prominent on outside, ridden between last 2, one pace before last, soon weakened
tracked leaders, switched inside and squeezed through to lead on bend between last 2, ridden and headed approaching last, one pace flat
tracked leaders on inside, ridden after 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, hit 6th, ridden before last, never pace to threaten leaders
held up behind, ridden after 2 out, never a threat
held up in rear, outpaced 2 out, stayed on under pressure into mid-division after last, never near leaders
led narrowly, headed after 2 out, ridden and lost place before last, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place when ridden after 2 out, weakened before last
held up behind, headway 2 out, driven to chase leaders between last 2, effort and close up when hit last, weakened flat
held up behind, smooth headway on outside after 3 out, chased leaders turning in, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 2 out
mid-division in touch, headway 2 out, tracked leaders going well turning in, not clear run and switched right to challenge when hit last, ridden to lead narrowly flat, stayed on well in sustained duel with runner-up, just held on
in touch, outpaced after 2 out, weakened last
held up behind, headway after 2 out, chased leaders and effort on inside before last, ridden and kept on same pace in 4th flat, no impression
in touch, headway after 2 out, ridden to chase leaders before last, kept on same pace, no impression
always towards rear, struggling 8th, lost touch 4 out, pulled up before next
held up behind, headway under pressure after 2 out, chased leaders towards stands side rail before last, kept on, not pace to challenge
in touch on inside, pushed along before 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, blundered 4 out, outpaced 2 out, never threatened leaders
tracked leaders, challenged between last 2, led narrowly when blundered last, ridden and headed narrowly flat, stayed on well in sustained duel with winner, just held
mid-division, lost place after 3 out, behind from next, tailed off
with leader, led briefly after 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance last, no extra and held in 3rd final 100 yards
mid-division, blundered 2 out, ridden and headway under pressure before last, kept on, not reach leaders
NonRunner
A maximum field for one of the week’s big betting heats. Ireland has won the last two, both trained by Patrick Kelly, but UK-based runners had won the previous nine. Mine Now just held off A Great View in a qualifier at Leopardstown in December but has gone up 10lb for that and it was the third, Glenloe, that was the eye-catcher that day. Protek Des Flos is a real mud-lover and preferred to stablemate and top weight Thomas Campbell but didn’t appear to get home behind Taj Badalandabad, who has disappointed since, at Wincanton. Louis' Vac Pouch has been saved for this since beating Forza Milan at Aintree in November but does have a 13lb rise to contend with. Lovenormoney is a stronger stayer than stable companion Boite and can’t have the ground soft enough. Though a modest run here in January is slightly off-putting, he has won at Chepstow and Exeter this season and should give supporters a run for their money at decent odds. DELTA WORK is running in only his third handicap and may be ready to strike. He didn’t get the run of the race at Punchestown last month, when finishing alongside Sort It Out, and Davy Russell returns to the saddle. Sykes has not run a bad race this season and should give his small stable a good day out, though looks a few pounds too high now.
Thomas Campbell 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders to 3rd, towards rear, outpaced 2 out, never on terms, weakened last, 6th of 9, 26l behind Agrapart (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m (1) hvy in Jan.
Who Dares Wins (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Tracked leading pair, 2nd 3 out, led narrowly and hit 2 out, joined last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Bags Groove (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Boite (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Led, mistake and headed 4 out, every chance when fell 3 out, at Haydock 2m 7f (1) hvy in Feb.
Mine Now (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, 15th at 8th, good headway from before final hurdle to lead into straight and went on, kept on well and reduced lead inside final furlong, all out, won at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec beating A Great View (10-5) by shd, 29 ran.
Dell' Arca (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) In rear, ridden after 11th, behind next, 6th of 7, 21 1/2l behind Cobra De Mai (11-1) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 5-2fav (10-6) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, challenged last, soon led, stayed on well, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Forza Milan (10-2) by 2 1/4l, 10 ran.
Sykes (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Prominent, led after 7th, driven and headed flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Black Ivory (10-10) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Lovenormoney (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Led to 3rd, with leader, led again narrowly 5th, ridden and headed narrowly 3 out, rallied and upsides last, led again flat, kept on gamely, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Feb beating Solomn Grundy (11-5) by 6l, 8 ran.
Wait For Me (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Behind, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge 2 out, staying on same pace when left in 3rd at last, 3rd of 11, 15 1/4l behind Protek Des Flos (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Prime Venture (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, never on terms, 13th of 17, 20 1/2l behind Topofthegame (11-7) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Sort It Out (IRE) 40-1 (11-9) Held up, slightly slow jump 2nd, 10th from 8th, no impression from 3 out, kept on well without threatening straight, disputed 3rd on line, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Kilfenora (11-1) at Punchestown 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Delta Work (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Mid-division early, 7th from 8th, closer in 4th before straight, no impression when slight mistake last, kept on without threatening run-in in 3rd, joined for 3rd on line, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Kilfenora (11-1) at Punchestown 3m hcp Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Theo's Charm (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 4 out, soon headed, every chance last, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Tommy Rapper (11-1) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Taj Badalandabad (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Towards rear most of way, tailed off, 15th of 17, dist behind Topofthegame (11-7) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Whataknight 16-1 (11-12) Prominent on inside, slow and lost place 7th, well beaten before 2 out, last of 8, 29l behind Boyhood (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Forza Milan (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 3rd, hit 8th, 2nd after next, challenged 2 out, led last, headed and not pace of winner 150 yards out, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind The Organist (11-3) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
The Mighty Don (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, challenged before 2 out, ridden between last 2, upsides and every chance when mistake last, one pace flat, rallied towards finish, just held, 2nd of 14, nk behind Kings Walk (10-11) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Protek Des Flos (FR) 11-8fav (10-8) Mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 4 out, soon ridden, closed 3 out, 3rd 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 10 1/2l behind Taj Badalandabad (10-1) at Huntingdon 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Kansas City Chief (IRE) 11-4fav (11-11) Always prominent, disputed lead 3 out, ridden after next, kept on and every chance last, no extra and held flat, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Jeannot De Nonant (11-10) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Glenloe (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Mid-division early, moderate 14th after 4th, good headway from before final hurdle and moderate 5th into straight, soon chased winner and one pace, 3rd of 29, 7 1/2l behind Mine Now (11-0) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Dec.
Dadsintrouble (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, no extra before last, weakened flat, lost modest 4th near finish, 5th of 8, 27 3/4l behind Lovenormoney (11-10) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Connetable (FR) 11-2 (10-12) Prominent until after 1st, chased leaders, lost place after 7th, well behind 3 out, 8th of 11, 35 3/4l behind Carnspindle (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
A Great View (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Held up, closer in 9th approaching 2 out, soon chased leaders and one pace, 5th of 16, 22 3/4l behind Total Recall (10-4) at Leopardstown 3m hcp sft in Feb.
Shantou Bob (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) In touch, went 2nd before 6th, ridden before 3out, weakened before last, 6th of 11, 12l behind Tommy Rapper (11-1) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
