mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, well held when hampered last, weakened flat
behind, headway 3 out, ridden after next, kept on under pressure from last, just failed for 4th, not reach leaders
mid-division on outside, outpaced 3 out, ridden and no impression after next, well held when hampered last
in touch, lost place after 4 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure from 2 out, never on terms
in rear, reminders after 2nd, lost touch and pulled up before 7th
mid-division, lost place 6th, behind when brought down next
mid-division, headway 7th, chased leaders when hampered 4 out, ridden 2 out, soon one pace, never on terms
tracked leaders, headway to challenge and almost upsides when blundered 2 out, soon ridden, every chance flat, kept on, no extra in 3rd closing stages
chased leaders, reminders after 5th, lost place before next, soon behind
mid-division, headway 4 out, soon tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, went 4th before last, kept on same pace, no impression
tracked leaders, faultered after 1st, lost place when ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
chased leaders to before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened from next
mid-division, lost place after 5th, behind when pulled up before next
raced keenly, in touch, led after 2nd to 4th, tracked leader, blundered and lost place 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before next
mid-division on inside, lost place 4 out, ridden after next, soon weakened, tailed off
in touch, blundered and unseated rider 6th
behind most of way, outpaced on outside before 3 out, weakened next
in touch, lost place when fell 7th
mid-division, headway on outside after 4 out, driven to chase front pair after 2 out, soon ridden, went 2nd and kept on flat, edged left towards finish, no impression with winner
mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 3 out, never on terms, weakened last
raced keenly, in touch on outside, led after 4th, headed when not fluent 2 out, soon lost place, weakening when fell last
led to after 2nd, remained prominent, ridden after 3 out, led again next, edged right between last 2, not fluent last, stayed on well flat
Theinval is 4lb higher than when beating a similarly big field in this last year but wasn't beaten far behind Blazer and Qewy in a blanket finish to the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. Ibis Du Rheu beat Sky Khan and Whiteout over this trip in the Martin Pipe at The Festival but was raised 8lb for that. Virgilio won twice here last year but hasn't raced since pulled up in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in January and also has plenty to do on these terms. The lightly-weighted Curious Carlos has an even longer absence to overcome while Ma du Fou and Tycoon Prince are both tackling handicap company for the first time having been going well in novice events. Starchitect steps up in trip for the first time but was noted staying on strongly in the County Hurdle and should be suited. He goes on the short-list along with Uttoxeter second Champagne At Tara, probably the pick of Jonjo O'Neill's three runners, and San Benedeto. Heavy ground has been too much for FOXCUB in his last three runs but he's now back on the same mark as when only beaten a neck by good yardstick Simply Legend over 2m5f on soft going at Sandown in December. He's very capable of bouncing back here at decent odds.
Theinval (FR) 33-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, driven after 2 out, kept on same pace, weakened flat, 14th of 26, 9 1/4l behind Diamond King (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Virgilio (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, went wide before 3rd, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) hvy in Jan.
Ibis Du Rheu (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway from normal 2 out, led bypassing omitted last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar beating Flying Angel (11-6) by 1 1/4l, 24 ran.
San Benedeto (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 11 1/4l behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gs in Feb.
Melodic Rendezvous 9-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, lost place 3rd, rallied to chase leaders after 6th, never a threat, 5th of 8, 24 3/4l behind Lil Rockerfeller (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gs in Feb.
Qewy (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, effort 2 out, soon ridden to challenge, one pace last, weakened flat, 11th of 26, 5 1/4l behind Diamond King (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Blazer (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, driven and effort after 2 out, upsides and every chance last, soon ridden and one pace, no impression in 4th closing stages, 4th of 26, 2l behind Diamond King (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Starchitect (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) In touch, driven after last (usual 2 out), headway under pressure before omitted last, ridden and stayed pressing for places flat, no impression, 5th of 26, 6 1/4l behind Superb Story (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Foxcub (IRE) 40-1 (11-2) In touch, lost place before 7th, soon behind, tailed off after 4 out, last of 6, dist behind Reve De Sivola (11-10) at Haydock 2m 7f (1) hvy in Feb.
Sky Khan 50-1 (11-3) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway after normal 2 out, tracking leaders when not clear run before omitted last, stayed on without being able to challenge after, 3rd of 24, 2 1/2l behind Ibis Du Rheu (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Ma du Fou (FR) 3-1 (11-4) With leader, led 4th, headed after next, led again 3 out, pressed from 2 out, edged slightly left after last, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Feb beating North Hill Harvey (11-8) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Francis Of Assisi (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden after last (usual 2 out), kept on same pace, no impression, 6th of 26, 9 1/2l behind Superb Story (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Whiteout (GER) 33-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 8th, chasing leaders next, not clear run approaching omitted last, beaten after, stayed on towards finish, 5th of 24, 8 3/4l behind Ibis Du Rheu (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Tycoon Prince (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, left 2nd after 7th, pushed along and slight mistake 2 out, soon no impression on easy winner, no extra run-in, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Bellshill (11-3) at Navan 2m 4f (1) hvy in Dec.
Cardinal Palace (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Mid-division on inner, progress into 5th 2f out, soon ridden, closer 5th 1f out, progress inside final furlong, went 2nd near line, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Eshtiaal (12-3) at Dundalk 2m hcp pol in Mar.
Mad Jack Mytton (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Mid-division, slightly hampered 2nd, driven after last (usual 2 out), kept on same pace, never troubled leaders, 14th of 26, 14 3/4l behind Superb Story (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Buiseness Sivola (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Always behind, 18th of 24, dist behind Ibis Du Rheu (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Clondaw Kaempfer (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up 4th and last throughout, pushed along before 6th, lost touch 3 out, went right last, tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Pistol (10-6) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Champagne At Tara 9-1 (11-4) Mid-division, smooth headway 3 out, upsides next, ridden to lead narrowly after last, not quicken flat, headed narrowly towards finish, just held, 2nd of 16, hd behind Murrayana (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Box Office (FR) 28-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, outpaced 2 out, stayed on into mid-division before last, never nearer, 12th of 24, 17 1/4l behind Mall Dini (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Mar.
Curious Carlos 11-4 (11-5) Chased leaders, led before 3 out, quickened clear approaching last, ran on strongly, won at Bangor 2m 4f (4) gs in Aug beating Lilac Tree (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Party Rock (IRE) 28-1 (11-11) Behind, badly hampered 5th, lost touch next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
