behind until fell 5th
mid-division, hit 9th, headway and disputing 3 lengths 3rd when fell 3 out
mid-division, mistake 18th, in touch when fell 4 out
raced wide, chased leaders until ridden 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, lost place from 20th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, steady headway 23rd, chased leaders from 2 out, stayed on well approaching last, kept on well flat
led, narrowly headed 4 out, ridden to regain lead 3 out, driven and hard pressed flat, held on gamely near finish, all out
behind, blundered 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 22nd
chased winner, blundered 17th, hit 20th, lost 2nd at 21st, well behind when blundered 23rd, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, until blundered and unseated rider 22nd
chased leaders until ridden and weakened 3 out
in rear, hampered 5th, headway after 3 out, stayed on after next, never going pace to reach leaders
tracked leaders, went 2nd 21st, led narrowly 4 out, headed next, chased winner, ridden approaching last, weakened flat
chased leaders, hit 3rd, ridden from 3 out, kept on approaching last, kept on strongly flat, gaining finish, just held
chased leaders, blundered badly and nearly unseated rider 4th, stayed handy, driven 20th, weakened 22nd
behind, mistake 8, stayed on from 3 out, never dangerous
mid-division until ridden and weakened 12th, tailed off when pulled up 22nd
in touch until weakened 20th
in touch, mistake 2nd, hit 8th, weakening when hampered 4 out
always behind, tailed off 16th, pulled up before 23rd
always behind
always behind, mistake 18th
Nonrunner
Basilea Star gets the vote here with Mr Babbage, Blue Business, Far From Trouble and Ardaghey heading a long list of dangers. The selection was a good second behind Halcon Genelardais last time out and that form looks rock solid. With the longer trip also in his favour he gets a narrow vote. Mr Babbage is another worthy of respect on his latest fifth behind Church Island, and as he will love this longer trip he should be kept very much on the right side. Ardaghey won with plenty in hand last time out when beating Great As Gold. That form has since been franked and he should go well but his best form is with more cut in the ground, and he looks held by the selection on earlier form. Blue Business will stay every yard of the trip and has a good jockey on board in Colm Sweeney, while Dancer Life looks well weighted on his best form, and with his yard continuing in good heart he could go well at a price. Far From Trouble runs in the J P McManus colours and is just the sort of unexposed young Irish horse to make a name for himself here, so he is yet another for the short-list. Of the remainder, Millenaire has been in the form of his life of late, and as all his best efforts have come with cut in the ground, any more rain would be in his favour. He is prone to the odd error. In addition he has topweight to over come as well and with this in mind for the winner we return to Basilea Star as the pick in a tough one to call.
Millenaire (FR) 4-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, headway 7th, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Feb beating Reflected Glory (12-0) by 10l, 6 ran.
Ardaghey (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Led 1st, jumped 9th, shaken up and clear 2 out, jinked left flat, won at Towcester 3m beg chs (4) sft in Feb beating Great As Gold (11-4) by 9l, 14 ran.
Basilea Star (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Ran in snatches, held up, hit 14th, headway next, chased leaders 4 out, hit 2 out, hard ridden, every chance last, kept on, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Halcon Genelardais (11-12) at Exeter 3m 1f nov chs (3) sft in Feb.
Dancer Life (POL) 8-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, chased winner from 4 out, effort 3 out, soon held, 2nd of 4, 11l behind Bob Bob Bobbin (11-9) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
Dolmur (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Close up, chased leader 11th, left in lead 14th, ran on well, won at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Dec beating The Grocers Curate (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Far From Trouble (IRE) 8-11fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, improved to dispute lead from 7th, headed 7 out, 2nd and effort after 3 out, no impression from last, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Baily Breeze (10-11) at Thurles 3m chs gs in Dec.
Hot Weld 9-2 (10-13) With leader, led 13th, driven clear 2 out, stayed on well comfortably, won at Musselburgh 3m beg chs (4) gf in Feb beating Manx Royal (11-4) by 22l, 6 ran.
Mage d'Estruval (FR) 10-3 (11-11) Led to 3rd, prominent, led again after 4 out, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Cobreces (12-2) at Haydock 2m 6f hts chs (3) sft in Feb.
Monty Be Quick 40-1 (11-1) Always behind, last of 5, well behind Waltzing Beau (10-3) at Towcester 2m 3f nov chs (3) hvy.
Mr Babbage (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-5) Held up, slow 4th, 6th and ridden before 5 out, no extra after next, 5th of 8, well behind Church Island (11-8) at Navan 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Theatre Knight (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 7th, hit 12th, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 25l behind Another Club Royal (10-5) at Musselburgh 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Without A Doubt 15-8 (11-12) Led, joined 7th, narrowly headed 3 out, led run-in, headed near finish, 2nd of 4, hd behind Jacks Craic (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Wolf Creek (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Always prominent, led soon after 4 out, clear from soon after next, reduced lead and strongly pressed from before last, stayed on well run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 4f beg chs gs beating Twiststickorbuy (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Beantown (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 4th 6 out, 3rd and ridden after 3 out, kept on under pressure, jumped badly left last, 3rd of 14, 8l behind General Montcalm (11-11) at Leopardstown 3m hts chs gs in Feb.
Blue Business 17-2 (10-13) Prominent, chased leader after 4 out, outpaced 2 out, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Commercial Flyer (11-4) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) gs in Feb.
Brigadier Brown (IRE) 14-1 (10-1) Held up in touch, headway 5 out, close 5th next, 3rd 3 out, no extra from next, 5th of 17, 8l behind Kings Glen (10-5) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp chs gs in Feb.
Hazelhall Princess (IRE) 10-1 (10-3) Towards rear, bad mistake 12th, soon no extra and pulled up 5 out in race won by Kings Glen (10-5) at Punchestown 3m 4f hcp chs gs in Feb, 17 ran.
High Cotton (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, headway 18th, ridden 3 out, every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Philson Run (11-6) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Holey Moley (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 10th, ridden 4 out, when 2nd briefly last, one pace, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Skenfrith (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
Iloveturtle (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Behind, headway approaching 6th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, 2nd of 16, 12l behind Parkinson (9-10) at Leicester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Steppes of Gold (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, chased easy winner from 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Star De Mohaison (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.
Lago d'Oro 66-1 (10-10) Jumped left, struggling 8th, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 35l behind Napolitain (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Deltic Arrow 11-1 (10-0) Led and driven along, headed 3 out, soon outpaced by front pair, 4th of 7, 8l behind Twenty Degrees (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Feb.
