chased leaders on inside, not fluent and pushed along briefly 6th, lost place 9th, no extra 3 out, weakened
held up in mid-division, pushed along briefly after 7th, ridden 9th, effort 13th, 4th and one pace when mistake last
soon led, not fluent 8th, headed 10th, stayed prominent, ridden in close 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, no impression on winner
prominent, mistake 8th, lost place before 11th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, hit 8th, driven 10th, outpaced 13th, well beaten after 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 8th, no extra before 2 out, weakened
chased leaders, ridden and lost place 4 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, not fluent, mistake 2nd, hit 11th, headway 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, led approaching last, hung right flat, drew clear, ran on well
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, struggling 8th, well behind 11th, pulled up after
prominent, led 10th, ridden and headed approaching last, 3rd and no impression flat, edged right towards finish
Pacha Du Polder won a Grade 3 at Newbury last March and showed signs of a return to form in similar Grade at the Festival. Bally Legend landed a Grade 3 at Kempton in February over 3m then found 2m4f too short at Newbury. ASTRACAD has generally competed at a high level and though he hasn't won for two years this represents a good opportunity and he's given the nod. Buywise came to the Festival for a Listed handicap on a four-timer but couldn't quite manage it though he had Persian Snow just behind. Both of Real Milan's victories have come on heavy ground which he's very unlikely to get this time.
Pacha Du Polder (FR) 50-1 (11-9) In touch, chased leaders 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 10th of 23, 16l behind Holywell (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Bally Legend 15-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, jumped slowly 6th (water), pushed along and well outpaced 8th, struggling towards rear 11th, rallied from 3 out, went modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 8, 24l behind Pepite Rose (11-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Mar.
Astracad (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 8th until 3 out, 4th and beaten last, one pace and no impression flat, 4th of 16, 8l behind Parsnip Pete (10-10) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Carrickboy (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up and raced wide, jumped slowly 1st, headway on wide outside to chase leaders 10th, pushed along in 4th before 3 out, went modest 3rd just before last, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Bennys Mist (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Jan.
Persian Snow (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, one pace in 5th when not fluent last, ridden and no impression flat, 6th of 19, 9l behind Present View (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gs in Mar.
Kumbeshwar 5-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, outpaced 9th, well beaten before 3 out, 7th of 8, 33l behind Grey Gold (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Feb.
Wetak (FR) 9-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway before 11th to go mid-division, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Duke Of Lucca (10-7) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd, 17 ran.
Buywise (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 3 out, chased leaders and in touch when blundered badly next, ridden and stayed on flat, no impression, 5th of 19, 7l behind Present View (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) gs in Mar.
Noble Legend 6-1 (11-12) Close up, led 3rd, headed after 6th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 22l behind Shadows Lengthen (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Real Milan (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, led 2nd, headed 3rd, remained close up, led again 6th, ridden before 2 out, looked in command run-in, quickly weakened and headed close home, 2nd of 9, shd behind Shadows Lengthen (11-6) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
