towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and one pace after next, never reached leaders
mid-division on outside, ridden after 3 out, weakened before last
behind, struggling 7th, ridden and stayed on into mid-division after 3 out, never pace to reach leaders
mid-division, driven to chase leaders 2 out, close up and staying on when mistake last, ridden and no impression flat
behind, hampered slightly 7th, outpaced 3 out, ridden after next, late headway under pressure before last, stayed on to take 4th near finish, never nearer
mid-division on inside, mistake 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, no impression
tracked leaders, driven and effort after 2 out, every chance when left in narrow lead last, ridden and kept on well under pressure flat, held on
in touch, driven to chase leaders before 3 out, went 3rd after last, ridden and kept on flat, not reach front pair
always behind
always towards rear
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, one pace before last, weakened flat
mid-division, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, ridden and stayed on to dispute 4th after last, no impression
prominent, led briefly 5th, ridden after 2 out, weakened flat
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, driven and lost place before 3 out, weakened next
always behind
close up, tracked leaders 3 out, effort between last 2, challenged last, ridden and every chance flat, kept on, just held
made most, ridden after 3 out, headed between last 2, weakened flat
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, went right next, ridden to lead between last 2, headed when blundered last, not recover
mid-division, mistake 7th, outpaced 3 out, never on terms
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, ridden and one pace before last, weakened flat
mid-division, lost place after 4 out, soon behind
disputed lead, driven after 4 out, ridden when lost place after next, weakened last
An ultra-competitive handicap to start proceedings. Ice Cold Soul produced his best run to date when landing a strongly-contested event at Leopardstown in January and goes on the short-list. Thomas Campbell ran well in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham and Bigmartre led until the second last in the Imperial Cup at Sandown last month. Dream Berry finished ahead of Sumkindofking when staying on into third at Kempton while Geordie Des Champs would have every chance on his form earlier in the season. Crievehill, North Hill Harvey and Hawk High are others with each-way claims and Byron Flyer is fit from the Flat but CRYSTAL LAD catches the eye propping up the weights. Gary Moore’s novice has definitely improved since stepping up in trip and this better going should suit given he didn’t quite get home on soft ground at Sandown last time.
North Hill Harvey 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, took keen hold, ridden and weakened before last, 16th of 25, 14 3/4l behind Arctic Fire (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
A Hare Breath (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, not fluent and pushed along in last 8th, slow next, still rear but just about in touch 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Altior (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Runswick Royal (IRE) 2-1jfav (11-1) Tracked leaders, chased leader from 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Kelso 2m hcp (2) hvy in Mar beating Sleepy Haven (10-7) by 7l, 5 ran.
Zubayr (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Behind, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous, 13th of 16, dist behind Ballyandy (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Thomas Campbell 20-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear on outside, pushed along after 3 out, closed next, soon slightly outpaced, not clear run and switched right before last, stayed on flat, 5th of 23, 4 1/4l behind Champagne Classic (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Hawk High (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, weakened last, 13th of 25, 15 1/2l behind Supasundae (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Rather Be (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up, badly hampered and unseated rider 2nd, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Geordie Des Champs (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Held up in 4th, closed 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, last of 6, 23 1/2l behind Willoughby Court (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.
Mad Jack Mytton (IRE) 28-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, pecked 4 out, ridden after next, 5th and one pace when fell 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Allee Bleue (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led, headed after 2nd, led next, headed 4 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Crievehill (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, took keen hold, ridden after 2 out, hung left and weakened before last, 13th of 25, 12 3/4l behind Arctic Fire (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Byron Flyer 9-2 (9-1) In touch, headway on outer to track leaders halfway, joined leader over 3f out, ridden to lead narrowly 2f out, headed entering final furlong, edged left and lost 3rd near finish, 4th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Gavlar (9-4) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) pol in Mar.
Bigmartre (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, faded flat, 6th of 13, 7l behind London Prize (11-2) at Sandown 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Ice Cold Soul (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, 3rd approaching 4th, on terms on inner from before straight, led approaching last, stayed on well under pressure run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m hcp gd in Jan beating Tudor City (10-0) by 1/2l, 20 ran.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Held up in close 5th, headway into 2nd before 2 out, led and went right 2 out, stayed on well, driven out, won at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Minstrels Gallery (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Dream Berry (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, ran on after last, nearest finish, 3rd of 19, 4l behind Brio Conti (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Dashing Oscar (IRE) 8-15fav (11-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th, under pressure after 3 out, rallied before last, kept on same pace closing stages, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Cousin Oscar (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Feb.
Clondaw Kaempfer (IRE) 11-2 (10-11) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 11, 9 1/2l behind El Bandit (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Craggaknock 9-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, ridden and chased leader over 3f out until over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f, 5th of 11, 9 3/4l behind Codeshare (9-3) at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Sumkindofking (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway 2 out, soon ridden to challenge, kept on same pace closing stages, 5th of 19, 5 1/4l behind Brio Conti (11-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Sky Khan 16-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, plugged on modestly from 3 out, no chance, 5th of 13, 23 3/4l behind Fortunate George (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Crystal Lad (FR) 25-1 (11-9) Not always fluent, led until 1st, chased leader, led after 3 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 16, 4 3/4l behind Minella Awards (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
