held up behind, blundered 5th, headway into mid-division 16th, fell next
tracked leader, led 4th, fell 9th
mid-division, blundered 6th, lost place when badly hampered and pulled up after 17th
behind, hampered 17th, lost touch 3 out, left remote 4th last, never a threat, tailed off
held up behind, headway when hampered 17th, hampered again next, tracked leaders 4 out, challenged on outside after next, led narrowly last, soon ridden, stayed on gamely when headed inside final 100 yards, just held
led to 2nd, in touch, left 2nd at 9th, fell 18th
chased leaders on inside, reminder after 11th, hampered 14th, lost place 20th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, badly hampered and good recovery by rider 14th, tracked leaders 4 out, challenged after next, weakening when went right and left modest 3rd 2 out, tailed off
behind, headway into mid-division 15th, fell 17th
in touch, led 2nd to 4th, remained prominent, left in lead again 14th, headed narrowly 3 out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened 2 out, remote 4th when fell last
mid-division, close up 15th, went 2nd before 5 out, driven to lead narrowly 3 out, headed narrowly last, ridden and stayed on gamely to regain lead inside final 100 yards, all out
slowly away, recovered to track leaders 3rd, left 2nd at 18th, lost place 5 out, weakened 3 out, beaten when fell next
mid-division, behind from 15th, mistake and hampered 17th, never near leaders, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
towards rear on outside, reminders after 16th, headway into mid-division 18th, struggling 5 out, weakened and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 4th
chased leaders, hampered 18th, struggling after 5 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, tracked leader 6th, left in lead 9th, hit 13th, fell next
mid-division, close up 17th, hampered next, every chance 3 out, one pace in 3rd when fell next
Jockeyship nearly always plays a part in this four-miler and there is none better among the amateur ranks than Derek O’Connor. He’s won this twice and been placed four times from 13 rides. OK CORRAL’s owner JP McManus has welcomed in the winner six times and the former Irish champion has been getting to know the nine-year-old, partnering him to success in a Listed race at Warwick after he beat Impulsive Star at Plumpton. Second in the Albert Bartlett here a year ago, he should relish this trip and has ticks in all the right boxes. Le Breuil has form over these fences and Jamie Codd rode the winner of this in 2015. Ben Pauling’s novice looks a little quirky but is the type that could run well at a price with a similar comment applying to Jerrysback. Patrick Mullins will be hoping Naas winner Ballyward can give jockey and trainer back-to-back victories in this and Gun Digger will be trying to give Gordon Elliott a third success in five years under Lisa O’Neill, who wore the same colours on Tiger Roll in 2017. Skipthecuddles looks a real stayer and could give Lilly Pinchin a good ride.
Ballyward (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Mid-division on outer, headway into 3rd 5 out, travelling well 3 out, improved to lead and pushed along after 2 out, pushed along and pressed with 0.5l lead when jumped slightly right and left clear at last, ridden and stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan beating Chris's Dream (11-2) by 11l, 11 ran.
Beyond The Law (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Waited with, 9th from 4th, inclined to race towards outer, progress and slight mistake 8th, soon on terms, led after 9th, soon joined and headed before 2 out, no extra from before last, one pace, 6th of 13, 19 1/4l behind Poker Party (11-4) at Naas 2m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
Chef Des Obeaux (FR) 11-10 (10-12) Chased leader, not fluent 2nd, ridden before 5 out, challenged 4 out, led before next, clear from 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Chepstow 3m 2f (3) gs in Feb beating Jammin Masters (10-12) by 18l, 4 ran.
Clondaw Cian (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 5th, hit next, pushed along and lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, last of 12, dist behind Vive Le Roi (10-13) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Discorama (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, pushed along briefly at 8th, ridden in 5th 3 out, headway on wide outer into 4th 2 out, improved into 0.5l 2nd and pressing winner when bumped slightly and fell at last, at Naas 3m (1) Yielding - Soft in Jan.
Gun Digger (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, slight mistake 3rd, 3rd after 4th, pushed along after 10th, no impression approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 7, 31 1/4l behind Winter Escape (11-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) gd in Jan.
Impulsive Star (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, challenged 16th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, led again from last, stayed on well, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Jan beating Calett Mad (10-13) by 3 1/4l, 12 ran.
Jerrysback (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, close up on outside 8th, driven into 2nd before 3 out, soon every chance, ridden between last 2, no extra and well held from last, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Castafiore (10-7) at Haydock 2m 4f (1) gs in Jan.
Johanos (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Raced wide, chased leaders, not fluent 6th, went 2nd 13th, led 4 out, headed before next, weakened between last 2, 4th of 11, 10l behind Chosen Path (11-7) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Just Your Type (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 3rd, headed before 6th, mistake 8th, badly hampered 8 out, ridden before 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 16, 15 1/4l behind Crosspark (10-13) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Le Breuil (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Led, headed narrowly after 9th, led again 5 out to before next, soon lost place, well beaten in 4th 2 out, rallied flat, just failed for modest 3rd final strides, 4th of 5, 14 1/4l behind Castafiore (10-7) at Haydock 2m 4f (1) gs in Jan.
Mulcahys Hill (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Pushed along from start to chase winner until approaching 7th, chased leading pair until 9th, ridden before 11th, outpaced and no chance from 4 out, 4th of 5, 27 1/4l behind Defi Du Seuil (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Feb.
Ok Corral (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders on outside, took keen hold, went 2nd after 8th until next, went 2nd after 3 out, nudged into lead before last, ridden clear flat, comfortably, won at Warwick 3m lst (1) gd in Jan beating Secret Investor (11-0) by 6l, 4 ran.
Plantagenet 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 5th, led 4 out, clear before 2 out, kept on strongly, ridden out, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Feb beating Tzar De L'Elfe (10-12) by 5l, 7 ran.
Skipthecuddles (IRE) 13-8 (10-12) On and off the bridle, chased leader, hit 8th, reminder after next and 10th, pushed along and closer 3 out, upsides 2 out, challenged last, soon led, driven clear, won at Market Rasen 3m (3) gs in Feb beating Chosen Path (11-3) by 6l, 2 ran.
Warthog (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Led, joined 3rd, headed after 6th, weakened 3 out, left in modest 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 8 1/4l behind The Paddy Pie (10-7) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Whisperinthebreeze 7-1 (10-1) Tracked leader in 2nd and raced clear of remainder, led from 5th, mistake 7th, went well clear after 3 out, reduced advantage entering straight, ridden approaching last, stayed on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp gd in Feb beating Livelovelaugh (10-7) by 3 3/4l, 13 ran.
Atlanta Ablaze 9-4 (11-2) Tracked leader, led after 2nd, made rest, clear 3 out (usual 4 out), in no danger after, easily (first fence in home straight omitted on all circuits), won at Wincanton 3m 1f lst (1) gd in Feb beating Molly Childers (11-0) by 15l, 3 ran.
