always in rear
mid-division, in touch, driven and weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leader, driven before 8th, lost 2nd next, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway 9th, 6th when hit last, stayed on same pace flat
held up in touch, weakened before 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, headway after 9th, shaken up after 3 out, 6th when blundered 2 out, edged left from before last, stayed on flat
mid-division, mistake 4th, driven after 6th, soon dropped rear, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, ridden 8th, soon weakened, mistake 9th, tailed off when pulled up before last
prominent, hit 8th, chasing leaders, ridden when fell 3 out
in touch, hit 3rd and lost place, never going well after, well behind when pulled up before 9th
held up in touch, not fluent 1st, mistake 6th and reminders, hit next, weakened under pressure after 3 out
in touch on outside, mistake 7th, soon driven, weakened before 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up and behind, headway when hampered 3 out, still plenty to do 2 out, staying on when mistake last, never near leaders
prominent, mistake and weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, went 2nd 9th, not fluent 3 out, soon led, headed before 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner
always prominent, switched right before 3 out, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, well there 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace flat
held up and behind, pushed along after 3 out, some headway from 2 out, not near leaders, not fluent last
held up, pushed along 8th, not much room briefly after 9th, never dangerous
mid-division, hit 4th, headway 8th, in touch when slightly hampered 3 out, soon weakened
held up and behind, mistake 1st, effort 7th, no impression next, weakened after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, niggled along and no impression when hampered 3 out
led, ridden 3 out, soon headed, weakened before 2 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, edged left between last 2, faded flat
The Pertemps Final has always been regarded as a lottery so we will give the tentative vote to Robin Du Bois with both Backbord and Miko de Beauchene worth noting. The selection has been the subject to a gamble all week and trainer Tony Martin is now coming to the Festival with five favourites for different handicaps. Robin Du Bois is very lightly raced but has shown ability as a juvenile hurdler last year. He comes into this race off a mark of 130 and some dodgy looking form figures to boot. Having said that he has looked like running some big races only to come to grief in the past most noticeably when falling at Fairyhouse last April when challenging to win. So the form figures don¿t read well but he has been backed as if defeat is not an option and coming form the Tony Martin yard that is good enough for us. Backbord is nothing but tough as he showed when winning at Ascot beating Peacock by a neck. He stays well so this step up in trip will suit so as he is in fine form he has to be respected. As does Welsh National winner Miko de Beauchene who confirmed his well being by winning at Haydock last timeout. This tough looks like a prep run for the National and that fact that he reverts back to hurdles will not benefit him in the slightest so although he is gutsy he will be done for toe in the closing stages probably running on into a place somewhere. So for the winner we return to Robin Du Bois.
Footy Facts (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, 2nd and effort after 3 out, 3rd and no extra from last, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Kazal (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Temoin 18-1 (11-12) In touch, lost place approaching 4 out, 8th of 18, 31l behind Ballyfitz (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Made all, clear 3 out, eased heavily towards finish, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan beating Percussionist (10-13) by a distance, 6 ran.
Buena Vista (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up, raced keen early, jumped slowly 3rd, headway 9th, weakened after 3 out, behind when hampered 2 out, 4th of 9, 21l behind Ballyshan (10-4) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Raslan 28-1 (11-7) Mid-division, reminders after 6th, weakened approaching next, tailed off, 14th of 18, well behind Ballyfitz (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Mobaasher (USA) 11-2 (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, no impression from next, 9th of 18, 31l behind Ballyfitz (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Sir Overbury 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 6th approaching halfway, lost place 5 out, soon no extra, 9th of 14, 42l behind What's In Front (9-10) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 0-140 hvy in Feb.
Lyes Green 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 13th of 15, well behind The Tother One (10-9) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Hennessy (IRE) 5-4fav (11-10) Led until after 8th, beaten 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 6l behind Battlecry (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Jan.
Backbord (GER) 11-2jt-fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along and headway approaching 3 out, switched right to challenge last, fard ridden to lead close home, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb beating Peacock (10-10) by a nk, 18 ran.
Russian Trigger 6-4fav (10-9) Chased leader, ridden and led approaching 2 out, headed 2 out, hampered and left in lead after, hard driven flat, held on gamely, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec beating Tighten Your Belt (11-2) by a nk, 10 ran.
Dusky Warbler 25-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 18, 15l behind Ballyfitz (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Onnix (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 18, 23l behind Ballyfitz (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Tighten Your Belt (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Led until 4th, stayed prominent, ridden after 3 out, kept on gamely under pressure, last of 15, well behind The Tother One (10-9) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 17-2 (11-12) In touch, led 4 out, ridden and challenged last, kept on well, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Feb beating Flintoff (10-5) by 1l, 16 ran.
Ballyfitz 15-2 (10-6) In touch, led after 4 out, challenged last, hard ridden to lead flat, just held on, won at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb beating Gunner Jack (10-3) by a hd, 18 ran.
According To Pete 16-1 (11-7) Prominent, mistake 6th, ridden before 2 out, beaten between last 2, 6th of 20, 9l behind Mous Of Men (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jan.
Robin Du Bois (FR) 10-1 (10-11) Held up, behind when fell at the 7th in race won by Ballyfitz (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
Prince De Bersy (FR) 12-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 18, 13l behind Ballyfitz (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Dancing Tornado (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway travelling well to lead after 3 out, headed before last, no impression run-in, 7th of 23, 16l behind Footy Facts (11-0) at Leopardstown 3m hcp hdl hvy in Jan.
Gunner Jack 20-1 (10-3) Held up in touch, headway approaching 4 out, blundered last, every chance last, just held close home, 2nd of 18, hd behind Ballyfitz (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.
Artiste Bay (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, 9th 4 out, kept on from 2 out without threatening leaders, 8th of 20, 11l behind Western Gale (10-4) at Fairyhouse 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 gs in Feb.
Glacial Sunset (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Led, hard pressed from 2 out, stayed on gamely flat, headed final stride, 2nd of 17, shd behind National Trust (11-7) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Dec.
Counting House (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out and chased leaders, led when fell 2 out in race won by Russian Trigger (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
