chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, weakened just before last
held up in mid-division, headway tracking leaders when slightly hampered approaching 3 out, chased leaders and mistake 2 out, ridden disputing lead between last 2, one pace when lost 2nd going to the last, kept on same pace flat
always towards rear, pushed along after 7th, weakened next, no chance when blundered last
not fluent 1st, towards rear, headway on outside to mid-division 4th, reminders after next, soon lost place, tailed off 8th, pulled up after 3 out
took keen hold tracking leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
held up in last pair, headway approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2
held up in mid-division, smooth headway after 3 out, tracking leaders on bit approaching next, led between last 2, in command last, kept on strongly to forge clear flat
led, went left 3rd, headed 2 out, chased leaders, weakened before last
held up in rear, headway on inside travelling well and looking for room briefly before 2 out, headway soon after, chased leaders 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, no chance with easy winner, edged left flat
chased leaders, pushed along and lost place slightly after 5th, reminders and struggling after 7th, soon behind, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
mid-division on outside, headway to chase leaders 5th, pushed along before next, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next
chased leader, bumped 3rd, hit 8th, led 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, beaten when bumped and pushed right approaching last
mistakes, always behind, tailed off
held up towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, headway approaching next, went 4th and went right approaching last, kept on same pace flat
towards rear, pushed along in mid-division before 2 out, never a threat
The fact that Utopie Des Bordes has been raised 6lb since her fast-finishing second to Gevrey Chambertin over 3m at Haydock has probably persuaded Barry Geraghty to get off the mare in favour of WHISPER. The latter has gone up 3lb since his comeback third at Cheltenham, when Upswing was only sixth, but is also an improving young stayer and he ran well in a Grade 3 here in March. Malt Master completes the Henderson trio but has been out of sorts so far this season. Saphir Du Rheu ran well for fourth at Newbury last week while Drum Valley was only beaten a head at Aintree on his reappearance and can't be ruled out. Home Run won at Cheltenham before finishing fourth at Haydock and both Oscar Prairie and Bourne may be running into a bit of form.
Utopie Des Bordes (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, stayed on under pressure after last, nearest finish, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Gevrey Chambertin (11-7) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Whisper (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway on inside 3 out, came towards stands' side and chased leaders before last, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd near finish, no impression, 3rd of 20, 3 1/2l behind Thomas Crapper (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Nov.
Malt Master (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, weakened before 6 out, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Midnight Appeal (10-10) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Nov, 9 ran.
Darroun (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Held up in last, bad mistake 3rd and dropped a few lengths behind, pushed along halfway, ridden and no impression 6 out, kept on one pace, mistakes 3 out and last, 4th run-in, 4th of 5, 25l behind Sizing Rio (10-13) at Cork 2m 4f nov chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Salmanazar 13-2 (11-3) In touch, hit 6th, weakening when sprawled on landing 3 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Hidden Identity (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Drum Valley 8-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden before 3 out, went 2nd flat, pressed winner towards finish, just held, 2nd of 11, hd behind Crowning Jewel (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 14-1 (10-6) Mid-division, not much room soon after 3 out, stayed on under pressure to 4th flat, never going pace to reach leaders, 4th of 17, 6l behind Vendor (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Nov.
Oscar Magic (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Prominent, took keen hold, jumped left and not fluent 4th, hit 8th, mistake next, mistake 3 out, weakened and pulled up before next, in a race won by Kings Palace (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Home Run (GER) 9-2 (9-7) Held up in touch, slow 5th and 6th, soon lost place, rallied after 4 out, led 2 out, headed after last, no extra, 4th of 12, 4l behind More Of That (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Problema Tic (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Always behind, blundered 5th, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Sydney Paget (10-13) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Act Of Kalanisi (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) In touch in rear, headway 9th, ridden to chase winner before 2 out, keeping on same pace when hit last, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Free To Dream (11-8) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Oscar Prairie (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 4th, last and behind after 3 out, stayed on well flat, closing on 3rd close home, 4th of 13, 9l behind Hawkhill (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
Bourne 9-2 (10-10) Tracked winner until before 5 out, pushed along before 3 out ridden before 2 out, went 3rd from last, one pace, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Stopped Out (11-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Liberty Court (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake 1st, not fluent next, headway 4th, not fluent 7th, ridden before 3 out, weakened next, 9th of 13, 35l behind Oscar Magic (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4f (3) gs in Mar.
Upswing (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, outpaced in 7th after 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 6th of 20, 10l behind Thomas Crapper (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Nov.
Experimentalist 8-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden before last, weakened run-in, 4th of 7, 6l behind Princely Player (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
