mid-division on inside, hampered 2nd, mistake next, well beaten 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, chasing leaders when mistake last, no impression flat
chasing leaders before 2nd, ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, headway when not fluent 3 out, unable to quicken before last, no extra flat
held up towards rear, hampered 2nd, headway approaching 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, hampered 2nd, headway approaching 4th, slightly hampered 2 out, edged right and stayed on same pace flat
prominent, badly hampered and lost place 2nd, soon in rear, not recover and pulled up before next
mid-division, headway 4 out, never on terms with leaders, lost place approaching 2 out
held up in rear, headway from 2 out, ran on well flat, going on towards finish
tracked leaders, took keen hold, challenged 3 out, led when fell next
held up on outside, headway approaching 4 out, lost place before 2 out
held up, brought down 2nd
held up in touch, hampered 2 out, closing and switched left before last, ran on flat, went 2nd towards finish, not quite able to reach winner
tracked leaders, challenged approaching last, led flat, driven out
tracked leaders, fell 2nd
mid-division, hampered 2nd, soon in touch, not fluent and every chance 3 out, no impression last
held up towards rear, headway approaching last, stayed on, never involved
led until 2 out, weakened last
held up in rear, still behind before 3 out, never any chance
held up in touch, hampered 2nd, switched right approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat, unable to challenge
mid-division, bumped 2nd, never on terms, weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, every chance before last, stayed on same pace and no impression flat
always prominent, challenged 3 out, left in lead next, headed flat, no impression on winner and lost 2nd towards finish
in touch in mid-division, chasing leaders when brought down 2 out
There have been four long-priced winners of this in its short history, including the last two renewals, so the market isn't always the best guide. Noble Inn and Arzembouy Premier look closely matched on Gowran running so it's no surprise that Ruby Walsh has chosen Ivan Grozny, fourth in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month. Paul Nicholls, who trained the winner in 2010, has three entered with Daryl Jacob on board Katgary who makes his UK debut. Gordon Elliott has two with the consistent Clarcam possibly the pick and Nicky Henderson is hopeful of a good run from Dawalan, who had Certification behind when winning at Newbury in December and had earlier finished ahead of Baradari at the same track. Goodwood Mirage could be interesting having been highly tried since making a winning debut at Kempton but we were impressed with ASTRE DE LA COUR at Ascot and this lightly-raced type could represent a bit of value. Second Handiwork enjoys a big turnaround in the weights but is a hard-puller and may not get home here, though the overall form of that race has a solid look about it.
Noble Inn (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leaders in 3rd, progress into 2nd 2 out, ridden before last, kept on run-in without reaching winner, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Abbyssial (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl in Jan.
Gerdago (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up, 7th halfway, closer in 5th 3 out, ridden in 3rd at mext, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Abbyssial (11-0) at Fairyhouse 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) in Feb.
Le Fin Bois (FR) 5-2fav (10-7) won at Auteuil(FR) 2m 1f 3yo hdl hvy in Nov beating Boisblanc (10-5) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Ivan Grozny (FR) 9-10fav (11-0) Chased clear leader in 2nd, 3rd after 2nd, closer before 4 out, not fluent 2 out, pushed along and no impression in 4th approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 6, 8l behind Guitar Pete (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in Feb.
Arzembouy Premier (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden in 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace from before last, 3rd of 5, 5l behind Abbyssial (11-0) at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl in Jan.
Solar Impulse (FR) 9-2 (11-5) Led and set good pace, went left 4 out, ridden and headed between last 2, no impression when dropped to 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Activial (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Ballyglasheen (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 4th, behind after 3 out, stayed on under pressure approaching last, took modest 4th flat, no chance with leaders, 4th of 6, 22l behind Le Rocher (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Dawalan (FR) 10-11fav (10-7) Mid-division, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and headway over 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, closed entering final furlong, soon edged left, picked up well when joined by rival towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 16, ns behind Pass Muster (11-1) at Kempton 2m n h flat (4) std in Jan.
Baradari (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) About 40 seconds passed after tape release until they raised a gallop, led, ridden and joined 2 out, mistake and headed last, hung right flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Harristown (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Clarcam (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Led, not fluent 3rd, mistake 3 out, headed next, kept on same pace, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Broughton (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4yo lst hdl (1) sft in Feb.
Cadoudoff (FR) 9-4fav (11-8) Tracked leader until after 1st, joined leader next, challenged 3 out, disputed lead after, ridden and every chance 2 out, outpaced in 3rd between last 2, rallied to 2nd approaching last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Baradari (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3yo hdl (3) hvy in Dec.
Goodwood Mirage (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Tended to jump left, took keen hold, held up in rear, headway on outside when went left 2 out, soon one pace, 5th and no impression when went left again last, 5th of 8, 9l behind Activial (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Katgary (FR) (10-10) won at Enghien(FR) 2m 1f 3yo hdl hvy in Nov beating Horse No Name (10-3) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Hawk High (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, pushed along after 4 out, went 3rd and outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 35l behind Abracadabra Sivola (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Astre De La Cour (FR) 2-1 (10-12) Took keen hold tracking leading pair, went 2nd approaching 4 out, challenged next, taken to outside before 2 out, led 2 out, came readily clear before last and kept on strongly, won at Ascot 2m 4yo hdl (3) hvy in Jan beating Handiwork (11-8) by 4l, 6 ran.
Violet Dancer 5-1 (11-6) About 40 seconds passed after tape release until they raised a gallop, mid-division, headway after 3rd, mistake 3 out, 4th and one pace 2 out, no extra whn stumbled badly and rider lost iron last, 4th of 8, 15l behind Harristown (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Handiwork 7-2 (11-6) Held up in touch, pushed along before 3 out, went 3rd and held after 2 out, ridden before last, no extra and lost 3rd place run-in, 4th of 7, 19l behind Abracadabra Sivola (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Azza (FR) 7-1 (10-13) With leader, led narrowly 2nd, headed 3 out, ridden and outpaced in 3rd after next, no chance with front pair before last, 3rd of 7, 19l behind Royal Irish Hussar (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Vandross (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, stayed on same pace approaching 2 out, went 3rd from last, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Prideofthecastle (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Keltus (FR) 9-2 (10-6) Led, not fluent 1st, soon 5 lengthes clear, headed 2 out, rallied after last, ran on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Fergall (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Certification (IRE) 2-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Kilcooley (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Raven's Tower (USA) 5-2fav (11-5) Held up behind, headway before 4 out, chased leader before 2 out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Warwick 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Haatefina (10-5) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Orgilgo Bay (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led and soon clear, reduced advantage before 4 out, challenged 2 out and soon headed, no extra and weakened early straight, last of 6, 23l behind Guitar Pete (11-0) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in Feb.
Akdam (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd 8th, went 2nd well before 2 out, led well before last, stumbled on bend soon after, soon clear and ridden, idling when not fluent last, stayed on flat, won at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Jan beating Make Me A Fortune (11-8) by 5l, 5 ran.
