mid-division, took closer order when slightly hampered 7th, tracked leaders going well 3 out, effort next, ridden and stayed on to press winner flat, always just held
always towards rear on outside, lost touch 8th, pulled up before next (water)
held up towards rear, headway on inside after 5 out, chased leaders 3 out, ridden after next, soon one pace, stayed on under pressure to take 3rd near finish, no impression with front pair
behind, mistake 5th, hit 10th, struggling 4 out, no chance when blundered next, soon weakened
held up behind, headway before 3 out, soon chased leaders, driven and no impression when rider looked down and pulled up before next
held up behind, blundered 10th, never involved, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, lost place before 5 out, never a threat
in touch, dropped to mid-division, 9th (water), never able to get involved after, weakened 3 out
towards rear on outside, mistake 11th, some headway into mid-division after 3 out, never threatened leaders, weakened last
mid-division, hampered 7th, headway before 3 out, soon chased leaders, ridden before next, kept on same pace, never able to challenge
made all, driven and hard pressed before 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on gamely flat, always just holding runner-up
mid-division, driven and outpaced after 3 out, never a threat
chased leaders, reminder after 10th, ridden before 2 out, weakened between last 2
towards rear, badly hampered 7th, headway 4 out, driven to chase leaders on outside turning in, outpaced when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
never better than mid-division, lost place 4 out, behind from next
chased leaders, reminders after 11th, outpaced when mistake 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, driven and lost place 4 out, behind from next, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, ridden after next, plugged on same pace, never threatened leaders
in touch, tracked leaders 5 out, challenged on inside turning in, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression flat, lost 3rd near finish
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 4 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, fell 7th
tracked winner, driven after 3 out, lost place after next, soon ridden, no impression between last 2
NonRunner
NonRunner
Another impossible-looking handicap to decipher but SIRUH DU LAC is a superb jumper of fences and still on an upward curve. He only beat Janika a head in a Grade 3 over course and distance when completing his hat-trick and is 7lb higher but Lizzie Kelly claims 3lb and Nick Williams’ charge shouldn’t be far away again. Kauto Riko will love the ground having found the going too quick last time at Wetherby. He may be better on flatter circuits but can’t be left out of calculations. Didero Vallis can be forgiven a run over 3m at Kempton last month having looked progressive previously. He is still at the right end of the handicap and can reverse that Kempton form with Romain De Senam, who seems to be better over further nowadays. Some Buckle has an absence to overcome but has a decent strike-rate over fences and could surprise a few if fully wound-up. Others to consider include the enigmatic-but-talented Modus, Doitforthevillage and Azzerti but it’s hard to make a case for any of the unusually-small Irish contingent.
Janika (FR) 5-2fav (11-11) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway on outside 5th, switched left before 2 out, challenged last, soon led, headed narrowly flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 11, hd behind Siruh Du Lac (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Jan.
River Wylde (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, keen, blundered 11th, every chance when fell last, at Haydock 2m 6f (2) gd in Nov.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway 7th, slightly hampered 3 out, close 3rd next, kept on flat, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Kildisart (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Modus 12-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, some headway 6th, jumped slowly when towards rear 9th, hit 14th, ridden and no response before 2 out, never a factor, 7th of 10, 22 1/4l behind Walt (10-6) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Kalondra (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, took closer order halfway, chased leaders 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 6, dist behind Activial (11-1) at Haydock 2m 6f (2) gd in Nov.
Valseur Lido (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Held up in 5th, left 4th at 11th, not fluent 4 out, went 3rd next, ridden in 3rd entering straight, soon no impression on leaders, 3rd of 6, 16 1/2l behind Rathvinden (11-8) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f (1) Good - Yielding in Feb.
Kauto Riko (FR) 2-1fav (11-9) Held up in last pair, tracked leaders 5 out, mistake 3 out, ridden and stayed on to take narrow 3rd when hung left flat, no impression, 3rd of 5, 5 3/4l behind Beau Bay (10-9) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Bigmartre (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, driven and one pace when left 3rd 3 out, kept on, no impression after, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Magic Saint (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Polidam (FR) 28-1 (10-12) Mid-division, 7th halfway, pushed along early straight and no impression from 2 out, no extra, 7th of 18, 23l behind Invitation Only (11-6) at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp sft in Jan.
Bouvreuil (FR) 7-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, headway 6th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 7, 25 1/4l behind Cracking Find (10-3) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Siruh Du Lac (FR) 6-1 (10-9) Jumped superbly, always prominent, led 6th, headed soon after last, led again narrowly flat, stayed on, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Jan beating Janika (11-11) by hd, 11 ran.
Some Buckle (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Mostly jumped well, tracked leading pair, led 6th until next, in front again 9th, made rest, clear 4 out, stayed on strongly, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Apr beating Dream Bolt (10-9) by 9l, 6 ran.
Templehills (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Prominent, led before 6th, headed next, led 8th until 5 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 37 1/2l behind Doitforthevillage (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Doitforthevillage (IRE) 3-1fav (11-9) Held up in rear, hit 2nd, steady headway on outside chasing leaders before 2 out, hung left between last 2, switched right and kept on run-in, went never nearer 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Drumlee Sunset (11-4) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Prominent, slow 3rd, soon lost place, under pressure approaching 4 out, weakened after 2 out, last of 5, 19 1/2l behind Knockgraffon (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Testify (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Prominent on outside, jumped left and led 2nd, headed next, led 8th until 9th, no impression 4 out, 10th of 11, dist behind Daklondike (11-9) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Gardefort (FR) 17-2 (12-1) Slow 1st, soon chasing leaders on outside, jumped right and not much room 5th, mistake 7th, went close 2nd 13th, mistake 4 out, eventually unseated rider, at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Azzerti (FR) 1-10fav (11-4) Made all, not fluent 6th, hit 10th, came clear from out unchallenged, won at Ludlow 2m 4f (4) gd in Feb beating Mr Palmtree (10-12) by 7l, 3 ran.
Eamon An Cnoic (IRE) 3-1cfav (10-13) Mid-division, headway 6th, went 3rd after 4 out, 2nd last, soon led, ran on well, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Capeland (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Splash of Ginge 12-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 7th until8th, led 9th, soon headed, led 11th, headed 4 out, no extra from next, 8th of 11, 26 1/2l behind Daklondike (11-9) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
King's Odyssey (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, some headway when slightly hampered 5 out, no impression after, 6th of 11, 17 3/4l behind Doitforthevillage (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Didero Vallis (FR) 16-1 (10-8) Led and disputed, hit 11th, mistake and headed 4 out, chased leaders, weakened before next, 8th of 10, 24 3/4l behind Walt (10-6) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Ballyhill (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Held up in 4th place, went 3rd at 7th, outpaced and no chance with leading pair from 14th, mistake 2 out, tailed off, 3rd of 4, 36l behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-6) at Ascot 3m (1) gs in Feb.
Romain De Senam (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, went 3rd next, kept on same pace, no chance with leading duo, went left and hit last, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 10, 5 1/2l behind Walt (10-6) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
