tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, edged right under pressure after last, stayed on strongly close home, just failed
held up in touch, chased leaders from 15th, ridden to challenged 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders next, soon no impression
held up, headway from 15th, chasing leaders when fell 3 out
held up, not fluent 12th, behind when mistake 2 out
led until 4th, led again approaching 6th, headed 8th, led again 13th, headed 3 out, soon weakened
behind, mistake 9th, ridden 14th, some headway approaching 2 out, never on terms
held up in rear, never dangerous
in touch, weakened approaching 15th
in touch, headway to track leaders 11th, ridden to challenge 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
always prominent, not fluent 2nd, led 4th until 6th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, held on well under pressure
held up, headway 12th, chased leaders 4 out, stayed on strongly after last, just failed
tracked leaders, led 8th, headed 13th, weakened 16th
always behind
in touch, jumped left and every chance 4 out, led next, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
Another tough race for punters to call, with many in with chances on their best form, but the main hopes look to be My Will, Ardaghey and Liberthine, with a narrow vote given to Ardaghey. The selection was going well until his saddled slipped in the Hennessey, but he remains on a fair mark and, as he loves this track, he looks the value bet in an open affair. My Will rates the main danger, as he won well last time when beating Idle Talk. But he was all out on that occasion and he looks vulnerable under his penalty. Liberthine is another with place claims on her best form, but her main target is the Grand National and the suspicion is she may just need the run after a 223-day absence. New Alco is game and consistent and is sure to run his race; even though he is hard to win with. Commercial Flyer was held in high regard as a novice but did not progress as expected. Still, with his yard in form, he is worth a cautionary look in the market. Of the remainder Jack High: is from a shrewd yard but he would be better off at the weights if this was run in Ireland. Therefore, we return to Ardaghey as our ideas of a winner, albeit to small stakes!
My Will (FR) 9-2co-fav (11-6) Held up in touch, blundered 2nd, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, chased leader last, led flat, all out, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov beating Idle Talk (11-0) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Innox (FR) (10-3) Outpaced halfway, stayed on again, 6th of 16, 15l behind Cybergenic (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 4f hdl in Nov.
Cornish Rebel (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, never going well from 12th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by State of Play (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Commercial Flyer (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Held up, hampered approaching 12th, effort 4 out, soon weakened, behind when jumped badly right 2 out, no chance when pulled up 2 out in race won by Star De Mohaison (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr, 15 ran.
Jack High (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, kept on without threatening from before 2 out, 7th of 19, 23l behind Finger Onthe Pulse (10-10) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Oct.
Church Island (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, weakened after 9th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Our Vic (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct.
All In The Stars (IRE) 7-1jt-fav (10-3) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 20th in race won by Run For Paddy (10-2) at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr, 30 ran.
Ardaghey (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Mistake 2nd, behind until saddle slipped and pulled up at the 7th in race won by State of Play (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Nil Desperandum (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, ridden and stayed on from 3 out, 4th of 21, 10l behind Eurotrek (11-7) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Nov.
Liberthine (FR) 10-1 (9-13) Not always fluent, held up in mid-division, steady headway from 15th, chased leaders after 4 out, still close up next, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 18, 11l behind Lacdoudal (11-5) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr.
D'Argent (IRE) 5-1fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 10th, led 4 out until blundered and unseated rider in race won by Philson Run (10-2) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Mar '05, 18 ran.
New Alco (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway to chase leaders 3 out, ran on, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Exotic Dancer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Puntal (FR) 12-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden after 13th, soon lost place and behind, 10th of 18, 45l behind Lacdoudal (11-5) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Model Son (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway 12th, not fluent next, led 17th, headed and hit approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 12, 17l behind My Will (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
No Full (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway when mistake 4 out, chased winner 3 out, strong challenge run-in, just held near finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Gallant Approach (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
