chasing leaders 7th, jumped right 13th, lost place next, soon in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mistakes, prominent, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, clear last, stayed on well
prominent, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no impression on winner last, one paced and lost 2nd 150 yards out
always behind, pulled up before 16th
mid-division, headway after 12th, ridden to 3rd before 17th, stayed on flat to go 2nd 150 yards out, no impression on winner
in rear, mistakes 8th and 9th, fell 13th
mistakes, led to 6th, pressed leader until after 3 out, no extra flat
mid-division, mistake 9th, not fluent 13th, ridden and struggling before 17th, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden 16th, weakened 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, fell 15th
held up and behind, mistake 3rd, hit 13th, headway on outside approaching 3 out, chasing leaders before 2 out, one pace approaching last
chased leaders, outpaced 15th, weakened approaching 17th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in rear, struggling after 14th, tailed off
held up, mistake 2nd, behind from 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, hit 3rd, mistake 17th, headway when not fluent 4 out, not reached leaders, beaten after 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 9th, headway 14th, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, struggling after 15th, soon dropped rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mistakes 1st and 2nd, prominent next, losting place when blundered 13th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
soon chasing leaders, lost place 17th, weakened next, tailed off
mid-division, headway 4 out, not able to quicken after 3 out, 5th and in touch when hit 2 out, one pace approaching last
mid-division, mistake 6th, lost place 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
behind, headway after 4 out, chasing leaders before 2 out, weakened last
Nonrunner
With only two winning favourites in the last ten years, few can be ruled out of this, not least last year's winner Drombeag. That said, Agus A Vic has looked a useful prospect in Ireland this year and will do for us. Patrick Martin's charge has won three of his five starts in this sphere and finished second in the other two. He's versatile with regard to trip and ground and is a decent jumper. He ran on well to defeat Climate Change at Leopardstown last month where the pair finished a long way clear of the field and he should be in the firing line at the bottom of the hill although this race has gone to older horses in recent years. Alert The Earth and French Tyne won well last time but need to improve on the bare form and a bigger danger may prove to be Lou De Moulin Mas whose trainer has a decent record in this race in recent years. He wasn't very impressive last time but it would be no surprise to see him step up to the mark today. Bon Accord, Lord Of Illusion and Cornish Rebel are others worthy of mention whilst Twenty Degrees boosted his claims with a surprise defeat of Thisthatandtother but we'll side with Agus A Vic.
Agus A Vic (IRE) 11-4fav (11-11) Chased leaders, closer order from before 7 out, 2nd from 3 out, ridden to challenge and lead when jumped right last, stayed on well run-in, won at Leopardstown 3m hts chs gs in Feb beating Climate Control (11-7) by 2l, 16 ran.
Alert The Earth (IRE) 11-8fav (10-11) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, improved to lead 3 out, clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly, eased right down close home, impressive, won at Downpatrick 2m 5f hts chs gd in Feb beating Ashfield Present (10-11) by 8l, 13 ran.
Amicelli (GER) 4-7fav (12-5) A.p; led 15; qcknd clr flat, won at Duncombe Park 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Europa (12-5) by 10l, 9 ran.
Arctic Times (IRE) (12-0) won at Kildorrery 3m ire ptp gs in Feb beating Sir Peugeot (12-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Beauchamp Oracle 5-1 (12-0) Mid-division, ridden after 15th, stayed on from 4 out but no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 18l behind Red Brook Lad (12-0) at Ludlow 3m hts chs (5) gd in Feb.
Bon Accord 4-5fav (12-5) Trckd ldrs; went 2nd app 16; rdn clr aft last, won at Ampton 3m ptp gd in Jan beating Ballylusky (12-5) by 6l, 5 ran.
Christy Beamish (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Held up, chased leaders after 5 out, led approaching 3 out, clear approaching last, won at Haydock 3m hts chs (3) gs in Feb beating Cobreces (12-5) by 19l, 6 ran.
Climate Control (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Prominent, disputed lead from before 7 out, soon in front, strongly pressed and headed last, no impression late run-in, kept on same pace, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Agus A Vic (11-11) at Leopardstown 3m hts chs gs in Feb.
Cornish Rebel (IRE) 5-2 (12-3) Held up in touch, every chance last, kept on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Sleeping Night (11-7) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (4) sft in Feb.
Drombeag (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway 11th, effort after 3 out, no extra approaching last, 6th of 27, 33l behind Scots Grey (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (2) gd in Apr.
Dun An Doras (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) In tch to 11; pulled up in race won by Long Night (12-0) at Barbury Castle 3m ptp gd in Feb, 11 ran.
French Thyne (IRE) 13-2 (12-0) Held up, progress into 5th 4 out, 2nd after 3 out, disputed lead before 2 out, ridden to lead before last, stayed on well run-in, won at Clonmel 2m 4f mdn hts chs hvy in Feb beating Top Twig (11-9) by 6l, 14 ran.
Gallik Dawn 12-1 (12-2) Chased leader, led 2nd, headed 12th, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Tribal Venture (12-2) at Warwick 3m hts chs (6) gd in Feb.
Hip Pocket (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) In touch, headway 13th, mistake 15th, ridden 4 out, kept on to take 2nd last, in vain, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Tribal Venture (11-7) at Ludlow 3m hts chs (5) sft in Feb.
Lord of Illusion (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Chased leaders, chased winner from 11th, no impression from 2 out, 2nd of 7, 16l behind The Bajan Bandit (12-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Lou du Moulin Mas (FR) 1-2fav (12-3) Held up, headway 13th, ridden to chase leader 4 out, closing when left clear last, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hts chs (4) gd in Feb beating Take The Stand (11-5) by 26l, 6 ran.
Man From Highworth 10-1 (12-0) Held up; prog to ld 3 out; sn clr, won at Larkhill 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Irilut (12-0) by 10l, 8 ran.
Mel In Blue (FR) 9-2 (11-13) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced from 4 out, 4th of 6, 24l behind Christy Beamish (11-9) at Haydock 3m hts chs (3) gs in Feb.
Natiain 5-4fav (12-0) Made all, held on well towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 6f hts chs (5) gd beating Robbers Glen (11-4) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Railway Ranger 10-1 (11-7) Prominent, 2nd approaching 3 out where mistake and fell at the 11th in race won by Agus A Vic (11-11) at Leopardstown 3m hts chs gs in Feb, 16 ran.
Southwestern (IRE) 4-5fav (12-7) Held up & bhnd; hdwy 10; led aft 14; drew clr 3 out; easy, won at Bishops Court 3m ptp gd beating Nditlir (11-7) by 12l, 14 ran.
Tribal Venture (FR) 6-5fav (12-2) Always in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, edged right flat, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Warwick 3m hts chs (6) gd in Feb beating Reflected Glory (12-5) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Twenty Degrees 9-1 (12-0) Close up, chased leader 12th, shaken up to lead last, stayed on, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hts chs (4) gd in Feb beating Thisthatandtother (11-11) by 2l, 6 ran.
Tinarana Lord (IRE) 11-2 (12-7) In tch to 12; rem last 3 out;, 4th of 10, well behind Eskimo Jack (12-7) at Dalston 3m ptp gs.
