mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept and no impression
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on
held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, soon headway, led before last, kept on run-in
mid-division on outer, fell 2nd
held up in touch, badly hampered 3 out, never dangerous
led, headed and fell 3 out
behind, hampered 3 out, never dangerous, soon pulled up
mid-division, ridden from 2 out, one pace and no impression
chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
towards rear, headway before 5 out, led before 2 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on and held run-in
always towards rear
held up mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up
behind, weakened from 4 out, soon pulled up
held up in touch ridden before last, kept on
chased leaders, hampered 3 out, weakened from 2 out
prominent, led 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened last
mid-division, weakened from 4 out, soon pulled up
held up mid-division, effort before last, son weakened
chased leaders until lost place after 5th, soon pulled up
Adrian Keatley can not be blamed for running the in-form Drumconnor Lad again quickly as he will be 5lb higher in the weights from next week. Legal Eyes was a winner over 3m here last month and the runner-up was second again in Thursday’s Kim Muir. King Of Realms has been back to his best lately and is only a pound higher than when successful at Warwick a year ago but the novice Pistol Whipped needs to learn to settle. The latter’s stable also run Whatswrongwithyou, who is starting to slip down the weights again while Good Man Pat was a gamble in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster in January, though continues to frustrate. SENSULANO didn’t quite last home behind Magic Of Light over 3m in a hurdle race last time and looks more comfortable over fences nowadays. She won a Listed chase in December and is probably still a step ahead of the handicapper. Almazhar Garde has won two of his last three and is still near the foot of the weights so is respected in a wide-open renewal but last year’s winner Forth Bridge has much more on his plate today.
Topofthecotswolds (IRE) 15-2 (11-11) Led after 1st, driven and headed approaching omitted 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, pulled up 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) hvy in Oct.
Garde La Victoire (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, hit 11th, challenged 2 out, 4th and weakening fina 50 yards, 4th of 10, 5 1/4l behind Cepage (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Whatswrongwithyou (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, closed on outside 9th, jumped right 4 out, no impression from next, mistake last, 5th of 7, 14 1/4l behind Tiquer (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Delire D'Estruval (FR) 11-4 (10-9) Led until after 2nd, chased leader, pushed along and lost 2nd before 3 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 6, 14 1/2l behind Dolos (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
King Of Realms (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Chased leaders, challenged 10th, led 3 out, headed before last, lost 2nd flat, no extra, 3rd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Clondaw Castle (11-7) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Sensulano (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Held up, headway 8th, chased winner after 3 out, pushed along before last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 4 3/4l behind Magic Of Light (11-6) at Ascot 3m (1) hvy in Jan.
Legal Eyes (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Jumped well, raced wide, chased leaders, led 5th, clear from 3 out, stayed on strongly, easily, won at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Kilfilum Cross (11-12) by 11l, 11 ran.
Art Of Payroll (GER) 14-1 (11-1) Rear of mid-division, closed from 9th, jumped right and not fluent 4 out, no impression before 2 out, went 4th flat, 4th of 8, 13 1/4l behind Northern Beau (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Solomon Grey (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, edged left and unable to quicken 1f out, kept on, 4th of 8, 2 3/4l behind Lantiern (11-2) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f (4) pol in Feb.
Eamon An Cnoic (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, slow 5th and 6th, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Marracudja (11-1) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Drumconnor Lad (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on outside, close up 5 out, ridden after next, upsides 3 out, led between last 2, driven clear flat, kept on, won at Ayr 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Vengeur De Guye (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Pistol Whipped (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Pulled hard, held up, good headway on outside chasing leaders 5th, 2nd before next, left in narrow lead and hampered 4 out, headed before next, weakened 2 out, 5th of 7, 13l behind Who Dares Wins (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.
Encore Champs (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Prominent, lost place 3rd, mistake 11th, some headway before 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 25 1/4l behind Simply The Betts (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Mercy Mercy Me 11-1 (10-12) Prominent, lost place after 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, dist behind Simply The Betts (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Good Man Pat (IRE) 5-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, closer in dispute of 6th and pushed along before 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 14, 33 1/2l behind Ok Corral (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Generous Day (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden 11th, no extra before 2 out, last of 8, 26 1/4l behind Clondaw Castle (11-7) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Almazhar Garde (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Not fluent 1st, raced keenly, pressed leader, led 4th, made rest, went left and not fluent 11th, mistake 5 out, hit 2 out, driven out flat, stayed on well, readily, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Dr Sanderson (11-9) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Forth Bridge 40-1 (10-0) Tracked leader of main group, led this group 6f out until ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out, 7th of 10, 22 1/4l behind Wanaasah (9-1) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (4) pol in Jan.
My Way (FR) 6-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, outpaced before 2 out, no extra, 6th of 10, 16 3/4l behind Cepage (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Monty's Award (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Hampered 1st, held up towards rear, not fluent 9th, mistake 11th, no impression 3 out, 9th of 13, 15 3/4l behind Don Lami (11-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Nov.