led to 9th, remained prominent, driven to challenge bypassing omitted 3 out, led before 2 out, 3 lengths clear last, ridden and edged right flat, headed and no extra near finish
mid-division, headway under pressure bypassing omitted 3 out, chased leaders, ridden and kept on under pressure from last, always held
prominent, outpaced before omitted 3 out, weakened before 2 out
always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before last
in touch, dropped to mid-division 4th, ridden and outpaced bypassing omitted 3 out, never able to challenge
mid-division, chased leaders 14th, lost place 16th, soon behind, tailed of when pulled up before last
tracked leaders, fell 9th
mid-division, chased leaders 5th to before 12th, soon behind, no danger after
mid-division, fell 9th
towards rear, hampered 10th, headway 14th, in touch when blundered 3 out (uaual 4 out), soon outpaced, ridden and rallied after last, kept on and every chance flat, no extra when lost 3rd near finish
mid-division, dropped towards rear 7th, no danger after, pulled up before 3 out (usual 4 out)
tracked leaders, badly hampered 9th, outpaced bypassing omitted 3 out, soon weakened
mistake 1st, tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced by front pair before 2 out, lost place last, rallied to regain 3rd near finish, not reach front pair
always prominent, led 14th(water), ridden and headed before 2 out, 3 lengths down last, rallied flat, regained lead near finish
towards rear, headway 6th, close up on outside 14th, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, hampered 4th, soon behind, no danger after
chased leaders, hampered 9th, lost place before 12th, soon outpaced, ridden before 2 out, stayed on under pressure before last, never on terms
soon mid-division, lost place and behind when fell 9th
pressed leader, led 9th, headed after 12th, remained prominent, outpaced before omitted 3 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, headway into mid-division when blundered and unseated rider 3 out (usual 4 out)
mid-division, hampered 9th, in touch after next, weakened before omitted 3 out
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway into mid-division 4th, joined leaders after 10th, led after 12th, headed 14th (water), weakening when hit 18th, pulled up before 3 out (usual 4 out)
mid-division, lost place and towards rear when hampered 9th, no danger after
always behind, lost touch 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out (usual 4 out)
A huge field partnered by amateurs looks a recipe for excitement, though many of the riders have bags of experience and no little talent. Jamie Codd has won the last two renewals and been successful four times in the race in total so Naas runner-up Squouateur, representing last year’s winning stable, has to go on the short-list, though his stamina will have to be taken on trust. The Pipe stable has won this four times since 2002 and David Edwards’ mount La Vaticane may be the pick of his trio today even though Lisa O’Neil, who rode Tiger Roll to victory in Tuesday’s National Hunt Chase, rides Doctor Harper. Pendra goes well fresh and is partnered by Derek O’Connor but we prefer the other JP McManus-owned runner ANOTHER HERO. Jonjo O’Neill Junior takes the reins on his father’s gelding, who has run well in tough handicaps at Ascot and Doncaster since a pipe-opener behind Potters Cross at Chepstow in October. Katie Walsh’s mount Mall Dini won the Pertemps Final on this day 12 months ago but this is a tough race in which to shed his maiden tag over fences, though he has been knocking on the door. Southfield Royale could also go well in back on song.
Pendra (IRE) 50-1 (10-5) Mid-division, driven and outpaced 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 13th of 39, dist behind Rule The World (10-7) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Mall Dini (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Prominent, soon raced in 3rd, closed 3 out but soon pushed along, bad mistake 2 out, no extra and one pace, 3rd of 13, 10 3/4l behind Bachasson (11-12) at Gowran Park 2m 4f hvy in Feb.
Forgotten Gold (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Disputed lead until 4th, with leader, led 5th until after 8th, led again 11th, ridden and hung right before last, came clear run-in, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (2) fm in Nov beating Caulfields Venture (11-6) by 5l, 3 ran.
La Vaticane (FR) 11-8fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway 11th, one pace and beaten 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 8, 28 1/2l behind Desert Queen (11-10) at Leicester 2m 7f lst (1) gd in Jan.
Doctor Harper (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) In rear, slightly hampered 2nd, behind when pulled up before 18th, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Local Show (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 8th of 13, 13 1/2l behind Modus (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Southfield Royale 6-1 (11-7) Towards rear, mistake 2nd, never dangerous, 12th of 14, dist behind Ziga Boy (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Unioniste (FR) 12-1 (11-2) In rear, struggling 13th, mistake 15th, remote 14th 5 out, 12th of 20, dist behind Native River (11-12) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Hadrian's Approach (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway when awkward and stumbled 3 out, not fluent next, kept on into 4th close home, 4th of 19, 6 3/4l behind Native River (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Potters Legend 11-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, mistake 8th, hampered 12th, mistake next, headway before 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 14, 8l behind Royal Vacation (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Potters Cross 10-1 (10-13) Tracked winner, weakened from 7 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Lamb Or Cod (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, behind and ridden 14th, tailed off next, pulled up after, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Premier Bond 5-2 (11-6) Tracked leader, ridden before last, kept on and led towards finish, won at Doncaster 3m (4) gd in Jan beating Kerrow (11-6) by nk, 4 ran.
Domesday Book (USA) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 6th, headed 8th, mistake and beaten 2 out, modest 5th last, edged left flat, stayed on towards finish, took 3rd close home, 3rd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Crosspark (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Whats Happening (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Towards rear, steady headway chasing leaders after 14th, 3rd 2 out, stayed on run-in, went 2nd post, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Perfect Candidate (11-12) at Exeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Another Hero (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) In rear, headway before 8th, went 3rd from 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on one and lost 2nd place run-in, 3rd of 14, 12 1/2l behind Ziga Boy (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Sugar Baron (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, soon in touch, ridden 14th, chased leaders 4 out, never a threat, 3rd of 15, 12l behind Fox Appeal (11-9) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Venitien De Mai (FR) 13-2 (11-4) Towards rear, some progress approaching 3 out, no impression in moderate 5th 2 out, no extra, kept on one pace, 6th of 10, 37 1/4l behind Sutton Manor (11-9) at Thurles 3m hcp hvy in Feb.
Lessons In Milan (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, led 2nd, driven 3 out, ridden after last, kept on until headed and no extra final 75 yards, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Final Nudge (11-8) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Squouateur (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Rear of mid-division, pushed along and some progress on outer after 3 out, no impression in 4th before last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 2nd of 10, 4 1/4l behind Westerners Son (10-13) at Naas 2m hcp sft in Feb.
Kilfinichen Bay (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Towards rear, headway on inside 15th, chased leaders when fell 4 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Balbir Du Mathan (FR) 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 4th, 3rd 4 out, ridden and no impression from next, 8th of 15, dist behind Oscar Knight (9-10) at Navan 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Dec.
Father Edward (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) 2nd when not fluent 1st, in touch in rear, not fluent 8th, headway before 12th, reminder after next, outpaced 4 out, weakening when mistake next, 5th of 6, 23 1/4l behind Huff And Puff (10-6) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Alvarado (IRE) 9-2fav (10-13) Held up in touch, mistake 13th, chased leaders 16th, under pressure when not fluent 4 out, soon under pressure, weakened last, 6th of 13, 11 3/4l behind Dancing Shadow (10-9) at Musselburgh 4m 1f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
