behind, slightly hampered 2nd, pushed along 6th, blundered 3 out, no chance when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
held up, soon pushed along, some headway 9th, never on terms
ridden 6th, always towards rear
with leaders, not fluent 3rd and 5th, weakened after 3 out
prominent until weakened approaching 10th
with leaders, led approaching 6th, headed 4 out, weakened after next
mid-division, some headway 5th, mistake 7th, never near leaders
held up, headway approaching 8th, 6th and staying on when fell 9th
always prominent, hung left and led 2 out, headed last, no extra final 100 yards
always behind, mistake 4 out
held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 3rd
always behind, lost touch 6th, pulled up before 9th
blundered and unseated rider 2nd
held up, headway 10th, challenged going well 2 out, led last, kept on well
in touch, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 4 out, one pace and no impression from 2 out
held up, steady headway 9th, eighth and staying on steadily when fell 4 out
held up in touch, in mid-division when hampered and brought down 9th
in touch, ridden and gradually weakened after 10th
led, hit 5th, headed before next, weakened after 10th
mid-division, not fluent 7th, mistake next, headway 9th, one pace when jumped left 3 out, soon beaten
prominent, hit 7th, went 2nd 10th, led 4 out, not fluent next, headed 2 out, weakened last
Younger horses have a very good record in this race and last year's winner Palarshan looks have had his season built around this repeat bid and he will be very hard to master if he puts in anything like his gutsy effort from last term. However, he is 13lb higher in the handicap this time around and will need to be at the top of his game to hold-off all comers today. St Pirran, Simply Gifted and Got One Too along with Irish raiders Strong Run and Ground Ball are just a handful that are capable of rising to the challenge when the gauntlet is thrown and each one of the quintet is worth monitoring for solid support before the off. Whereas time appears to have caught up with the Martin Pipe-trained Wahiba Sands and it will be a terrific effort if he can be lifted home to record the eleventh win of his career at this level today. The champion trainer also relies upon Hit And Run, Seebald, Tango Royal and Latalomne, who would all have solid chances were they to put in anything like their previous best - especially the last-named if the switch to this course at Cheltenham can break his Festival hoodoo. However, he has not shown much in his starts this season and, like most of his stablemates here, is opposable for win only purposes today. Seebald - although as game as they come - also looks to have a mountain to climb as he has to hump 11st-10lb as the top weight today. St Pirran, as a lightly raced gelding, has to be respected after his victory in a valuable handicap at Ascot earlier in the season. The son of Be My Native is open to plenty of improvement and has a good turn of foot when he is firing on all cylinders. On the downside is the form of Paul Nicholls runners on day-one of the Festival and it may be prudent to check the market vibes before getting heavily involved with the nine-year-old. Therefore, Got One Too and Simply Gifted are fancied to give Palarshan the most to do. The last-named is at the right end of the handicap and is just preferred as the one open to the most improvement over fences. Jonjo O'Neill has been very patient with the former inmate of Tim Easterby's and there will be no doubting that the eight-year-old will be going hell-for-leather in only his second start since December 2001. In contrast, Palarshan has been placed to good effect to keep him fresh for this race and arrives here with glowing reports from his work put in at home. The son of Darshaan had a similar preparation before his game victory in last year's renewal - where even trouble in running did nothing to put then five-year-old off his stride. That experience underlined his liking for racing at this course and the Henry Daly-trained gelding will be a popular selection as he bids to land the longest-standing race at the Festival meeting for the second year running.
