held up rear of mid-division, took keen hold, headway 3 out, chasing leaders home bend, not quicken before last, weakened flat
mid-division, headway travelling well before 3 out, led before last, pressed briefly flat, ran on well and asserting towards finish
led until 3rd, stayed prominent, not fluent 3rd, weakened quickly and pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway and switched left before last, unable to challenge, kept on same pace final 150 yards
mid-division on inside, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
prominent, led 3rd, headed just after 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
chased leaders, ridden home bend, kept on same pace flat
prominent, led just after 3 out, headed after 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, challenged after 3 out, led after next, headed before last, kept on same pace final 150 yards
mid-division, took keen hold, headway approaching 4th, ridden home bend, beaten when mistake last, weakened
held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, not much room briefly after 2 out, went 2nd soon after last, pressed winner, no impression towards finish
mid-division on outside, weakened after 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden after mistake 3 out, weakened next, mistake last
mid-division, headway 2 out, close up when not fluent last, edged right flat, kept on same pace
in touch in mid-division, mistake 5th, no impression from 2 out, mistake and weakened last
always in rear
towards rear, not fluent 3rd, struggling 4th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chasing leaders when mistake 2 out, edged right flat, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, weakened flat
always towards rear
held up in rear, mistake 3 out, headway after 2 out, no impression
towards rear, not fluent 3rd, ridden on outside 3 out, headway before last, never on terms
Paul Nicholls has won three of the last 10 runnings. He saddles the top weight Mick Pastor which, like probable favourite Aramax, runs in the McManus’ green and gold and is the choice of Barry Geraghty. But stablemate THYME WHITE improves with every run and he beat Group Stage a shade cosily in a Listed race at Musselburgh last time. He could give a massive boost to the Triumph Hurdle hopes of Goshen, who beat him 34 lengths at Sandown in December. Galahad Quest beat subsequent Ludlow winner Night Edition and Gerolamo Cardano in a Grade 2 here in January but it would be no surprise if David Pipe’s runner did best of that trio today. The hat-trick seeking Palladium is preferred to stable companion Fraser Island and Recent Revelations may prove best of the Elliott legions if it turns out that Aramax has too much weight. Zoffee landed the odds with ease at Doncaster but his stable have a poor record in this contest and he is closely matched with Blacko on Taunton running.
Mick Pastor (FR) 6-4fav (11-4) Mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent and pecked 5th, headway after 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, led next, clear last, easily, won at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Jan beating Prefontaine (11-4) by 6 1/2l, 10 ran.
Aramax (GER) 7-2 (11-1) Tracked leader, headway to challenge 3 out, led after next, pushed along and drew clear early run-in, kept on well, comfortably, won at Naas 2m Good - Yielding in Feb beating Recent Revelations (11-1) by 8l, 5 ran.
Palladium 6-4jfav (10-10) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led on bend after 2nd, came 2 lengths clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Sandown 2m (3) hvy in Feb beating Flic Ou Voyou (11-0) by 10l, 6 ran.
Langer Dan (IRE) 8-13fav (11-5) Mid-division on inside, tracked leaders after 4 out, effort to challenge after next, switched left and every chance 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Garry Clermont (11-9) at Ludlow 2m (4) sft in Feb.
Blacko (FR) 3-10fav (11-4) Took keen hold, led 2nd, shaken up after 2 out, pushed out flat, won at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Jan beating The Pink'n (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Zoffee 10-11fav (10-12) Made all, clear 2 out, easily, won at Doncaster 2m 1f mdn (4) gd in Feb beating Isolate (10-12) by 11l, 10 ran.
Clemencia (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Rear of mid-division on outer, ridden in 7th 2 out, moderate 7th entering straight, no impression, went moderate 4th inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 24 1/2l behind A Wave Of The Sea (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m (1) Yielding in Feb.
Galahad Quest (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pecked 1st, went 2nd from next until 2 out, ridden before last, edged left and led left, edged right towards finish and holding 2nd, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan beating Night Edition (11-0) by 1l, 6 ran.
Saint D'Oroux (FR) Evensfav (11-7) Prominent, slight mistake 3rd and led before next, travelled well and drew clear from 2 out, stayed on well, easily, won at Gowran Park 2m mdn hvy in Feb beating Deealli (11-7) by 24l, 14 ran.
Thyme White (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) Chased leader, not fluent 6th, led 3 out, headed before last, led again soon after last, driven out, won at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) sft in Feb beating Group Stage (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Night Edition (FR) 5-4fav (10-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd and poised to challenge before 3 out, led going well last, unextended flat, pushed out briefly near finish, easily, won at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Feb beating Forever Des Long (11-4) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
Bajan Excell (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Prominent, 2nd halfway and headway to dispute lead 3 out, headed next, pushed along and no impression in 4th before last, no extra run-in, 5th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Burning Victory (10-7) at Fairyhouse 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Fraser Island (IRE) 13-8 (10-10) Prominent in chasing group, closer at 5th, went 2nd before 2 out, stayed on run-in, always held, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Calva D'Auge (11-12) at Plumpton 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Recent Revelations (IRE) 9-4 (11-1) Tracked leader, headway to lead 3 out, pushed along and headed after next, 1 length down when mistake last, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Aramax (11-1) at Naas 2m Good - Yielding in Feb.
Sacchoandvanzetti (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Waited with, under pressure 5th in rear, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Aspire Tower (10-12) at Leopardstown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Group Stage (GER) 9-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, pushed along after 6h, not fluent 2 out, kept on, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Thyme White (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Gerolamo Cardano 8-1 (11-3) Held up, weakened before 3 mistake 3 out, last of 6, 36l behind Sir Psycho (11-6) at Haydock 2m (2) hvy in Feb.
Theatre Of War (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up, slight mistake 1st, rear of mid-division halfway, some progress in 12th before 2 out, ridden into 8th before last, disputed 3rd last, 2nd and kept on run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 22, 3/4l behind Leagan Gaeilge (10-7) at Leopardstown 2m mdn sft in Dec.
Repetitio (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) In touch on inside, driven to chase leaders after 2 out, one pace before last, ridden and rallied flat, stayed on to lead closing stages, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Oakley (11-11) by nk, 13 ran.
Goa Lil (FR) 12-5 (11-0) Raced keenly, led, not fluent 5th, headed 3 out, beaten next, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 5 3/4l behind Thyme White (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Tronador (IRE) 11-4 (10-2) Held up, rear halfway, ridden in 4th 2 out, stayed on into 3rd last, kept on run-in without reaching leaders, 3rd of 5, 4 1/4l behind Floueur (11-12) at Navan 2m 2f Soft - Heavy in Jan.
Gealach (IRE) 9-4 (11-5) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 1st, 4th halfway, pushed along after 2 out and no impression before last, no extra, 4th of 6, 9 1/2l behind Wolf Prince (11-5) at Fairyhouse 2m Yielding - Soft in Jan.
