jumped big, awkward, unseated rider 1st
in rear, mistake 3rd, mistake 9th, soon ridden, struggling, behind when blundered 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up mid-division, slightly hampered 6th (water), behind from 9th
held up in touch, driven from 7th, lost place 9th, rallied on outside approaching 3 out, beaten 2 out
raced keenly, tracked leader, led 7th to 8th, blundered 9th, soon dropped out
mid-division but in touch, well there 3 out, 7th and weakening when mistake 2 out
held up in touch, went close 3rd 3 out, ridden to chase winner after 2 out, soon no impression, pecked last, one pace
held up, pushed along after 4th, no chance from 9th
always behind, pushed along approaching 4th, no chance before 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway next, beaten before 3 out, 8th when stumbled 2 out
mid-division, headway 9th, beaten 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 9th, close-up 3 out, still going well before 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, not quite get 3rd
always prominent, mistake 4th, went 2nd after 9th, led 2 out, forged clear approaching last, ran on strongly flat
led, jumped slowly, headed 7th, led again next, headed 2 out, relegated to 3rd soon after, jumped left last, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
The chasing stars of the immediate future go head-to-head and Mahogany Blaze represents great value to spoil the party for supporters of Tidal Bay and Noland, who were the strongest contenders according to the ante post markets in the build up to the big day. That is not to underestimate the challenges of Clopf and French Accordion, who appear to be the best hopes for the Irish this time. The former kept good company over hurdles and has also taken well to fences. He took his eye off the ball when falling at Navan last month but it would be very harsh to judge him on appearances alone. On that occasion, Clopf travelled supremely well until his tumble at the last fence and assuming he has learned from the experience, he will be a tough customer to deal with today. As will French Accordion, who has plenty of experience over fences but needs to banish the memory of a poor run last time out. A faster surface will help him and he can go close if on song. Kruguyrova had the likes of Ring The Boss, Orpen Wide and a disappointing Moon Over Miami well in arrears when landing a Grade 3 chase at Warwick last month. She will need to pull out all the stops if she is to add her name to the illustrious roll-call of previous Arkle winners. But she is as game as they come and her weight allowance will be a big help. To date, Noland has only tasted defeat twice in his career and keeps coming up with all the right answers. However, he was only workmanlike when winning at Sandown last month and, as that form can be seriously crabbed, he makes limited appeal at skinny odds. Tidal Bay was also below expectations when run out of things by Leslingtaylor at Doncaster in February. However, he raced too freely at Town Moor and, as the pace was unsuitably slow, he failed to give his true running. The Howard Johnson-trained gelding loves Cheltenham, though. And he can easily bounce back here. Nevertheless, it can also be profitable to give Mahogany Blaze another throw of the dice. The switch to fences has been the making of Nigel Twiston-Davies' six-year-old and, as he is likely to be allowed to race at an each-way price, Mahogany Blaze gets the call as the best bet in a typically tough piece of the Festival jigsaw.
Clopf (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Led from 2nd, strongly pressed 3 out, stayed on well, 2 lengths advantage when fell in race won by Maralan (11-4) at Navan 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb, 9 ran.
French Accordion (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, 5th and ridden entering straight no extra before 3 out where left 5th, left 4th next, behind in poor 5th when pulled up before pulled up at the last in race won by Sky's The Limit (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f nov chs Grd 1.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led 7th, ridden and headed 3 out, led again flat, hard ridden and held on towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m nov chs (2) gd in Feb beating Tidal Bay (11-6) by a nk, 6 ran.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 17-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, 3rd and ridden when not fluent 3 out, not pace of leading pair, 3rd of 6, 26l behind Master Minded (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Marodima (FR) 11-10fav (11-4) Led, not fluent early, jumped left 5th, headed 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 6, 30l behind Wee Robbie (11-0) at Ascot 2m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Moon Over Miami (GER) 2-1fav (11-7) Held up, headway 6th, niggled along approaching 8th, ridden before next, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kruguyrova (10-9) at Warwick 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb, 6 ran.
Noland 1-4fav (11-3) Jumped well, prominent, led 7th, joined 3 out, kept on well from last, pushed out, won at Sandown 2m nov chs (2) gd in Feb beating My Petra (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge approaching 3 out, outpaced from next, kept on close home but no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Gentle John (10-10) at Kempton 2m nov hcp chs (2) gd.
Premiership (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Soon behind, tailed off and pulled up 5 out in race won by Aheadofhistime (10-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Feb, 17 ran.
Ring The Boss (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Always prominent, not fluent 2nd, soon chasing leader, challenging when blundered 2 out, every chance flat, held near finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Kruguyrova (10-9) at Warwick 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Scotsirish (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, bad mistake 4 out, 5th under pressure next, left moderate 4th last, stayed on well run-in, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Maralan (11-4) at Navan 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Thyne Again (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders, jumped up to 3rd 6th, left 2nd 3 out, improved to lead 2 out, soon clear, kept on strongly, won at Naas 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 gs in Feb beating Casey Jones (11-5) by 21l, 8 ran.
Tidal Bay (IRE) 1-4fav (11-6) Led, blundered badly and headed 7th, led again 3 out, in command when blundered last, soon headed, rallied towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Leslingtaylor (11-6) at Doncaster 2m nov chs (2) gd in Feb.
Kruguyrova (FR) 5-2 (10-9) Made all, ridden approaching last, stayed on gamely flat, won at Warwick 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb beating Ring The Boss (11-0) by a nk, 6 ran.
