held up in touch, not fluent 5th, ridden and lost place before 2 out, faded before last
held up towards rear, steady headway 7th, further progress travelling strongly 3 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on from last but no chance with leading pair
held up in touch, took closer order 6th, ridden and lost place before 3 out, weakened 2 out
prominent, almost upsides 2nd, settled behind leaders 3rd, close up 3 out, led 2 out and ridden, headed approaching last, kept on flat
held up towards rear, headway into midfield 4th, awkward 7th, smooth progress on inside before 3 out, switched right before 2 out, ridden to lead before last, stayed on strongly flat
held up towards rear, hampered 7th, ridden before 3 out, stayed on one pace from 2 out
prominent, awkward 5th and dropped to midfield, lost further ground 6th, towards rear 4 out, tailed off 3 out
midfield, headway when badly hampered 7th, never recovered
held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace from last
prominent, pressed leader 2nd, not fluent 3 out and ridden, weakened 2 out
midfield, awkward 4th, headway 6th, ridden after 4 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before 3 out
pressed leader, led 2nd, ridden and headed 3 out, hit last, one pace flat
held up in rear, stayed on past beaten horses from 3 out, never a factor
midfield, took closer order 3rd, pushed along briefly 6th where not fluent, fell 7th
led, restrained behind leaders 2nd, dropped to midfield 3rd, towards rear when awkward 4th, ridden before 3 out, no impression
held up towards rear, hampered 7th, headway after 4 out, ridden before 3 out, steady progress under pressure before last, one pace flat
held up towards rear, pulled up after 2nd
towards rear, steady headway 4 out, switch right and progress 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
in rear, not fluent 4th and reminders, well adrift when driven after 4 out, tailed off from 3 out
towards rear, awkward 3rd, pushed along briefly after 5th, ridden and lost touch before 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
midfield, ridden before 3 out, some headway 2 out, awkward last, weakened flat
NonRunner
Plenty have decent claims in an ultra-competitive opener. Paddys Motorbike reverted to hurdles with an excellent second at Kempton and Cobblers Dream and Highway One O Two finished 1-2 in the Lanzarote at the same track in January. Ben Case’s charge was then second in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham, though has been raised another 4lb. Langer Dan was a well-backed favourite for the Martin Pipe but was brought down early on while Lucky Max unseated his rider and Quinta Do Mar finished unplaced. Garry Clermont would have a chance if his run in the Coral Cup was ignored. Top Moon and Tronador were tailed off in that contest but the latter won this last year off an 8lb lower mark. Mackenberg is a progressive sort lurking near the foot of the handicap along with the mare Speech Bubble, whose second to Love Envoi at Lingfield has been franked. Nicky Henderson runs three and Fils D'oudairies was a good second at Ascot when making his debut for the yard while Balco Coastal was favourite for last month’s Imperial Cup but didn’t handle the soft ground. BROOMFIELD BURG should stay this longer trip if finding cover. He has run well the last twice in this grade and has been dropped a couple of pounds since so gets a tentative vote.
Hang In There (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Prominent, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, weakened, 7th of 12, 20l behind Glory And Fortune (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Garry Clermont (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened before 2 out, tailed off and pulled up before the last, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Cobblers Dream (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, strong challenged before last, rider dropped rein briefly after last, held final 75 yards, 2nd of 23, 1 1/2l behind Banbridge (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Fils D'oudairies (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders out wide, pulled way into lead at 5th, headed between last two, soon outpaced and no chance with winner, kept on for 2nd, 2nd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Unexpected Party (10-13) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Langer Dan (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) Held up towards rear, brought down 2nd, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Tronador (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 15th of 23, dist behind Commander Of Fleet (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Top Moon (FR) 150-1 (10-11) Rear-division, tailed off 3 out, never a factor, 13th of 23, dist behind Commander Of Fleet (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Lucky Max (GER) 80-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, hampered 2nd, hampered and unseated rider 4th, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Balco Coastal (FR) 9-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders out wide, ridden before 2 out, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off and pulled up before the last, at Sandown 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Quinta Do Mar (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Prominent, every chance after 2 out, lost place before last, 12th of 23, 15 1/4l behind Banbridge (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Highway One O Two (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Led, pushed along and headed before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on well but no chance with winner, 2nd of 19, 5 1/2l behind Cobblers Dream (10-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Paddys Motorbike (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway on outside home turn, every chance 2 out but could not go pace of leader, kept on well from last, 2nd of 17, 3 1/4l behind Press Your Luck (10-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Rockadenn (FR) 3-1jfav (11-11) Held up in rear, some headway after 8th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on and went 4th flat, no impression, 4th of 6, 3 1/4l behind Hasankey (11-10) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Navajo Pass 12-1 (11-12) Off the pace towards rear, pushed along out wide turning in, never on terms, 10th of 11, 20 3/4l behind Storm Dennis (10-6) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Politesse (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) In touch, disputed 3rd after 6th, 4th after 9th, dropped to rear 2 out where mistake and unseated rider, at Cork 2m 4f (1) hvy in Oct.
Broomfield Burg (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, no impression from 2 out, 15th of 26, 17l behind State Man (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Solwara One (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Always in rear-division and never a factor, 9th of 11, 20l behind Storm Dennis (10-6) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Speech Bubble (IRE) 9-4 (11-2) Raced keenly tracking leaders, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden before last where not fluent, edged right and stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Love Envoi (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Feb.
Fred (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Chased leaders on outside, not fluent 8th, pushed along after 4 out, weakened before next, went left 2 out, last of 4, dist behind Elixir De Nutz (11-8) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Mackenberg (GER) 11-10fav (11-8) Chased leader, not fluent 10th, hit 2 out when challenging, soon ridden, led just after last, edged left, stayed on, won going away, won at Catterick 2m 3f (3) sft in Mar beating Nero Rock (10-12) by 4l, 3 ran.
Peking Rose 9-4 (11-5) Raced in 3rd on inside, went 2nd before 3 out, over 3 lengths down at the last, lost further ground run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Gelino Bello (11-5) at Newbury 2m 5f (4) sft in Mar.
Some Day Soon (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Led until 2 out, held final 100 yards, kept on, 3rd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Mackelduff (10-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
