chased leaders, mistake 4th, lost place before next, behind 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led, ridden and headed well before 2 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
prominent, went 2nd 8th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakening before next
pressed leader to 8th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, mistake and dropped rear 9th, still well behind 2 out, plenty to do but staying on before last, kept on well flat and gaining on leaders towards finish
in rear, mistake 5th, behind 3 out
held up and behind, lost touch 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, mistake 8th and 9th, soon pushed along, progress after 2 out, 6th and weakening when mistake last, soon eased, walked over line
mid-division, headway 8th, 4th and in touch 2 out, one pace and no impression on leaders before last
in touch, jumped left and reminder 6th, slightly outpaced by leaders after 2 out, rallied last, led flat, stayed on well
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, weakened well before 2 out
always prominent, not fluent 2nd, challenged approaching 2 out, upsides last, stayed on same pace last
mid-division, not fluent 5th, pushed along 8th, effort after 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway approaching 3 out, led well before 2 out, ridden when hung right before last, soon swerved left, soon hung right again, headed flat, stayed on same pace
held up, headway going well before 2 out, not reach leaders, weakened when mistake last
mid-division, blundered 9th, soon no impression, well behind when pulled up before last
held up in rear, mistake 9th, headway 3 out, close 3rd 2 out, strong challenge after last, soon held by winner, stayed on same pace
held up, headway approaching 2 out, weakened before last
Nonrunner
A competitive renewal of this contest with several holding live claims; we like the look of The Tother One with Uncle Junior perhaps the best of the Irish. Uncle Junior was beaten by Parsons Pistol last time and it looks significant that Paul Carberry has elected to ride Gem Daly in preference. He has to recover from a shocking display when the yard was out of form but had shown smart form prior to that. Uncle Junior isn't the best of hurdlers but he's got a great attitude and there were valid excuses for his narrow defeat last time. He's been well touted for this race for some time and could be hard to keep out of the frame. Sam Thomas has partnered The Tother One throughout his career and the pair are unbeaten; he has taken an unusual route here but shouldn't be taken lightly because of that. He has won two competitive handicaps very, very easily and is a serious horse. He stays, jumps, travels and has a turn of foot - he makes plenty of appeal. Lodge Lane is well regarded, Carruthers, Gone To Lunch and Nenuphar Collonges others that will have their supporters following some decent performances this season whilst Middleton Dene and Hills Of Aran have place claims. Carruthers makes most appeal of that quintet as there was a lot to like about his win at Warwick but he faces a very different test this afternoon and we'll come back to The Tother One for our selection.
Aldhaher Beebers (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Led, some slight mistakes, joined from 5 out, mistake next, lost place and weakened from after 3 out, 6th of 8, well behind Glenrock Leader (11-0) at Limerick 2m 6f nov hdl Grd 3 (1) hvy in Dec.
Carruthers 2-9fav (11-8) Made all, clear after 1st, unchallenged, eased towards finish, won at Bangor 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Feb beating A Glass In Thyne (10-11) by 25l, 8 ran.
Coe (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) With leader, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, 3rd of 7, 32l behind Tazbar (11-11) at Haydock 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
Gem Daly (FR) 10-3 (11-3) Tracked leaders, 5th 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, virtually pulled up after 2 out, completely tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Liskennett (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Gone To Lunch (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up, behind, some headway 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on after 2 out, went 3rd last, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Inglis Drever (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Hills Of Aran 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well from last, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind The Tother One (10-9) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Home Hunter (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Held up, headway from 4 out, 9th entering straight, closed in 6th 2 out, challenged before last, led run-in, kept on well, won at Naas 2m 3f mdn hdl sft in Feb beating Oscar Time (11-12) by 4l, 25 ran.
Lodge Lane (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) In touch, headway and chased leaders 4th, joined leader 3 out, ridden approaching last, led soon after, edged right close home, won at Exeter 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Carruthers (11-5) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Middleton Dene (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, outpaced after 3 out, effort approaching last, stayed on strongly, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Hold Em (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (2) gd in Feb.
Nenuphar Collonges (FR) 2-1 (11-12) Held up in 3rd, progress before 6th, chased winner before next, driven along before 8th, no impression, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Carruthers (11-10) at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Parsons Pistol (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders on inner, progress to dispute lead 3 out, ridden from next, narrowly led close home, all out, won at Cork 3m nov hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec beating Uncle Junior (11-6) by a shd, 18 ran.
Siegemaster (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Prominent, 3rd 3 out, slight mistake on inner next, ridden along in 4th entering straight, went 2nd after last, stayed on well close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind Liskennett (10-9) at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Sound Accord (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Tazbar (11-11) at Haydock 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Feb.
The Tother One (IRE) 9-4fav (10-9) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, challenged and led last, ridden out flat, won at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb beating Warne's Way (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Uncle Junior (IRE) 6-4fav (11-6) Mid division, keen hold, progress to lead 6 out, joined 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed from next, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 18, shd behind Parsons Pistol (11-3) at Cork 3m nov hdl Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
What A Friend 7-1 (11-9) Mid-division, lost place 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd run-in, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Aigle D'or (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.
Liskennett (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Held up, progress into 5th 3 out, led before 2 out, soon ridden along, strongly pressed from last, all out, won at Leopardstown 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan beating Siegemaster (11-3) by a nk, 7 ran.
One Gulp 10-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 7th, chased winner 3 out, almost upsides 2 out, kept on same pace but lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Battlecry (11-10) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Jan.
Battlecry 14-1 (11-0) Always prominent, not fluent 11th, led before 12th, headed last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Albertas Run (11-7) at Ascot 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb.
