prominent on inside, pushed along after 7th, weakened after next, pulled up before 3 out
raced keenly, tracked leaders, disputing 2nd from 3rd, led 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, hampered 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up in rear, headway 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, hit last, pressing for 2nd flat, no impression on winner, kept on
held up towards rear, headway when hampered 4 out, mistake 3 out, weakened 2 out
led until 4 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway before 6th, close up when fell 4 out
mid-division on outside, closed 6th, slightly hampered 4 out, 2nd 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no impression on winner before last, pressed for 2nd flat, kept on
travelled strongly, held up towards rear, not much room briefly 3rd, headway when hampered 4 out, led next, clear last, easily
pulled hard, prominent, steadied after 2nd, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, mistake 5th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch in mid-division, headway 7th, hampered 4 out, every chance final bend, beaten 2 out, weakened after
prominent on outside, not fluent 6th, lost place 7th, struggling when hampered and unseated rider 4 out
NonRunner
Adrimel probably didn’t get home when pulled up in the Albert Bartlett. It was also a second poor run at Cheltenham but he’s won five times elsewhere, including a Grade 2, and shouldn’t be written off just yet. Llandinabo Lad split MY DROGO (NAP) and Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory over 2m at Ascot but was then a disappointing favourite at Haydock when behind subsequent winner Minella Drama. Dan Skelton’s novice has also won since, at Kelso, and can now stamp his authority at the highest level with a further step up in trip unlikely to be a problem. Guard Your Dreams has turned into a useful handicapper but he has a bit to find at the weights with some of these including the prolific Punchestown winner Dreal Deal and Ballyadam, who is closely matched with the selection on his second in the Supreme Novices’ even though he was beaten 24 lengths.
Adrimel (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders on inside, led after 3rd, hit 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Ballyadam (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up, raced keenly, not fluent 4th, closed from 4 out, tracking leaders 3 out, bad mistake 2 out and lost ground on leaders, stayed on from final bend, left 2nd and hampered last, switched left and kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 24l behind Appreciate It (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Dreal Deal (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Waited with, soon in rear and off pace, a lot to do from 3 out until headway to challenge in 2nd before last, led run-in, stayed on well to quickly assert, won at Punchestown 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating Ganapathi (11-2) by 3l, 7 ran.
Guard Your Dreams 7-1 (10-6) Mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders between last 2, weakened run-in, 7th of 26, 12 3/4l behind Heaven Help Us (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Jay Bee Why (IRE) 2-7fav (11-8) Held up, went 2nd 6th, challenged 4 out, led next, ridden clear flat, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb beating Hurling Magic (11-2) by 7l, 7 ran.
Llandinabo Lad 13-8fav (11-9) Tracked leader until 5th, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 2 out, last of 5, 21l behind Faivoir (11-4) at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Lucky One (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Led, pressed before 2 out and soon headed, ridden and no extra after 2 out, 5th of 7, 27 1/2l behind My Drogo (11-7) at Kelso 2m 2f (1) gs in Mar.
Minella Drama (IRE) 13-8fav (11-3) Tracked leading pair, tracked leader 2nd, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, 2 lengths ahead when not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f lst (1) sft in Feb beating Stoner's Choice (11-3) by 3l, 5 ran.
My Drogo 2-1fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, good jump 6th and soon much closer, travelling easy and tracked leader 3 out, pressed leader run to 2 out, not fluent when disputing lead 2 out, ridden and led after 2 out, clear at the last and pushed out run-in, won at Kelso 2m 2f (1) gs in Mar beating Do Your Job (11-2) by 9 1/2l, 7 ran.
Pipesmoker (FR) 11-8fav (11-2) Raced keenly, held up in 7th, closer before 3 out, good headway out wide tracking leaders before 2 out, went 2nd before 2 out, over 1 length down when blundered badly last, weakened, not recover, 3rd of 11, 4 1/4l behind Red Rookie (11-2) at Sandown 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Straw Fan Jack 2-1jfav (11-12) Raced wide and keen, chased leading pair, went left 1st and next, pushed along on long run before 2 out, ridden and went 2nd between last 2,upsides last, every chance run-in, found no extra inside final 150 yards, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Pasvolsky (11-6) at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Mar.
Striking A Pose (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Towards rear, mistake 3rd, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Ballybegg (IRE) 10-11fav (11-8) Led, jumped left 3 out, hard pressed and jumped left 2 out, edged left on landing last, soon headed, led again narrowly inside final 100 yards, stayed on, won at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) sft in Feb beating Papa Tango Charly (11-2) by hd, 14 ran.
