not always fluent and sometimes jumped slowly, chased leaders, lost place after 6th, mistake 8th, struggling before 3 out, well behind 2 out
mostly tracked leader, hit 6th, not fluent and lost 2nd 9th, not fluent 3 out, ridden and lost place before next, well behind when pulled up before last
held up in rear, hit 6th and 7th, headway when not fluent 2 out, not able to get on terms, weakened before last
led, niggled along after 9th, headed between last 2, 4th and beaten when jumped left last, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, headway 2 out, tracking leaders in 5th on home bend, soon weakened
mostly close 3rd, went 2nd at the 9th, led between last 2, went left and being pressed last, headed flat, stayed on, edged right inside final 75 yards, held close home
held up towards rear, headway between last 2, switched right before pressing for close 2nd last, led flat, stayed on strongly
mid-division, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
mid-division, mistake 9th, headway approaching 2 out, chasing leaders on home bend, weakened before last
mid-division, headway 7th, close 3rd 2 out, ridden and every chance last, drifted right flat, no extra towards finish
chased leaders, hit 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, closed 8th, not fluent 3 out, soon pushed along briefly, effort 2 out, weakened off home bend, 7th and well held when hit last
NonRunner
NonRunner
UNOWHATIMEANHARRY (NAP) is impossible to oppose as he bids for back-to-back wins at The Festival. He’s won his last eight and has carried all before him in the staying ranks since landing last year’s Albert Bartlett over track and trip. Cole Harden, West Approach and Ballyoptic all had every chance behind Harry Fry’s stable star in the Cleeve Hurdle here in January and he’d trounced Lil Rockerfeller and Un Temps Pour Tout in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot before that. The latter, along with Yanworth and The New One, must be considered doubtful runners having already run at the meeting. Shaneshill may prove the pick of the Irish runners as he beat Snow Falcon at Gowran in January, though 2014 Champion Hurdle winner Jezki did once beat Hurricane Fly over 3m and has won eight times at the highest level. Stamina could be an issue for Nichols Canyon, however.
Agrapart (FR) 11-8fav (11-10) Tracked leader, mistake 7 out, soon led, ridden before and not fluent 2 out, kept on and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Zarkandar (11-2) at Haydock 2m 7f (1) gs in Feb.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 6th, headed after normal 2 out, 4th and one pace bypassing omitted last, 4th of 15, 9 1/4l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Clondaw Warrior (IRE) 11-10fav (11-3) Held up in rear, progress 3 out and close 4th entering straight, pushed along in 3rd approaching last, ridden and no impression run-in, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Shaneshill (11-3) at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Cole Harden (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Led until 6th, led after 2 out, headed before omitted last, held after, stayed on, 2nd of 15, 1 3/4l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Jezki (IRE) 2-5fav (11-1) Raced in 3rd, 2nd approaching 3 out, challenged next, soon pushed along, under pressure and hit last, kept on without matching winner run-in, no extra close home, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Tombstone (11-1) at Gowran Park 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Lil Rockerfeller (USA) 11-4 (11-8) Held up, in 5th, not fluent 2nd, closed next, ridden from 5th, 4th and beaten when jumped left and not fluent last, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 13 1/4l behind Agrapart (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (1) sft in Jan.
Nichols Canyon 7-4 (11-10) Tracked leader, closed up approaching 2 out where jumped right, soon under pressure, not match winner and almost joined for 2nd when fell last, at Leopardstown 2m (1) gd in Jan.
Shaneshill (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Chased leader, left in lead 3rd, ridden after 2 out, under pressure and kept on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan beating Snow Falcon (11-8) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Snow Falcon (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, pushed along in 2nd after 3 out, ridden after 2 out and no impression on winner last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Shaneshill (11-3) at Gowran Park 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Unowhatimeanharry 10-11fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway 4th, close 3rd normal 3 out, challenged after next, led before omitted last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan beating Cole Harden (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
West Approach 14-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, slow 7th and pushed along briefly, headway and switched right after normal 2 out, 3rd bypassing omitted last, no impression on winner, stayed on, 3rd of 15, 3 1/4l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Zarkandar (IRE) 9-4 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 8th, led 2 out, mistake last, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 7f (1) gs in Feb beating Aux Ptits Soins (11-2) by 3 3/4l, 5 ran.
Dedigout (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, pushed along in 7th 3 out, soon no impression, kept on one paced from last, 5th of 9, 11 1/4l behind Sutton Place (11-8) at Navan 2m 5f (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
The New One (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, hit 4th, hit 4 out and lost 2nd, 2nd again before 3 out until approaching 2 out, outpaced and no impression before last, stayed on again without threatening flat, 5th of 11, 10 1/2l behind Buveur D'air (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
Un Temps Pour Tout (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, virtually upsides 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on well under pressure to lead narrowly closing stages, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar beating Singlefarmpayment (10-13) by shd, 23 ran.
Yanworth 2-1fav (11-10) Tracked leaders on inside, outpaced after 3 out, 9th and looking well held 2 out, plugged on flat, no impression, 7th of 11, 13 3/4l behind Buveur D'air (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gs in Mar.
