held up in mid-division, headway 8th, disputing 7th when mistake 2 out, soon held, weakened last
mid-division on inside, lost place from 6th, badly hampered 9th, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, behind after 4 out, never involved
behind, switched left approaching 3 out, headway 2 out, 6th when pecked last, went 3rd towards finish, stayed on well, nearest finish
chased leaders on inside, closed going well 3 out, challenged last, soon led and quickened 2 lengths clear, reduced lead towards finish, just held on
held up in mid-division, towards rear when slightly hampered 9th, behind 4 out
prominent, every chance after 3 out, mistake and weakened last
led until 4th, prominent, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
wide and slow 1st, closed to chase leaders before 3rd, driven after 4 out, weakened next
mid-division, pushed along and effort after 3 out, no impression on leaders and not fluent 2 out
held up in mid-division, fell 9th
held up rear of mid-division, mistake 2nd, badly hampered 9th, pulled up before next
held up in mid-division, headway 7th, 6th and chasing leaders when blundered 2 out, stayed on well from last, went 2nd last, finished well, just held
chased leaders, challenged after 3 out, led next, headed just after last, lost 3rd and no extra towards finish
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, steady headway on outside from 4 out, disputing 7th when mistake 2 out, no impression, weakened last
held up towards rear, headway going strongly before 3 out, driven and edged right before last, held and edged left flat, kept on
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, lost place 7th, hampered 9th, well behind after
with leader, led 4th, not fluent 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened inside final 100 yards
held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, badly hampered 9th, well behind next
NonRunner
It’s not difficult to envisage Ashutor running well in a race like this after an outing over a trip too far at Fontwell last month. Stablemate Duc Des Genievres won the Arkle here in 2019 but hasn’t scored since and Glen Forsa is more attractively weighted. Amoola Gold couldn’t get to Sky Pirate, who runs in this rather than the Arkle, at Warwick but lost a shoe on the way around and is 4lb better off. This is always run at a fast pace and there are several front-runners in opposition again. Charlie Deutsch will need to pick his way through the field on IBLEO but his mount is improving fast and conditions may have turned in his favour. He had too much pace for The Big Bite at Doncaster last time and the runner-up would probably have won a Grade 3 at Newbury earlier this month had he not veered on the run-in. Sandown winner Moonlighter is one of those who will be up with the pace but Chosen Mate is 9lb higher than when successful 12 months ago, though the talented Jordan Gainford takes off 7lb so it would be no surprise to see him in the firing-line. Embittered, third in last year’s County Hurdle, has been highly tried and makes his handicap debut over fences while Entoucas also warrants a market check, though this is a tough race in which to record a first victory over the larger obstacles.
Duc Des Genievres (FR) 18-1 (11-7) Held up and behind, not much room 9th, well beaten when blundered 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind First Flow (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Sizing Pottsie (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Towards rear, 4th 4 out, pushed along and no impression after 2 out, no extra in rear approaching last, eased run-in, 5th of 6, dist behind Chacun Pour Soi (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Feb.
Chosen Mate (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, progress into mid-division before 3 out, ridden towards rear 2 out, soon no impression, 16th of 22, 37l behind Off You Go (10-8) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp sft in Feb.
Ibleo (FR) 6-5fav (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led after next, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan beating The Big Bite (11-9) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Sky Pirate 3-1 (11-0) Chased leader, ridden after 3 out, jumped left last, no extra flat, 2nd of 4, 17l behind Allmankind (11-3) at Warwick 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Bun Doran (IRE) 80-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place before 7th, struggling next, soon well behind, pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Us And Them (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, dropped to 7th and ridden 3 out, no impression, 7th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Impact Factor (11-3) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp sft in Nov.
Moonlighter 13-2 (10-12) Chasing leaders out wide when stumbled badly and almost unseated rider 1st, tracked leader after next, led next, made rest, went left 3 out, 1/2 length ahead last, ridden and stayed on gamely run-in, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Feb beating Dolos (11-12) by 1l, 7 ran.
Glen Forsa (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 4th, mistake 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 6, 17 1/2l behind Capeland (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Amoola Gold (GER) 11-4 (11-9) Chased leaders, went 3rd from 8th, ridden 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Sky Pirate (11-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Embittered (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd 4 out, ridden early straight and no impression in 4th before last, no extra run-in, 4th of 9, 22 3/4l behind Energumene (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Feb.
Zanza (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 10th, went close 2nd when fell 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Entoucas (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway to dispute lead 6th, slight mistake and headed 4 out, remained prominent and ridden to challenge before last, no extra final 100 yards, 4th of 20, 6 1/4l behind A Wave Of The Sea (10-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb.
On The Slopes 2-1 (11-0) Led, quickened 3f out, pushed along over 2f out, headed over 1f out, lost 2nd entering final furlong, weakened inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Earlofthecotswolds (11-0) at Kempton 2m (4) pol in Feb.
Ashutor (FR) 16-5 (11-8) Chased leader, close up 7th, restrained behind leader 10th, ridden after 3 out, hit last, no extra flat, 2nd of 4, 9l behind High Up In The Air (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Not That Fuisse (FR) 13-8fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, made headway going well over 4f out, led on bridle over 1f out, ridden for effort 1f out, ran on well, comfortably, won at Newcastle 2m (4) pol in Feb beating Onthefrontfoot (11-0) by 3 1/4l, 13 ran.
Western Miller (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Led until over 2f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off, 9th of 10, 24 3/4l behind Ecco (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f (4) pol in Feb.
Capuccimix (FR) 33-1 (10-8) Prominent, 2nd halfway and led 4 out, ridden early straight and headed when pecked badly last, no extra run-in, 7th of 20, 16 1/4l behind A Wave Of The Sea (10-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb.
Or Jaune De Somoza (FR) 40-1 (10-8) Mid-division, 10th 3 out, pushed along after next and 8th approaching last, kept on run-in, 6th of 20, 8 3/4l behind A Wave Of The Sea (10-3) at Leopardstown 2m 1f hcp sft in Feb.
Theinval (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Held up rear of mid-division, took keen hold, headway on outside over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Thibault (11-0) at Lingfield 2m (4) pol in Feb.
