mid-division, closed before 3rd, not fluent 4th, went 3rd last, driven flat, stayed on well, went 2nd towards finish, unable to challenge winner
mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, went 4th towards finish, never able to get on terms with leaders
led until 4th, led after 3 out, driven and edged right after last, soon edged left, stayed on gamely
held up in touch, ridden and outpaced after out, no impression
held up towards rear, closed when not fluent 4 out, 6th last, weakened flat
prominent, led 4th until after 3 out, weakened next, pulled up before last
held up in rear, pushed along after 4 out, stayed on flat, never nearer
held up in rear, mistake 2 out, plugged on flat, no impression
held up in touch, jumped slowly 3rd, ridden before 2 out, 4th when hit last, stayed on same pace flat
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 3rd, headway after next, 5th last, no extra flat
prominent, not always fluent, challenged 4th, hit 4 out, lost place before 3 out
tracked leaders, every chance when not fluent 2 out, lost place before last, weakened
mid-division, hampered on bend after 4 out, ridden and stayed on approaching last, unable to get on terms
held up in rear, shaken up after 4 out, no headway
held up in mid-division, headway 4 out, close up when mistake 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner and lost 2nd towards finish
Nonrunner
Vaniteux has leading claims on his third in the Supreme Novices' here in March. He'll be straight enough to do himself justice while Clondaw Warrior is fresh from winning Leopardstown's November Handicap on the Flat though it's been some time since he won over hurdles. Pearl Swan has form at the course and returns from a lengthy absence but stablemate and Fred Winter runner-up Katgary makes more appeal. The latter looked to need his comeback run at Aintree when a long way behind third-placed GARDE LA VICTOIRE. Philip Hobbs knows what it takes to win this competitive handicap and his charge was well ahead of Blue Heron when scoring over these hurdles back in April. Exitas, Goodwood Mirage and Roman Flight all have a rise in the weights to contend with and Olofi has lost his way since winning this in 2012.
Vaniteux (FR) 11-1 (11-7) In touch, effort after 2 out, ridden and stayed on to dispute 2nd flat, no impression with winner, 3rd of 18, 7l behind Vautour (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Blue Heron (IRE) 10-3 (11-4) Tracked leaders, joined leader 3rd, led narrowly 3 out, driven and hard pressed approaching next, ridden clear between last 2, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m Listed nov hdl (1) gs in Oct beating Parlour Games (11-6) by 4l, 6 ran.
Garde La Victoire (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up in rear, hampered 5th, headway after next, challenged 3 out, blundered 2 out and last, led flat, soon headed, stayed on same pace towards finish, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Hawk High (11-10) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Roman Flight (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) In touch, headway after 3 out, chased leader between last two, led approaching last, ridden and ran on, won at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating De Faoithesdream (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Baltimore Rock (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, still at back of field but in touch when mistake 3 out, closed to track leaders next, one pace and no impression on front pair last, lost 3rd final 100 yards, 4th of 10, 10l behind Josses Hill (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Apr.
Pearl Swan (FR) 10-1 (10-13) Led until 2nd, chased leaders until ridden and weakened aproaching 3 out, 17th of 21, well behind My Tent Or Yours (11-2) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb '13.
Mijhaar 9-2fav (11-11) In touch on outside, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, 13th of 17, 28l behind Exitas (9-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Sep.
Katgary (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, close up 5th, lost place 2 out, 8th of 9, 29l behind Hawk High (11-10) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Pine Creek 14-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway on inside approaching 2 out, hung right and weakened flat, 7th of 20, 21l behind Willow's Saviour (10-5) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Olofi (FR) 5-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pressing for 3 lengths 2nd when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Muldoon's Picnic (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd in Apr '13, 6 ran.
Baradari (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Held up in mid-division, headway tracking leaders 4 out, hit next, 3rd between last two, ridden and stayed on same pace run in, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Sign Of A Victory (10-12) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd.
Raven's Tower (USA) 12-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, switched right and headway approaching 2 out, unable to get on terms, stayed on same pace flat, 7th of 13, 6l behind Dispour (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Exitas (IRE) 10-3fav (11-2) Behind, smooth headway 3 out, led after 2 out, jumped badly left last, ran on strongly, won at Sandown 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft beating Kashmir Peak (11-10) by 8l, 11 ran.
Regal Encore (IRE) 2-1fav (10-8) Held up towards rear and keen, effort before 2 out, never dangerous, 4th of 12, 16l behind Shelford (10-4) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Clondaw Warrior (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Always prominent, led before 3 out, ridden clear next, strongly pressed last, headed entering straight, kept on under pressure run-in, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Magnetic Force (11-2) at Downpatrick 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-116 gd in Aug '13.
Goodwood Mirage (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway when hampered 3 out, switched left before last, led flat, held on, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Lightening Rod (10-7) by nk, 15 ran.
Eagle Rock (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Led until 4th, left in lead next, headed 2 out, still every chance flat, edged right and no impression towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Hawk High (11-10) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
