held up mid-division, towards rear when fell 19th
held up towards rear, in touch 11th, went 3rd at 18th, led 3 out, hit 2 out, headed before last, led last 50 yards, kept on well
held up in touch, weakened before 18th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, led before 6th, headed 15th, every chance 3 out, one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear on outer, not fluent 7th, headway 20th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, weakened from 19th, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway 5 out, led before last, ridden run-in, headed last 100 yards, no extra
tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed before and hit 6th, towards rear and blundered 16th, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along after 12th, soon struggling, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, pushed along after 16th, some headway from 20th, jumped slow 5 out, no impression
led, headed 3rd, tracked leaders, led again 15th, headed 3 out, one pace after
Recent Punchestown winner Portrait King has to race off an 18lb higher mark today and it remains to be seen if the Irish raider is that progressive. Eyre Square disappointed last time but had today's rivals Captain Americo, who has gone close since, well behind and MISTER MARKER back in third when scoring over 4m at Kelso in December. However, the latter has subsequently hit top form and beat the re-opposing Posh Bird at Ayr last time. Three top weight's have been successful in this race in the last six renewals and Nicky Richards' chaser can add his name to the list. Morgan Be finished runner-up in the 2009 renewal and arrives on the back of a win over 3m here, while another veteran in Negus De Beaumont also won over these fences last time, though he was pulled-up in this race last year in heavy ground.
Mister Marker (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Soon in touch, went 3rd at 6th, led before last, headed narrowly last, soon regained lead run-in, kept on well towards finish, won at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft beating Posh Bird (10-4) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Portrait King (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, 4th halfway, went 2nd 3 out, led before last and kept on well run-in, won at Punchestown 3m 4f Ext hcp ch hvy beating Up The Beat (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 17 ran.
Eyre Square (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened after last, 4th of 11, 20l behind Morgan Be (11-2) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Captain Americo (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Tracked leader 3rd, led when not fluent 14th, headed next, led after 16th until 18th, led 4 out, not fluent 3 out, headed before next, stayed on same pace, flattered by proximity to winner, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Bold Ransom (10-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Morgan Be 10-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway before 6 out, mistake 5 out, left in lead and clear 2 out, hard ridden run-in, just held on, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Categorical (11-4) by ns, 11 ran.
Douglas Julian 6-4fav (10-6) Towards rear, reminder before 2nd, ridden along before next, remote 6th when not fluent 5th, went 4th latter stags, no chance, 4th of 9, 39l behind Achimota (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec.
Posh Bird (IRE) 3-1 (10-4) In rear, headway 13th, went 2nd before 3 out, led marrowly last, soon headed, not quicken, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Mister Marker (11-5) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Incentivise (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Held up behind, pushed along after 16th and outpaced, plugged on from 2 out, never dangerous, 4th of 9, 28l behind Dermatologiste (10-5) at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Present M'lord (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, behind from 9th, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Glens Boy (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Jan, 16 ran.
Negus de Beaumont (FR) 10-3 (11-0) Disputed lead virtually throughout, ridden and slightly outpaced approaching 4 out, 1 length down last, stayed on to lead flat, all out, won at Newcastle 3m beg chase (4) sft in Jan beating Upthemsteps (11-0) by 1l, 4 ran.
Boris The Blade 66-1 (11-8) Close up, led after 1st, headed 4th, unseated rider 10th, in a race won by Beau Dandy (10-3) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft, 13 ran.
