never better than mid-division, weakened after 3 out, behind when hit last, tailed off
towards rear, not fluent 5 out, headway under pressure after 3 out, kept on same pace, never near leaders
led, clear 8th to before 3 out, ridden between last 2, headed after last, readily outpaced by winner flat, just held on for 2nd near finish
mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
mid-division, tracked leaders on outside after 4th, close up when bumped 4 out, disputed 3rd and every chance when fell next
towards rear, headway 5 out, chased leaders after 3 out, 4th when switched towards inside between last 2, ridden and ran on to lead after last, asserted clear flat
mid-division, hampered 2nd, blundered 5th, weakening when blundered 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
in touch on inside, outpaced when hampered 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on under pressure flat, just failed for 2nd near finish, no impression with winner
hampered 2nd, behind when jinked right and unseated rider next
chased leaders to 6th (water), towards rear when hit 8th, in rear 3 out, stayed on past beaten horses after last, never near leaders
tracked leaders, ridden and one pace when blundered 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off
mid-division, headway on outside after 4 out, close up in 3rd next, every chance 2 out, one pace when fell last
tracked leader, mistake 8th, close up 3 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, kept on but no impression from last
chased leaders to 4th, soon towards rear, blundered 4 out, weakened and pulled up before next
chased leaders, fell 2nd
disputed lead until blundered 2nd, tracked leader, mistake 4 out, weakened after next
mid-division when badly hampered and brought down 2nd
tracked leaders, travelled well in 4th after 3 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, kept on but always held from last
behind, mistake 6th (water), outpaced 3 out, plugged on past beaten horses approaching last, never near leaders
reluctant to race and lost ground start, always behind
behind, hampered 2nd, struggling 4 out, some late headway when blundered 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, not pace to threaten leaders
NonRunner
NonRunner
Novices have a good record in this traditional finale and Townshend met trouble in-running when behind Three Stars at Leopardstown in a race in which the accident-prone Don't Touch It unseated his rider. Dan Skelton’s pair North Hill Harvey and Born Survivor are well worth a second look and Dolos could figure if his lack of experience doesn’t let him down. It’s interesting that Paul Nicholls drops BOUVREUIL back to 2m on testing ground as he’s been placed at the last three Festivals and been lightly campaigned over further this season. Sam Twiston-Davies’ mount looks a solid each-way bet granted luck in-running and another Nicholls runner, Le Prezien, is also respected. Theinval is 6lb better off than when third to Rock The World in this last year and Bun Doran should reverse running here in December with Gino Trail. Forest Bihan beat a subsequent Grade 1 winner at Kelso back in October and won on Tapeta in first-time cheekpieces earlier this month but may be a few pounds too high.
Garde La Victoire (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 2nd to 4th, pressed leader, lost place after 6th, outpaced in 4th 5 out, blundered 3 out, plugged on to dispute modest 3rd from next, no chance with front pair, 4th of 8, 27 3/4l behind Politologue (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Rock The World (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division, slight mistake 3rd, headway into 4th 3 out, ridden in 5th 2 out, went moderate 4th before last, no impression, 4th of 10, 25l behind Doctor Phoenix (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Gino Trail (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Tended to jump left, made all, went left and hit 8th, 1 length ahead last, stayed on gamely run-in, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Dolos (11-2) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Vaniteux (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Tracked leading trio, left in 3rd place and slightly hampered 8th, pushed along and no impression before 3 out, went modest 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 13l behind Politologue (11-6) at Kempton 2m (1) sft in Dec.
North Hill Harvey 11-4 (11-5) Tracked winner until weakened from 3 out, 3rd of 4, dist behind Saint Calvados (10-12) at Warwick 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Le Prezien (FR) 9-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outside before 8th, disputing 5th when blundered 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, 35 3/4l behind Guitar Pete (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Don't Touch It (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Chased leaders early, bad mistake and unseated rider 4th, at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb.
Top Gamble (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Tracked leading pair, not fluent 5th, dropped to 4th 7th, 3rd again briefly 4 out, ridden and outpaced 3 out, modest 4th before next, 4th of 6, 11 1/4l behind Gino Trail (11-8) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Valdez 25-1 (11-0) Took keen hold and jumped right, close 3rd, tracked leader 5th, pecked on landing 4 out, lost 2nd approaching 2 out, weakened, last of 3, 17l behind Altior (11-6) at Newbury 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Dolos (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, 2 lengths down when pecked 2 out, 1 length down last, driven and stayed on run-in, always just held, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Gino Trail (11-8) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Sizing Platinum (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) In touch, tracked winner 3 out to before next, soon outpaced in 3rd, no chance with front pair before last, 3rd of 15, 11 1/4l behind Foxtail Hill (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Eastlake (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out to before next, soon weakened, 11th of 15, dist behind Foxtail Hill (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Some Plan (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division early, slight mistake 5th, 6th from 8th, chasing leaders when fell 2 out, at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb.
Three Stars (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, disputed lead briefly 2nd, on terms 8th, soon led until joined from 3 out, led again before 2 out, soon attempted to assert and went on, hit last, headed run-in and kept on same pace, 2nd of 20, 2 3/4l behind Patricks Park (9-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb.
Townshend (GER) 16-1 (11-6) Held up, soon towards rear, jumped right and impeded 8th, some headway but no impression when jumped right last, one pace, 7th of 20, 20 1/2l behind Patricks Park (9-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb.
Dresden (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 7 out, chased leaders before 4 out, every chance 2 out, led last, held on well, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Caraline (10-7) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Foxtail Hill (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Led, blundered 7 out, headed next, weakened from 3 out, last of 8, 27 1/4l behind Duke Of Navan (10-10) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Bouvreuil (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, some headway on inside before 13th, plugged on but never involved, 6th of 12, 24l behind Gold Present (11-10) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Theinval (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 12th, chasing leaders before 2 out, 5th and beaten last, 6th of 9, 20 3/4l behind Ballyhill (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Born Survivor (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Kept wide, tracked winner, ridden after 3 out, soon edged left, lost 2nd 2 out, no extra last, last of 3, 22l behind Testify (11-4) at Haydock 2m (3) hvy in Dec.
Bright New Dawn (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, fell 3rd, at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Doitforthevillage (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) Led until after 3rd, not fluent and led again from 4th, mistake 3 out, headed last, no impression flat, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Birch Hill (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Forest Bihan (FR) (11-4) Keen, tracked leading pair, smooth headway on outside into 2nd 2f out, led going well over 1f out, briefly pressed just inside final furlong, soon shaken up to assert and drew clear, won at Newcastle 2m (3) pol in Mar beating The Resdev Way (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
The Game Changer (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd at 8th, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, dist behind Doctor Phoenix (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
