, led again last, idled towards finish, caught post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Fruity O'Rooney (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Harry's Farewell 9-1 (11-8) Led 2nd until 7th, led 9th, mistake 3 out, 3 lengths clear last, swished tail towards finish, stayed on, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Russe Blanc (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Shangani (USA) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, led approaching 3rd until 9th where blundered and weakened, badly hampered and unseated rider 11th, at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Ballyheigue Bay (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Led until 10th, chased leader, led again 15th, blundered last, headed and dropped to 3rd run-in, 3rd of 15, 3 1/2l behind Carole's Destrier (11-10) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Sands Cove (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, steady headway tracking leaders in 5th at 15th, pushed along in 4th before 2 out, 3rd when went right and bumped 2 out, kept on run-in, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Fruity O'Rooney (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Ballinvarrig (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Tracked leading trio, disputing 3rd 7th until 4 out, driven along and one pace in 4th before 2 out, pressed for modest 3rd close home, 4th of 6, 31 1/2l behind Tenor Nivernais (11-5) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Foxbridge (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, headway to lead 9th, headed after 2 out, rallied flat, just held near finish, 2nd of 12, nk behind Knock House (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Viva Steve (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) In touch, tracked leader 9th, pushed along in 4th after 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden to lead briefly 2 out, switched inside and rallied flat, led towards finish, kept on, won at Market Rasen 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Auvergnat (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
