held up towards rear, headway 10th, went 3rd 2 out, stayed on flat
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, hanging left and every chance last, not quicken flat
not always fluent, held up in rear, weakened after 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, raced keenly, weakened after 10th, tailed off
prominent, led approaching 2nd, mistake 10th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened before 2 out, mistake last, tailed off
mid-division, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th or 8th, headway next, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, beaten 2 out, one pace
prominent, not fluent, hit 7th and 8th, weakened after 10th, tailed off
mid-division, lost place after 7th, rallied 3 out, one pace from 2 out
in touch, pushed along after 10th, weakening when fell heavily 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th or 8th, led approaching 2 out, hit last, driven flat, stayed on well
mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 8th, disputing 6th when fell 10th
hung right throughout, mid-division, jumped slowly 9th, lost place when badly hampered 10th, no chance after, tailed off
led until approaching 2nd, remained prominent, led before 3 out, headed and disputing 3rd when mistake 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, raced keenly, not fluent 5th, hampered 10th, headway when mistake 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last
Karabak, Weapons Amnesty and PRIDE OF DULCOTE stand out here on their Cheltenham form and in a slide rule decision the latter just gets the vote. The selection stays very well, as evidenced by his tremendous effort when just collared close home by Weapons Amnesty in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival, while Karabak ran a cracker to occupy the same spot in the winner's enclosure behind Mikael D'Haguenet in the Ballymore over slightly shorter. He acts on decent ground and the latter certainly promises to stay, so if their Festival exhertions have not bottomed them it should be another great race today. Weapons Amnesty, it will be argued by supporters, idled when winning his race, and if that is true he may well have more to come. However, he has not yet raced on a sound surface and so does have a little bit to prove and is taken on at the likely price. On Raglan Road acts on a sound surface and his Punchestown bumper run last spring behind Dunguib now reads very well. He has a bit to find with the selection on their meeting at Cheltenham, but that is not to rule him out. Knockara Beau, on the other hand, has a fair bit to find with Karabak on their Prestbury Park running and is not entirely convincing as a stayer, although the flat track might help. Pause And Clause has yet to race on a sound surface but is open to plenty more improvement if he does go on it, and his run in the Coral Cup last time was highly respectable. The others are all decent sorts in their own right, but have a fair bit to find with the leading trio, of whom we think Pride Of Dulcote can emerge victorious.
According To Dick (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden to chase leader last, driven ahead final 75 yards, won at Newbury 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb beating Fiftyonefiftyone (10-7) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Comhla Ri Coig 8-13fav (11-9) Led, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Woody Waller (11-0) at Ayr 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Etxalar (FR) 5-2fav (10-11) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, took wrong course after bypassed 7th, effort 3 out, challenged next, left 14 lengths clear last, stayed on (disqualified for taking wrong course), in a race won by Etxalar (10-11) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) sft in Mar, 9 ran.
Hey Big Spender (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Keen, headway 4 out, hampered approaching 3 out, led 2 out, clear last, ran on, won at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Jokers Legacy (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 15 ran.
Honest John 13-2 (11-8) Soon towards rear, mistake 4th, struggling 3 out, 10th of 14, 24l behind Eleazar (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Karabak (FR) 4-1 (11-7) In touch, lost place on inside when hit 6th, pushed along, progress when not fluent 3 out, ridden and switched right after 2 out, ran on to take 2nd flat, not troubled winner, 2nd of 14, 1 3/4l behind Mikael D'haguenet (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 7th, headway approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, 5th and beaten when hit last, 5th of 14, 10l behind Mikael D'haguenet (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Latanier (FR) 13-8 (11-2) Led, mistake 8th, not fluent 3 out, ridden and headed when hit next, blundered last, stayed on, led towards finish, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Kayf Aramis (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 3 ran.
Merrydown (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, clear last, driven out, won at Newcastle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Mighty Moon (11-8) by 10l, 14 ran.
Moscow Catch (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Chased leader, every chance flat, no extra, 2nd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Tarablaze (11-11) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Ogee 3-1 (11-9) Always prominent, not fluent 7th, led before 9th, drawing clear before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Acordeon (11-9) by 16l, 9 ran.
On Raglan Road (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) In touch, challenging after 2 out, 3rd when jumped left and hit last, one pace flat, 4th of 17, 8l behind Weapon's Amnesty (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Pause And Clause (IRE) 9-1 (9-11) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, close 4th 2 out, stayed on under pressure, 3rd of 27, 2l behind Ninetieth Minute (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Pride of Dulcote (FR) 3-1fav (11-7) Always prominent, not fluent 7th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed when mistake last, given every chance when winner idled final 100 yards, held final strides, 2nd of 17, 1/2l behind Weapon's Amnesty (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar.
Weapon's Amnesty (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Always in touch, not fluent 5th, tracking leaders 2 out, led last, ridden flat, idled final 100 yards, soon pressed, pulled out extra final strides, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G1 (1) gs in Mar beating Pride Of Dulcote (11-7) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
