chased leaders, jumped left 3 out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd run-in, no chance with winner
led, ridden before 3 out, headed 2 out and soon weakened
held up, headway and in touch when mistake 4th, weakened next
mistake 2nd, mid-division, ridden 3rd, weakened and behind from 4 out
chased leader until weakened soon after 4 out
mid-division, ridden and no chance from 4 out
mid-division, driven after 4th, weakened 4 out
held up in rear, smooth headway from 4 out, chased leaders next, led 2 out, clear last, stayed on strongly
close up, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
took keen hold in rear, no impression leaders from 4 out
took keen hold, always in rear
raced keenly, chased leaders, pushed along after 4th, jumped right next, blundered 2 out, weakened and jumped right last
in touch, tracked leaders 4th, went 2nd before 4 out, chased winners soon after 2 out, no impression before last, lost 2nd run-in
All eyes will be on Etendard Indien here and he gets the vote in the opener ahead of L'Oudon and Daryal. The Nicky Henderson-trained Cheltenham entry went to Kempton for his hurdling debut last time, and he did not disappoint, winning well. His trainer feels that he needs a touch more experience ahead of the big Festival and connections will be disappointed if he gets beaten today. Daryal has displayed decent form in winning at Taunton and finishing second to Iron Man at Sandown, while Atlantic City has won over 12 furlongs on the Flat but will probably be found wanting today. Flying Patriarch's form is solid if unspectacular, while Noel Chance's Great Man should do better in time and is one to watch out for. While it is interesting to see Paul Cole running his Lingfield all-weather winner, Keeper's Knight, he looks nothing out of the ordinary, and Martin Pipe's Killer Cat showed little on his hurdling debut. One that could be of interest is the Paul Nicholls-trained L'Oudon, who ran in a decent race at Sandown last time having shown very good form in France before that. He should go well. Of the others, the Philip Hobbs-trained Maharaat is another who showed some promise on the Flat, Norwegian, on breeding, ought to be better than he has shown, Simonovski might run into a place and Wild Is The Wind can be given a shout if getting back to his Huntingdon form, but his stable is not firing yet after a shutdown. All roads, then, return us to Etendard Indien, who gets the vote in the opener.
Daryal (IRE) 5-1 Tracked leaders, effort to dispute 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Iron Man at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (D) gs in Feb.
Etendard Indien (FR) 10-11fav Made all, clear after 4th, ridden out, won at Kempton 2m 4yo nov hdl (D) gs in Feb beating Reservoir by 12l, 10 ran.
Atlantic City 14-1 Held up in rear, headway on rails over 1f out, keeping on one pace when not clear run inside final furlong, 10th of 16, 6l behind Duelling Banjos at Lingfield 1m 4f hcp (E3) pol in Feb (Flat).
Barranco (IRE) 25-1 In touch until 6th, soon behind, 8th of 10, well behind Waltzing Beau at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (E) sft in Jan.
Flying Patriarch 4-1co-fav With leader, driven and mistake 2 out, jumped left and led soon after last, headed and not quicken run-in, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind It's Blue Chip at Plumpton 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) sft in Jan.
Idris (GER) 20-1 Led to 3rd, ridden 2 out, hit last, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Mr Dinglawi at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (E) gs in Feb.
Keepers Knight (IRE) 9-2 Held up in rear, kept on, never nearer, 5th of 12, 14l behind Alexander Sapphire at Southwell 1m 4f amt hcp (F4) fbs in Jan (Flat).
Killer Cat (FR) 13-2 Took keen hold in mid-division, weakened and eased final 3f, 9th of 15, 35l behind Mendo at Sandown 2m nhf (H) gs in Feb.
L'oudon (FR) 3-1 Keen in rear, mistake 1st, some progress when mistake 3 out, weakened soon after, 9th of 13, 40l behind Diego Cao at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (C) gs in Jan.
Maharaat (USA) 4-1 Always prominent, joined leader over 3f out, led 2f out, hard ridden and headed last strides, 2nd of 11, shd behind Whitsbury Cross at Folkestone 1m 2f mdn aut stk (E) gf in Jun (Flat).
Mister Right (IRE) 66-1 Took keen hold, held up, slightly hampered 3rd, brief effort approaching next, mistake 5th, soon beaten, 6th of 9, well behind At Your Request at Huntingdon 2m 4yo nov hdl (B) gs in Feb.
Norwegian 33-1 Held up in rear, outpaced and no impression after 3 out, 6th of 8, 22l behind Redi at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (D) gd in Feb.
Simonovski (USA) 50-1 Mid-division, ridden 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 6th of 14, 20l behind Cerium at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (D) gs in Feb.
Wild Is The Wind (FR) 6-1 In rear, reminders after 3rd, weakened after 4 out, 8th of 9, 40l behind Yankeedoodledandy at Huntingdon 2m 3yo nov hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Great Man (FR) Never in contention, 6th of 10, 4l behind Danaw at Lyon Parilly 1m 4f hcp sft in Jun (Flat).
