chased leaders and ran freely early, led 1st, slight mistake 4 out, pressed before next, attempted to run out and unseated rider 3 out
led early, headed 1st, improved to challenge before 3 out where left in lead, slightly hampered by loose horse before 2 out where slight mistake, ridden to assert before last, kept on strongly, easily
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, behind and fell 3rd
soon chased leaders in 3rd, left 2nd 3 out, ridden 2 out, no impression on winner before last, kept on same pace
settled 4th, left 3rd and slightly hampered 3 out, ridden before 2 out and no impression, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, slight mistake 2nd, behind from 3rd, tailed off before 5 out, never a factor, completely tailed off
Gordon Elliott has won two of the last three and should take it again with CLARCAM. A former classy hurdler, he's developed into a very smart chaser with a victory in last year's Grade 1 Manifesto at Aintree the highlight and comes here on the back of a Grade 3 success at Killarney. The veteran Strongpoint is also much better known as a chaser these days though he hasn't run well in handicaps on this track in his last two starts. His third place behind The New One at Haydock last year is the best recent piece of form over timber here. Yes Sir Brian is penalised for beating a big field of maidens on heavy ground at Fairyhouse and faces a stiff task while the remaining trio all have plenty to find.
Yes Sir Brian (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Close up, soon raced in 3rd, not fluent 3rd, led into straight, pressed and joined 2 out, soon headed and no extra, weakened and eased run-in, 7th of 8, dist behind Ball D'arc (11-3) at Naas 2m (1) Soft - Heavy in Feb.
Clarcam (FR) 10-3 (11-2) Chased leader, disputed 2nd from 5th, 2nd before 6 out, challenged 3 out, led next, ridden to assert before last where length advantage, kept on well run-in, won at Killarney 2m 5f (1) gd in May beating The Game Changer (10-13) by 2 1/4l, 4 ran.
Ranjaan (FR) 25-1 (11-10) In rear, never a factor, 9th 3 out, pushed along and no impression approaching next, moderate 7th before last, kept on one pace, 7th of 10, 31 1/2l behind Coolaghknock Glebe (11-7) at Down Royal 2m 2f hcp hvy in Feb.
Run With The Wind (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Close up, mistake 9th, ridden and soon lost place, weakened after 4 out, blundered 2 out, soon pulled up, at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Strongpoint (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, ridden in 3rd 3 out, 5th 2 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 12 1/2l behind Kylestyle (11-5) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp gd in May.
Heartheecho (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Towards rear, jumped left 2nd and soon slipped up, at Downpatrick 2m 2f mdn gd in Jun.
