held up behind, headway after 3 out, outpaced after next, ridden to chase clear leaders before last, never on terms
held up behind, hampered 2nd, steady headway after 3 out, outpaced next, soon ridden and no impression, weakened last
tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, lost place and ridden between last 2, weakened approaching last
mid-division, in touch, lost place 5th, soon behind, no danger after
mid-division, lost place 3 out, weakened before next
mid-division, steady headway after 3 out, effort to challenge on inside before last, soon ridden, led narrowly flat, kept on, headed final strides
mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased leaders after next, ridden to challenge last, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair flat
led, went left 1st and next, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra in 4th when went left last
tracked leaders to before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
in touch, mistake 4th, dropped to mid-division next, short of room after 4 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off
held up behind, headway into mid-division on outside 4th, chased leaders 2 out, ridden to challenge and every chance before last, weakened soon after
prominent, driven 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
in rear, hampered 2nd, struggling 6th, some headway before 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, lost place approaching 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, short of room after 4 out, never on terms, weakened before 2 out
in touch on inside, driven 4 out, lost place next, behind 2 out, pulled up before last
mid-division, headway 3 out, tracked leaders next, challenged and every chance before last, soon ridden and hung left, no impression flat
towards rear, fell 2nd
held up behind, steady headway after 3 out, came towards stand side rail to lead before last, ridden and headed narrowly flat, stayed on to regain lead final strides
in touch, chased leaders on inside approaching 2 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, weakened approaching last
tracked leader to before 4 out, behind 2 out, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Edeymi was due to run in yesterday's Pertemps Final so could be a doubtful runner but Jolly's Cracked It is interesting on his fifth in the betfair Hurdle. While Le Mercury was third in a Grade 2 handicap at Ascot in January. There is no reason why Roi Des Francs won't go well having won a Grade 3 at Clonmel last month - he doesn't look overburdened on his handicap debut. Stablemates McKinley and Killultagh Vic also come into the reckoning and Forthefunofit took a step in the right direction when beating Party Rock at Huntingdon and Patrick Cowley can take off 5lb. Punchestown winner Noble Endeavor and Bordoni are worthy of consideration but we fancy a big run from MACNICHOLSON. Jessica Harrington gave him a pipe-opener on the all-weather last month after resting him through the worst of the winter weather and he ran well until getting outpaced up the straight. This is his ground and trip and he can give Ger Fox a thrilling Festival ride.
Le Mercurey (FR) 9-2 (11-0) Raced wide, chased leaders, disputing 3rd 3 out until pushed along and oupaced before 2 out, kept on approaching last, rallied into 3rd towards finish, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Baradari (10-4) at Ascot 2m 3f Ltd hcp hdl (1) sft in Jan.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Close up, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 16, 34l behind Aubusson (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Jolly's Cracked It (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Held up well in rear, plugged on from 2 out, went modest 5th run-in, 5th of 23, 14l behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Sleepy Haven (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, never involved, 13th of 23, 22l behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Conquisto 9-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, led after 3 out, headed before next, switched left approaching last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Gold Futures (11-3) at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Feb.
Noble Endeavor (IRE) 15-8fav (11-4) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, 4th at 6th, slight mistake 9th, still 4th from 2 out, 3rd before straight, challenged from before last where slight mistake, led run-in, stayed on well to quickly assert, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl sft in Jan beating Aklan (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Roi Des Francs (FR) 2-1fav (11-2) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, progress into 2nd and slight mistake 3 out, led narrowly before straight, ridden and pressed before 2 out, disputed briefly before last, kept on well run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 6f nov hdl Grd 3 (1) in Feb beating Fine Article (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Shelford (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Led, hit 4th, went left 3 out, headed before 2 out, soon outpaced in 3rd, well beaten when fell last, in a race won by L'Ami Serge (11-7) at Sandown 2m nov hdl G1 (1) sft in Jan, 4 ran.
Macnicholson (IRE) 15-8fav (11-4) Tracked leader in close 2nd at sedate pace, travelling well before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on without matching winner, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Plinth (11-3) at Naas 2m 4f hdl in Nov.
Party Rock (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, ridden to press winner next, unable to quicken flat, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Forthefunofit (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Pearl Swan (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 4th until after 3 out, weakened next, pulled up before last, in a race won by Garde La Victoire (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov, 15 ran.
Barizan (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Made most, not fluent 5th, headed 8th, outpaced when not fluent 4 out, soon lost touch, blundered last, last of 4, 23l behind In The Rough (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Aug.
On Tour (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, disputing 3rd next, ridden in 4th and no extra between last two, weakened and lost places run-in, 8th of 23, 16l behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Mckinley 10-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, some progress into 4th after 2 out, no extra early straight, 5th of 9, 22l behind Nichols Canyon (11-9) at Leopardstown 2m 2f nov hdl G2 (1) in Feb.
Forthefunofit (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Close up, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Party Rock (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Bordoni (USA) 25-1 (11-1) Reminders and struggling after 4th, always towards rear, tailed off, 18th of 23, well behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Kauto Grand Mogol (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Held up, 6th halfway, progress into 4th after 3 out, ridden in 3rd before straight, no extra entering straight, eased after last, 8th of 9, well behind Roi Des Francs (11-2) at Clonmel 2m 6f nov hdl Grd 3 (1) in Feb.
Balgarry (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, left 2nd 4th, ridden and losrt 2nd before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened before the last, 9th of 23, 16l behind Violet Dancer (10-9) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Killultagh Vic (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, slight mistakes, last and slight mistake again 3 out, ridden from next, progress into 4th entering straight, 3rd at last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Outlander (11-3) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 2 (1) in Jan.
Full Shift (FR) 9-2fav (10-11) Mid-division, pushed along before 5th, lost place when jumped slowly 7th, well in rear 2 out, stayed on flat, no chance, 11th of 24, 30l behind Don Poli (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f cond hcap hdle (2) gd in Mar '14.
Alderbrook Lad (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) Led, mistake 9th, ridden before and fell 2 out, in a race won by Midnight Belle (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Royal Irish Hussar (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway last (normal 2 out), every chance before omitted last, no extra flat, 5th of 9, 8l behind Lightentertainment (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Peckhamecho (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway 17th, struggling when not fluent 4 out, well beaten from next, tailed off, 7th of 14, well behind Hawkes Point (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Edeymi (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) In rear, headway before last, kept on to take 4th place towards finish, 4th of 12, 6l behind Dawalan (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb.
