mid-division on outside, mistake 17th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 3 out
in touch on outside, effort 3 out, 6th and driven when mistake next, soon ridden, stayed on flat
in touch on inside, hampered 17th, joined leader going well after 4 out, led next, ridden and hard pressed last, headed flat, kept on
mid-division on inside, ridden 18th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 3 out
led to 6th, remained in touch, ridden to chase leading pair 4 out, lost place 2 out, soon beaten
mid-division, in touch 8th, challenged 3 out, ridden and lost place after next, soon beaten
with leaders, joined leader 16th, upsides when fell 4 out
mid-division, outpaced when mistake 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, hampered 17th, soon under pressure, ridden 3 out, plugged on from next, no impression
tracked leaders, hampered 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened from next
soon towards rear, hit 4th and 13th, never dangerous
behind, ridden 16th, soon struggling, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up behind, pecked 15th, headway 19th, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden and upsides last, led flat, stayed on well
tracked leader, led 6th, joined 16th, headed 3 out, weakened after next
mid-division, hampered 4 out, headway next, chased leading pair approaching last, soon ridden, held on for 3rd near finish
tracked leaders, in touch when fell 17th
always behind, pulled up before 4 out
behind pecked 14th, blundered and unseated rider 17th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Day two of the festival starts with one of the toughest races to solve but something has to win and we'll take ABBEYBRANEY to do just that ahead of Mobaasher and Massasoit. Howard Johnson's nine-year-old hasn't had too much racing having had his share of problems, but the gelding has always been highly thought of and can repay connections faith with a big run. Before injury he had given Barbers Shop a race and also has a close second to smart Irish stayer Notre Pere in his back catalogue, so arriving as he does on the back of a win in the north he's given the vote. Not that anything can be backed with total confidence, as their must be a dozen with reasonable claims and one of those is Mobaasher. This horse is probably the most talented one lining up but he has his share of quirks and has found winning tough, but as a hurdler he got very close to the top and a tidy win last time will have helped his confidence, whilst the good gallop we're likely to get here will also play to his strengths. Massasoit arrived from France with a tall reputation but had become disappointing prior to a win Fakenham, when even then he did his best to get beat in the face of an apparently simple task. That may have been his making though, as the Nicholls runner has since taken a close third in a very good handicap at Sandown, proving he can cope with big fields like this one. Of the rest, Synchronised makes some appeal as he's consistent and carries the highest official rating of 143. However, he lacks the scope of some of these and may struggle over these unforgiving fences. Poker De Sivola has long been well thought off but he took an age to get off the mark and was lucky to do so last time, so of more interest at a price might be Pettifour who was a 150-plus rated hurdler and could yet have more to offer, although again his jumping is a concern. Any Currency has claims with the ground coming in his favour, Becauseicouldntsee has a top pilot aboard but wants it softer and Fabalu may have been flattered in victory last time, so those looking for an each-way play could do worse than Pennek who has been crying out this sort of trip. This race is a great spectacle and a grand opportunity for amateur riders to prove their worth, but finding the winner is difficult; we'll take Abbeybraney under sufferance.
Abbeybraney (IRE) 4-7fav (11-1) Tracked leader, hit 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on gamely to lead towards finish, won at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (4) hvy in Dec beating The Hollinwell (11-7) by 4l, 4 ran.
Any Currency (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Led after 1st, mistake 6th, headed approaching 12th, chased leaders until outpaced 14th, rallied from 2 out, stayed on flat, 5th of 9, 4l behind Wind Instrument (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Becauseicouldntsee (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Led and disputed early, led before 7th, left clear 3 out, kept on well, easily, won at Fairyhouse 2m 6f beg chase sft in Feb beating Corskeagh Royale (11-12) by dis, 16 ran.
Cast Cada (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Prominent, led 3rd, not fluent 6th, headed 11th, remained handy, went 2nd 3 out, every chance next, one pace flat, lost 2nd final strides, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Heathcliff (10-11) at Ludlow 3m beg chase (4) gd in Feb.
Fabalu (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Made all, driven 2 out, ridden clear between last 2, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Bangor 3m beg chase (4) hvy in Feb beating Special Envoy (11-0) by 11l, 5 ran.
Far More Serious (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, hit 3rd, challenged 7th, led 4 out to 2 out, dropped to 3rd and ridden before last, rallied to 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Qhilimar (10-11) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Gentle Ranger (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 13th, weakened 15th, tailed off, 5th of 15, 29l behind Richard's Sundance (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Massasoit (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, steady headway after 4 out, chased leading pair 2 out, challenged last, not quicken flat, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Monkerhostin (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
Mobaasher (USA) 6-4fav (11-4) Tracked leading pair, tracked leader going well 3 out, mistake 2 out, challenged on inside last, pushed along and quickened to lead final 100 yards, cleverly, won at Plumpton 3m 2f nov stks (3) gs in Feb beating Giles Cross (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Noakarad De Verzee (FR) 11-4 (11-7) Jumped well, led until approaching 2nd, led 8th, stayed on gamely flat, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs beating Rapid Increase (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Pennek (FR) 9-4 (10-12) Led, headed 3rd, led again 12th, headed approaching 13th, blundered next, pushed along after 4 out, beaten from 2 out, 2nd of 4, 20l behind Ogee (11-8) at Southwell 3m nov stks (3) gs in Feb.
Pettifour (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, lost place 11th, ridden and outpaced 5 out, rallied to chase leading pair after 3 out until lost place and hit last, 4th of 5, 14l behind Burton Port (11-7) at Ascot 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Poker De Sivola (FR) 13-8 (10-12) Left chasing clear leader 1st until before next, held up, went 3rd 7th, closed after 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, switched left and 2 lenghts down when left well clear last, won at Catterick 3m 1f nov stks (3) gs in Feb beating Passport Control (11-1) by 24l, 5 ran.
Presenting Forever (IRE) 9-2fav (11-4) Led, headed 6th, chased leader, led again 10th, headed 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Wogan (11-8) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gs in Jan.
Prudent Honour (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Held up, progress after halfway, 8th 4 out, 6th approaching 2 out, 7th and no extra when slight mistake last, 7th of 16, 19l behind Stewarts House (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 5f Ext hcp ch sft in Feb.
Tinakellylad (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Prominent, led briefly 9th, ridden to dispute lead again entering straight, headed before 2 out, soon no extra, dropped to 4th from last, 4th of 10, 8l behind Uimhiraceathair (11-5) at Gowran Park 2m 4f nov stks hvy in Jan.
Youngstown (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Led, ridden after 3 out, soon hard pressed, headed after next, kept on until no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Kawagino (10-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs (3) gs in Jan.
Carlas Dream (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division, progress into 5th halfway, ridden and no impression from 4 out, one pace, 5th of 16, 16l behind Would You Do That (11-7) at Thurles 3m mrs beg chs sft in Feb.
Kildonnan 5-1 (11-6) Not fluent, in rear, reminder after 12th, went modest 4th 18th, well behind 4 out, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Lavenoak Lad (9-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Synchronised (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Chased leading pair to 3rd, not fluent next, dropped to last 9th, hit next, outpaced and no danger from 11th, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Over Sixty (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov stks (3) sft in Jan.
