towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, fell 13th (Valentines)
mid-division, headway 12th (Canal Turn), hampered 13th (Valentines), never dangerous after
mid-division, headway under pressure 5 out, no impression from next
chased leaders until blundered badly 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 7th and in touch, disputing 2nd when blundered 2 out, one pace after
towards rear, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 13th (Valentines)
towards rear, headway 3 out, kept on one pace from next
towards rear, fell 13th (Valentines)
in touch, fell 13th (Valentines)
soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 12th (Canal Turn)
towards rear, never dangerous
towards rear, outpaced 4 out
towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon ridden and effort, faded next
mid-division, headway 3 out to chase leaders, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, fell last
in touch, weakened after 4 out
towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up after 12th (Canal Turn)
in touch, blundered and unseated rider 10th (Bechers Brook)
mid-division, headway 5 out, ridden and one pace from 3 out
towards rear, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up after 10th (Bechers Brook)
towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up after 12th (Canal Turn)
mid-division, outpaced 5 out
towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 7th
mid-division, struggling 12th (Canal Turn)
in touch, headway when left in lead 10th (Bechers Brook), made rest, ran on strongly run-in
chased leaders until blundered 8th, soon weakened
led until fell 10th (Bechers Brook)
with leader to 10th (Bechers Brook), remained prominent, ridden approaching 2 out, soon one pace
Paul Nicholls again has a very strong hand here with four of the top five in the weights and it would be no surprise if one were good enough to win, but lightweights Consigliere and PING PONG SIVOLA come here in tremendous form and the latter is selected. Venetia Williams has kept her runners firing for a long time and Ping Pong Sivola has been a big part of that, improving by 32lbs in the opinion of the handicapper in winning three and finishing second four times in his last seven starts. That consistency looked likely to be rewarded at Cheltenham until stablemate Something Wells nabbed her on the line in the Festival Plate, but she can gain compensation today. She loves to front run, which is a plus as far as a trouble-free run is concerned, and she is a very tough mare to pass, especially over this trip. Consigliere is another improver, having gone up 23lbs this season. He was an Ascot winner over 2m 1f last time out, but he gets this trip. The concern with him is over the ground, and it is interesting to note that David Pipe is on record as saying that cut in the ground and a small field is ideal for him, so we will take him on. Of the Nicholls quartet, Ruby Walsh prefers Gwanako, who is 13lbs higher than when winning the 2008 renewal. Until today handicaps have been given the swerve since his fall here in the Becher Chase in November, and the decent ground can help him carrying this big racing weight. With a clear round he looks likely to be very competitive. Nozic looks handicapped to the hilt, so it is understandable that Harry Skelton is up to claim 5lbs, while Mr Pointment looks more interesting. Now below the mark from which he won the 2007 Becher, which remains his last win, Sam Thomas is again on board and if he can kick on and make this a real test then he has his best chance for some time. New Little Bric looks to have suffered for his latest Newbury success and Private Be looks more interesting. With Philip Hobbs' inmates in top form, this previous Mildmay course winner looks a leading contender. If ridden to get the trip, he could creep into it later on and his defeat of Nacarat at Exeter in December now reads as very smart form. Bible Lord looks to have more ability than he has been letting on. With the yard going well don't rule him out of the frame, although ideally he would want softer ground. Plenty of these are out of the handicap and not many of them look to have realistic chances of springing a surprise, but if there is to be a winner off the minimum weight then Irish raider Oodachee has the stamina and acts on the ground, and he is on a reasonable mark. Ping Pong Sivola is the one for us.
Nozic (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Never better than mid-division, struggling when hit 12th, 13th of 20, 43l behind Nacarat (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Feb.
Gwanako (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon one pace, 5th of 9, 9l behind Imperial Commander (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Mar.
Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, no impression, ridden when left in better position 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 23, 31l behind Something Wells (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
New Little Bric (FR) 14-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, led 12th, made rest, in command after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Feb beating The Package (10-0) by 7l, 15 ran.
Bishop's Bridge (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Mid-division, effort under pressure after 3 out, ridden and weakened after next, 10th of 19, 24l behind Royaleety (10-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Dec.
Always Waining (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 20th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Russian Trigger (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) sft in Mar, 15 ran.
Buck The Legend (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Mid-division until weakened 4 out, 9th of 23, 44l behind Something Wells (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Private Be 8-1 (10-10) Hit 11th, always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by The Sawyer (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Bible Lord (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division when fell 5th, in a race won by Something Wells (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar, 23 ran.
Ping Pong Sivola (FR) 13-2fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, led 11th, clear 13th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, rallied gamely, held near finish, 2nd of 23, 3/4l behind Something Wells (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Billyvoddan (IRE) 50-1 (10-6) Chased leaders until 16th, soon weakened, 15th of 17, well behind Wichita Lineman (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Oneway (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Took keen hold early, hampered 1st, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Briery Fox (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Too Forward (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, never in contention, 7th of 15, 28l behind New Little Bric (10-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Feb.
Consigliere (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leader pair, went 2nd going well on inside well before last, upsides last, driven ahead near finish, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb beating Baseball Ted (10-2) by nk, 6 ran.
The Sawyer (BEL) 33-1 (10-3) Led, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra, 5th of 21, 20l behind Wichita Lineman (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
The Hollow Bottom 11-1 (10-4) Chased leaders, driven approaching 4 out, soon weakened and eased, tailed off, 13th of 15, well behind New Little Bric (10-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Feb.
Bagan (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Towards rear, mistake when outpaced 11th, never dangerous after, 6th of 9, 36l behind Ordre de Bataille (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Oodachee 20-1 (11-5) Prominent, challenging 3 out, hit 2 out, no extra flat, 8th of 24, 11l behind Character Building (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Boomshakalaka (IRE) 50-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, weakening when hampered 4 out, 11th of 23, well behind Something Wells (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Bob Bob Bobbin 5-1 (10-6) Tracked leader, lead approaching 5 out, comfortably, won at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Feb beating Foreman (11-4) by 10l, 7 ran.
Soleil Fix (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Led, ridden after last, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Pretty Star (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Iron Man (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Prominent until 7th, behind 11th, tailed off and pulled up before next, in a race won by Kilcrea Asla (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb, 11 ran.
Ellerslie George (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Led to 4th, chased leaders, outpaced 9th, ridden after 5 out, no impression from next, 7th of 9, 27l behind Daldini (10-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan.
Moncadou (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Never dangerous, 6th of 10, 33l behind Osako D'airy (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) hvy in Feb.
Le Toscan (FR) 33-1 (10-10) Mid-division, hit 6th, weakened approaching 17th, 16th of 24, well behind Character Building (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Mistakes, held up towards rear, headway 14th, weakened before 3 out, 10th of 24, 27l behind Character Building (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar.
Milan Deux Mille (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Led after 1st, headed approaching last, soon weakened, 12th of 15, 36l behind Mollys Garden (11-5) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Frankie Figg (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Led, hit 7th, ridden 2 out, headed before last, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 12l behind Jass (10-5) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Jan.
Cossack Dancer (IRE) 100-1 (10-0) Led 3rd until 7th, led 8th until 11th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 23, 30l behind Something Wells (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Mr Pointment (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Not fluent, always behind, ridden and struggling 11th, tailed off, 12th of 15, well behind New Little Bric (10-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Feb.
