tracked leaders on inside, 2nd 5th, not fluent next, hit 8th, soon lost 2nd, beaten 2 out, weakening when blundered last
led, hit 8th, headed 3 out, fading before last, weakened flat
mid-division, headway 8th, not fluent 3 out, 2nd 2 out, soon edged left, led but pressed before last, headed final 75 yards, held close home
tracked leader until slow 5th, lost place after 8th, well beaten from 3 out
held up in rear, headway towards outside when mistake 4 out, outpaced next, weakened from 2 out
soon tracking leaders, challenged before last, led final 75 yards, stayed on, driven out
tracked leaders, 2nd after 8th, led 3 out, jumped left 2 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division on inside, blundered badly and lost place 7th, behind after 8th, pulled up before last
mid-division, in touch on inside when hit 4 out, soon outpaced, plugged on from before last but unable to reach challenging position
held up in rear, steady headway from 8th, jumped right and baulked 4 out, not fluent 3 out, close 4th when hit last, stayed on same pace flat
towards rear, blundered badly 8th, pecked 4 out, well beaten next
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, steady headway when hampered, stumbled and fell just after 4 out
soon not going well in rear, behind after 4th, not fluent 6th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before last
led into start, chased leaders on outside until bad mistake and dropped rear 5th, pulled up before 8th
NonRunner
Parsnip Pete won this back in 2014 and is something of a course specialist. Alisier D'irlande won in this grade at Naas in February but the runner-up was well behind Theinval and Dandridge in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham last month. The latter pair both go on the short-list here while Double W's is better than he showed in a Listed contest at The Festival when behind Bun Doran. Gino Trail is consistent but may find the going too lively. ASTRE DE LA COUR won a competitive handicap hurdle at this meeting two years ago. He’s been progressing nicely over fences and, though still creeping up the weights, could be fresher than a few of these - the booking of Paul Townend certainly catches the eye. Yorkist and the tough Doitforthevillage could be interesting nearer the foot of the weights.
Alisier D'Irlande (FR) 5-2jfav (11-5) Made all, jumped left, 5-length advantage halfway, extended advantage 3 out, ridden after 2 out, tired and reduced advantage after last, kept on under pressure closing stages, won at Naas 2m (1) hvy in Feb beating Pairofbrowneyes (11-1) by 10l, 6 ran.
Gino Trail (IRE) 1-10fav (11-8) Raced enthusiastically, made all, not fluent 4th, jumped slightly left from 7th, clear 2 out, steadied and ran down last, nudged out, won at Ludlow 2m (3) sft in Mar beating Beyeh (10-5) by 5l, 4 ran.
Theinval (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, challenged and every chance 2 out, ridden and one pace after last, stayed on to press for 2nd inside final 100 yards, no impression with winner, 3rd of 24, 2l behind Rock The World (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Foxtail Hill (IRE) 6-1fav (11-10) Led, hit 2nd, fell 8th, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Dandridge 13-2 (11-1) Mid-division, tracked leaders after 4 out, effort and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace, ridden and no impression in 4th flat, 4th of 24, 4 1/2l behind Rock The World (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Double W's (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division, tracked leaders 12th, challenged after 3 out, led narrowly next, headed between last 2, ridden and weakened flat, 9th of 20, 20 1/2l behind Tully East (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Bun Doran (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd and 10th (water), effort to challenge on inside when mistake 2 out, every chance last, ridden and no extra flat, 6th of 20, 9 1/4l behind Tully East (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Mar.
Parsnip Pete 8-1 (10-11) Mid-division, lost place when hit 4th, headway 4 out, left in touch 3 out, no extra next, 7th of 11, 26 3/4l behind Eastlake (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Romain De Senam (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, keen, ridden 3 out, no impression, last of 7, 21 3/4l behind Max Ward (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Yorkist (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Rear division, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Upsilon Bleu (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Witness In Court (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) In touch, effort 3 out, ridden and lost place before next, soon weakened, 18th of 24, dist behind Rock The World (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Doitforthevillage (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-12) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 2 out (usual 6 out), challenged when not fluent last (usual 5 out), soon led narrowly, ridden and headed bypassing omitted last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Imperial Presence (11-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Raven's Tower (USA) 16-1 (12-1) Held up towards rear, hit 2nd, went left 2 out never on terms, tailed off, 7th of 9, 29 1/2l behind Speredek (11-6) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Rock On Rocky 4-1 (11-11) Led, headed 6 out, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar beating Vengeur De Guye (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Astre De La Cour (FR) 7-2 (10-13) Led until after 4th, led 6th, mistake 2 out, hit last and headed, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Gardefort (11-3) at Wincanton 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
