always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders until fell 3rd
led until 3rd, prominent, chased winner from 11th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
chased leader until 11th, soon behind, pulled up before 14th
towards rear when fell 3rd
mid-division, hit 15th, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly flat, led close home
prominent, led 9th, soon clear, ridden after 2 out, 10 lengths clear last, weakened flat, headed close home
never better than mid-division
behind from 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 15th
in touch, headway approaching 8th, weakened 14th, tailed off and pulled up before last
prominent, led 3rd until 9th, blundered badly next, ridden and weakened after 15th
mid-division, steady headway from 14th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
towards rear, steady headway from 12th, ridden approaching 3 out, 4th and weakening when fell last
mid-division until weakened after 16th, behind when blundered 2 out
mid-division, ridden after 16th, stayed on, not reach leaders
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
held up behind, badly hampered 3rd, not recover, pulled up before 12th
chased leaders until 8th, behind from 12th, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, ridden after 15th, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, badly hampered 3rd, weakening when blundered 15th, pulled up before 3 out
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 14th
Martin Pipe saddles no less than seven of the 24 runners here, including last year's winner Royal Predica, but Ibis Rochelais may be the one to be on this time. There are a whole host of other possibles to take into account, but Ibis Rochelais, a ten-length second last year, has by all accounts been trained with this in mind, and has been given the kid-glove treatment by Albert Ennis, having only returned to the fray just over three weeks ago when third to Prominent Profile at Sandown. He is expected to turn the tables on Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge and also on Innox who was a place ahead of him in second. Jockeyship is always a big factor in this amateurs-only event and the fact that Tom Greenall is in the plate inspires confidence as well. Finding Martin Pipe's best entry is a real conundrum, but Royal Predica will line up four pounds lower than last year, while the formerly top-class Toto Toscato has been working well, but even with the trainer's incredible record of getting them fit first time, surely a four-year absence is too much. Mondial Jack's age is against him as only one horse younger than seven has ever reached the frame, but Hours has the credentials to take a hand if his jumping does not let him down. Dominikus is another that has not been seen for some time, but his Perth victory was not at all bad, while of the Venetia Williams pair Ballyconnel and Jasmin Guichois, preference is for the latter, who, along with Jonjo O'Neill's Wagner, makes some appeal for a place. Royal Predica's 33-1 victory last year was the biggest shock in the race's history, but that should not happen here, and with ticks in all the right boxes as regards age, weight and past record, Ibis Rochelais should go very close indeed.
