not fluent most of way, held up, always behind, no danger when mistake 2 out
behind, outpaced 2 out, stayed on under pressure into mid-division before last, never able to reach leaders
mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 2 out, went 4th before last, kept on same pace, no impression with front trio
led, still going well 2 out, driven and headed between last 2, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, disputed 2nd from after 2nd, challenged after 2 out, led narrowly between last 2, headed but still every chance approaching last, kept on same pace, no extra and held flat
mid-division in touch on inside, lost place when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before last
mid-division in touch, mistake 5th, ridden after 2 out, soon one pace, weakened before last
towards rear of mid-division, headway after 3 out, driven to chase leaders after next, unable to get on terms, weakened last
keen early, tracked leader to after 2nd, in touch on outside, lost place after 3 out, behind next, tailed off
mid-division on outside, pushed along after 3 out, weakened after next
mid-division, outpaced 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, smooth headway and in touch 2 out, challenged towards stands side rail before last, ridden to lead flat, held on well
towards rear, struggling after 3 out, never dangerous
mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, soon tracked leaders, outpaced after next, no extra, weakened approaching last
in touch on inside, smooth headway to track leaders 2 out, soon challenged, driven to lead narrowly approaching last, ridden and headed flat, kept on, just held
tracked leader after 2nd, effort on outside 2 out, driven and lost place before last, no extra
Karezak's form ties together a few of these. He's finished behind Old Guard, Hargam and PEACE AND CO in three of his last four runs but the latter comes out best at the weights. Nicky Henderson runs three in this but the unbeaten Falco gelding is his number one and was impressive here on Trials Day in January. Hargam is no slouch, however, and the other Henderson runner Top Notch has yet to taste defeat since arriving from France, though may not be as effective on the quicker ground. Willie Mullins is another who is triple-handed and his filly Petite Parisienne beat stablemate Kalkir in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month so is definitely worth a second look. Pain Au Chocolat has beaten Devilment and Old Guard in his last two starts so is another with each-way claims but the fly in the ointment could be Beltor. Robert Stephens' charge won the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle on the bridle last month, despite racing with the choke out for much of the trip. He clearly has an engine but the blinkers will have to help him settle better here if he's not to run out of steam.
Baraka De Thaix (FR) 1-2fav (10-12) Raced freely, led, mistake 3 out, pushed along and headed before 2 out, weakened and mistake 2 out, eased, 5th of 6, 30l behind Bivouac (10-12) at Sandown 2m 3yo hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Beltor 3-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, smooth headway on bit and challenging on bit 2 out, soon led, quickened clear before the last, impressive, won at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb beating All Yours (11-2) by 5l, 9 ran.
Devilment 4-9fav (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 3 out, led on bit 3 out, clear after next, easily, won at Doncaster 2m 4yo hdl (4) gd in Feb beating Lil Rockerfeller (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Dicosimo (FR) 4-6fav (11-0) Made all, mistake 5th, ridden and pressed 2 out, asserted before last, kept on strongly, won at Gowran Park 2m 4yo hdl in Jan beating Prussian Eagle (11-0) by 8l, 6 ran.
Hargam (FR) 4-11fav (11-8) Held up in touch, headway before 3 out, led 2 out on bit, easily, won at Musselburgh 2m 4yo lst hdl (1) gd in Feb beating Starchitect (11-8) by 6l, 5 ran.
Kalkir (FR) 5-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, closer 3 out and led approaching next, strongly pressed straight and headed before last, no impression on winner run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Petite Parisienne (10-7) at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in Feb.
Karezak (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in 5th, closed 4th, led after 2 out, ridden and edged right before last, soon led, stayed on same pace final 150 yards, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Peace And Co (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan.
Matorico (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Held up in touch in rear, smooth headway 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, ran on but no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Arabian Revolution (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4yo hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Officer Drivel (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Led until approaching 2 out, weakened between last two, 4th of 9, 16l behind Beltor (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Old Guard 7-2 (11-8) Held up in 5th, pushed along and progress before 2 out, ridden into 3rd between last two, stayed on into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Pain Au Chocolat (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 5-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, clear before last, pushed out and kept on strongly run-in, won at Sandown 2m 4yo hdl (3) sft in Jan beating Old Guard (11-8) by 7l, 5 ran.
Peace And Co (FR) 4-9fav (11-7) Held up, raced keenly until before 2nd, closed on outside 2 out, challenging going well when not much room before last, soon led, ridden to assert final 150 yards, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 2 (1) sft in Jan beating Karezak (11-4) by 3l, 6 ran.
Prairie Town (IRE) 4-5fav (10-7) Held up in touch, headway 3 out, led 2 out, clear last, ran on strongly, won at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb beating Spoils Of War (11-2) by 11l, 14 ran.
Stars Over The Sea (USA) 4-1 (11-7) Led, hit 4th, headed 2 out, soon beaten, lost 3rd when mistake last, regained 3rd towards finish, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 7, 31l behind Hargam (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f 3yo hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Top Notch (FR) 2-13fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, led on bit 3 out, clear before last, won at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) sft in Feb beating Medicine Hat (11-3) by 9l, 4 ran.
Petite Parisienne (FR) 6-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, closer 3 out and progress into 2nd before next, led before last and kept on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 2m 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) in Feb beating Kalkir (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Take A Break (FR) 50-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, ridden before next, in 4th and one pace when fell 2 out, in a race won by One Track Mind (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Feb, 9 ran.
