always prominent, challenged 3 out, led narrowly next, ridden and headed flat, no extra towards finish, lost 3rd final strides
always behind
in touch, headway to lead after 8th, headed narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, lost place after last, weakened closing stages
prominent on outside, led 5th (water), headed after 8th, remained in touch, ridden after 3 out, outpaced and no impression before next
tracked leaders, driven before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, behind when pulled up before next
tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, every chance last, ridden and stayed on to press winner towards finish, just held
held up behind, headway into mid-division after 9th, chased leaders before 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, rallied flat, took 3rd final strides, not quite reach front pair
mistake 1st, mid-division, chased leaders 10th, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace, never near leaders
led to after 1st, tracked leaders, lost place 12th, behind from next, lost touch when pulled up after 16th
mid-division, pushed along 5 out, never near leaders, behind when went left and mistake 3 out
mid-division, lost place when mistake 15th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led after 1st, headed 5th (water), chased leaders, lost place 9th, behind when pulled up before 11th
towards rear on outside, headway 11th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division on inside, driven after 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, never threatened leaders
mid-division, dropped towards rear 8th, headway under pressure 3 out, chased leaders next, ridden and rallied flat, not reach leaders
tracked leaders, effort on inside when hit 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to lead flat, all out towards finish, just held on
mid-division, fell 4th
mid-division, chased leaders 10th, driven and outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, brought down 4th
mid-division, fell heavily 8th
always behind
mid-division, in touch 8th, hit 5 out, lost place after next, behind 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
Irish runners don’t have a great record in this and only two take their chance this year. The unexposed Elwood may be a better bet than Discorama at the likely odds but this should go to the home team. There is a strong suspicion that KILDISART (NAP) has been laid out for this as he’s been running well enough since making his seasonal reappearance behind Lostintranslation at Carlisle and has been dropped 6lb by the handicapper. He was a staying-on fourth in the JLT here last year, ahead of Vinndication, before giving weight and a beating to recent Ascot winner Mister Malarky in a tough handicap at Aintree. Cepage won a Grade 3 here in January but this much longer trip could expose stamina deficiencies. Mulcahys Hill was beaten in a match at Newcastle having pulled up when favourite for the Becher in December but he’s still got scope over fences and won here in the autumn. Another novice, Who Dares Wins, was a lucky winner at Kempton but Cogry is a standing dish here, though getting a bit long in the tooth to be winning a race like this. The Conditional and the Henderson pair Brave Eagle and Burbank are among those who could stay on into a place.
Vinndication (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Always prominent, led 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, won at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Nov beating Regal Encore (10-5) by 5l, 16 ran.
Brave Eagle (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, hampered 5 out, never on terms, 8th of 24, 21 3/4l behind De Rasher Counter (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Cepage (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Left in lead after 1st, headed 6th, led next, headed before 9th, led 10th, hard pressed from 2 out, driven flat, held rivals most gamely towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan beating Spiritofthegames (11-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along after 13th, lost place before 18th, well beaten 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, dist behind Smooth Stepper (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Mister Malarky 9-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, led 14th, ridden approaching last, driven out, won at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb beating Black Corton (11-12) by 2l, 14 ran.
Kildisart (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up, soon behind, reminders 4 out and after 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, never troubled leaders, 5th of 14, 6l behind Mister Malarky (11-0) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Discorama (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, slight mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, pushed along after 3 out, ridden in 3rd and no impression entering straight, no extra from 2 out, 3rd of 5, dist behind Easywork (11-11) at Limerick 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
Who Dares Wins (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in 6th, pushed along and headway chasing leaders approaching 10th, left 2nd 4 out, led before next until 2 out, edged left and rallied gamely to lead again run-in, won at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb beating Southfield Stone (11-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Atlanta Ablaze 10-3 (11-4) Chased leader until before 9th, last 12th, weakened 4 out, last of 4, dist behind Casablanca Mix (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f lst (1) gs in Dec.
Activial (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Chased winner who soon went clear, lost 2nd and dropped to 4th place 12th, weakened 4 out, last of 6, 14 1/2l behind Native River (11-6) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gd in Feb.
Mulcahys Hill (IRE) 11-10 (11-6) Led, headed after 9th, tracked winner, pushed along 4 out, outpaced by winner next, last of 2, 15l behind Aye Right (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 7f (4) sft in Jan.
Burbank (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Raced wide in mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders before 4 out, reached for 4 out, hung left under pressure and weakened between last 2, 8th of 14, 30l behind Ok Corral (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Cogry 4-1 (11-12) Led until 6th, prominent, outpaced 4 out, rallied from 2 out, went 2nd towards finish, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 4 3/4l behind Doing Fine (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Townshend (GER) 20-1 (12-0) Held up last, progress on outside 13th, challenged going well when pecked 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, pushed out, won at Ascot 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Graceful Legend (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Towards rear, behind and struggling 12th, plugged on run-in, 6th of 14, 20l behind Ok Corral (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
Big River (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up behind, headway 4 out, pushed along after next, challenged on outside 2 out, led between last 2, edged left after last, ridden out, kept on, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Ami Desbois (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
The Conditional (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Chased leaders, not fluent 7th or 8th, blundered 16th, disputing 2nd when hampered before 2 out, soon beaten, weakened last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 13, 21 1/2l behind Kimberlite Candy (11-4) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Elwood (FR) 6-1 (11-3) Disputed lead, bad mistake 1st, not fluent 2nd and headed, remained prominent, on terms approaching straight, led 11th, headed approaching last where slight mistake, one pace, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Captain Cj (11-3) at Navan 3m (1) hvy in Feb.
Soupy Soups (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, towards rear and plenty to do before 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd at the last, stayed on strongly run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 13, nk behind Give Me A Copper (11-1) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Quarenta (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Always towards rear, behind when mistake 13th, plugged on run-in, never on terms, 7th of 14, 26l behind Ok Corral (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
No Comment 15-2 (10-10) Held up in mid-division, fell 5 out, at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Vivas (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Off the pace in 7th, plugged on, never on terms, 5th of 11, 31 1/2l behind Legal Eyes (11-1) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Ice Cool Champs (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) In touch, weakened 7 out, 8th of 14, dist behind Christmas In April (11-6) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
General Principle (IRE) 11-1 (10-5) Led and disputed, headed 11th, ridden and improved to dispute lead 2 out, headed after last, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 6 1/4l behind Cap York (10-7) at Naas 3m hcp sft in Mar.
