held up towards rear of mid-division, smooth headway after 3 out, close up when hampered next, soon poised to challenge, led narrowly before last, ridden and kept on flat, headed narrowly towards finish, just held
towards rear of mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, chased leaders after next, ridden before last, soon no impression, gradually weakened flat
led, jumped right, jumped markedly right 3 out and again next, driven and headed before last, ridden and no impression in 4th flat
held up behind, struggling after 4 out, tailed off after next
mid-division, headway when hampered 3 out, close up and every chance when badly hampered and brought down next
tracked leaders, driven and one pace after 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure before last, no extra in well held 3rd flat
held up behind, headway 2 out, chased leaders turning in, soon ridden, outpaced before last, weakened flat
prominent, carried right by leader 3 out, upsides and every chance when hampered again and fell next
in touch on inside, driven and lost place after 2 out, weakened before last
always towards rear, weakened before 2 out
behind, reminders after 4 out, never involved, lost touch when pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway when badly hampered 2 out, driven to chase leaders on outside turning in, switched inside to challenge before last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead narrowly towards finish, just held on
prominent, pushed along after 4 out, lost place after next, weakened after 2 out
in touch on outside, pushed along after 3 out, lost place when hampered next, weakened before last
mid-division, pushed along on outside when hampered 3 out and again next, never on terms after, weakened before last
NonRunner
A terrific start to the The Festival with Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson both mob-handed. The former has saddled the winner in four of the last seven years and the unbeaten Asterion Forlonge looks the pick of his trio this time having won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month. The Henderson stable won this with the brilliant Altior in 2016 but that is their only success to date though there are high hopes this year for Shishkin and Chantry House, who are both on a hat-trick. Gordon Elliott won it in 2017 and saddles Abacadabras, who won the Future Champions at Leopardstown and was only a length-and-a-half behind the much-vaunted Envoi Allen in the Royal Bond. FIDDLERONTHEROOF has improved immeasurably since outpaced by Edwardstone at Wincanton. He’ll get the strong gallop he needs in this and the going will be ideal so he could put better-fancied rivals in their place. The unexposed Captain Guinness shouldn’t be underestimated and may prove the pick of the remainder ahead of Soviet Pimpernel.
Abacadabras (FR) 10-11fav (11-10) Held up, 4th halfway, mistake 3 out, improved in 2nd entering straight, soon disputed travelling well, ridden to narrow lead and slight mistake last, kept on well to assert run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Dec beating Heaven Help Us (11-3) by 8l, 4 ran.
Allart (IRE) 1-5fav (11-9) Always going well, went 2nd 3rd, mistake 4th, led on bit before 3 out, clear from 2 out, easily, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) sft in Feb beating Red Nika (11-2) by 14l, 12 ran.
Asterion Forlonge (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Led, jumped slightly right, joined from 3rd, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, led entering straight, clear at last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb beating Easywork (11-10) by 9 1/2l, 7 ran.
Berkshire Royal 6-1 (8-1) In touch, pushed along and weakened 2f out, 9th of 11, 27l behind Rock Eagle (8-7) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Oct.
Captain Guinness (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Raced in 4th early, took keen hold, 2nd after 3rd, led approaching 4th, soon went on, reduced lead and pushed along straight, joined before last where slight mistake, narrowly headed and kept on without matching winner run-in, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Andy Dufresne (11-2) at Punchestown 2m (1) sft in Jan.
Chantry House (IRE) 8-15fav (11-8) Tracked leaders going well, 2nd on bit between last 2, pushed into lead run-in, quickened clear, impressive, won at Newbury 2m (3) gd in Feb beating Manvers House (11-2) by 4 1/2l, 15 ran.
Edwardstone 13-8 (11-4) Held up in 4th, headway 3 out, led last, ridden and hung left run in, headed close home, 2nd of 4, nk behind Stolen Silver (11-4) at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Elixir D'Ainay (FR) 3-1 (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, took keen hold, not fluent at 2nd, dropped to 4th at halfway, ridden in 4th 2 out, soon no impression, 5th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Latest Exhibition (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m 6f (1) Yielding in Feb.
Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, led before 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Jan beating Jeremys Flame (11-0) by 6l, 7 ran.
Hollow Sound (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Soon raced in 2nd, on terms approaching straight, slight mistake 3 out, headed from 2 out, dropped to 3rd approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 21, 7 3/4l behind Jungle Junction (11-11) at Navan 2m mdn hvy in Feb.
Mario De Pail (FR) 6-4 (11-10) Chased winner, hit 3rd and 2 out, every chance when carried left just before last, hard ridden, ran on, 2nd of 8, shd behind Eden Du Houx (11-4) at Chepstow 2m (4) hvy in Jan.
Shishkin (IRE) 1-2fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, clear before last, ran on strongly, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Feb beating Shan Blue (11-4) by 11l, 5 ran.
Soviet Pimpernel (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Chased leader, 5th at 5th, progress at 6th, good headway to strongly challenge leader 2 out, led before last, headed run-in, pushed along to lead closing stages, kept on well, won at Limerick 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Dec beating Gardens of Babylon (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Whatsnotoknow (IRE) 5-4fav (11-3) Prominent, on terms from 5th, led approaching straight, stayed on well run-in, won at Thurles 2m mdn Good - Yielding in Feb beating The Broghie Man (11-11) by 3 1/4l, 18 ran.
Heaven Help Us (IRE) 11-4 (10-11) Led, strongly pressed when slight mistake 2 out, soon headed and dropped to 3rd before last, ridden and kept on one pace run-in, 3rd of 9, 4 3/4l behind Ard Abhainn (10-11) at Thurles 2m lst (1) Yielding in Jan.
Jabbaar 14-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 1st, outpaced 3 out, went well beaten 3rd from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 14 1/4l behind Fred (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m (2) sft in Feb.
