never closer than mid-division, dropped towards rear and struggling 12th, tailed off 13th, pulled up after 4 out
mostly chased leader, chased new leader from 14th, pushed along before 3 out, lost 2nd before 2 out, plugged on in 3rd
towards rear most of way, ridden before 3 out, never on terms, tailed off
mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, led on inside 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly
mid-division on inside, blundered badly 7th, pushed along before 12th, soon lost place, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after
off the pace in 6th on inside, pushed along chasing leaders 4 out, plugged on in 4th from next
always towards rear, never on terms
always rear-division, tailed off 14th, pulled up after 4 out
chased leaders out wide, pushed along before 3 out, weakened soon after
off the pace in 5th, went left 10th, mid-division when fell 4 out
off the pace in mid-division, hit 4 out and slightly hampered, went badly left and hit 2 out, kept on run-in
towards rear, tailed off when blundered 13th, pulled up after 4 out
well in rear, blundered last, never involved
towards rear, no chance when slightly hampered by faller 4 out
led, hit 4th, headed before 13th, lost 2nd next, weakened before 3 out
blundered 1st, chased leaders, led before 13th, headed 2 out, stayed on same pace in 2nd
always towards rear
NonRunner
Colin Tizzard has trained the winner of this Grade 3 twice in the last five years, including with Mister Malarky 12 months ago. The eight-year-old won a Listed race at Ascot two runs ago but was behind Cap Du Nord and The Butcher Said in the Sky Bet at Doncaster last month and has had wind surgery since. Slate House gives the Tizzards a second string to their bow and Romain De Senam came back to form over 2m4f at Musselburgh but was only eighth in this last year. Black Corton is a pound lower than when runner-up last year but his jumping has gone to pieces lately. Double Shuffle ended a losing run over track and trip seven weeks ago but could only finish seventh last season. CLONDAW CASTLE, bidding to give Tom George a third win in this, is racing over 3m for the first time under Rules but has placed over 2m4f in Grade 2 races the last twice and this is one track on which stamina is not a critical factor. Al Dancer also has decent claims upped in trip, though appears closely matched with Southfield Stone who will appreciate this better surface.
Black Corton (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, jumped left and mistake 4th (water), not fluent 7th, mistake 9th and 12th, weakened 4 out, pulled up after 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Mister Malarky 25-1 (11-12) Several mistakes, led until 5th, led again 7th, mistake and headed 10th, ridden to lead again before next, headed after 13th, weakened quickly next, 7th of 11, dist behind Takingrisks (11-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Talkischeap (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Mid-division, good headway between horses over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 3rd close home, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Strong Glance (11-4) at Lingfield 2m (4) pol in Feb.
Clondaw Castle (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up 3rd, left tracking winner 2nd, closer 10th, pushed along and lost 2nd before 3 out, went 2nd again 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Master Tommytucker (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gs in Jan.
Al Dancer (FR) 5-1fav (11-9) Held up in mid-division, lost place when hampered 5th, some headway 12th, no impression, mistake 3 out, soon well behind, 9th of 17, dist behind Chatham Street Lad (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Romain De Senam (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Mid-division, closed 4th, led next, headed after 8th, led 11th, clear before 4 out, not fluent last, easily, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Schiehallion Munro (11-10) by 12l, 11 ran.
Slate House (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 4th, went second 4 out, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, weakening when bad blunder and lost second at last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 6, 11 1/2l behind Capeland (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Delire D'Estruval (FR) 25-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, soon headway, led before last, kept on run-in, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Drumconnor Lad (11-7) by 1/2l, 20 ran.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Raced wide chasing leaders, 2nd going well before 3 out, challenged next, over 1 length down when led last, stayed on gamely, won at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan beating Ami Desbois (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Southfield Stone 15-8fav (11-4) Led 11f, tracked leader, led again on inside well over 1f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on well, won at Kempton 2m (4) pol in Feb beating Didtheyleaveuoutto (11-4) by 1l, 6 ran.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 4-1fav (10-9) Mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders when hit 13th, ridden disputing 2nd 3 out, blundered next, outright 2nd at the last, ridden and no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 11, 3 3/4l behind Takingrisks (11-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Young Wolf (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, towards rear when mistake 8th, well behind from 12th, 10th of 14, dist behind Dashel Drasher (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
The Butcher Said (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Patiently ridden in last pair, good headway tracking leaders approaching 14th, 4th and held when blundered 3 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 11, 34l behind Takingrisks (11-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Soupy Soups (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Towards rear, not fluent 4th, mistake next, last 7th, tailed off 10th, soon pulled up, at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Mellow Ben (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Jumped left, led, mistake 10th, headed 13th, no extra in 5th before 3 out, went 4th towards finish, 4th of 11, 30 3/4l behind Royale Pagaille (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Erick Le Rouge (FR) 10-3 (11-9) Chased leader until 4th, went 2nd again before 8th, lost 2nd briefly next, hit 11th and dropped to 3rd, weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 22 1/2l behind Smarty Wild (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Held up and behind, hampered 12th, never really on terms after, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 15, dist behind Seeyouatmidnight (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Aso (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Led narrowly, headed 2nd, close up 11th, ridden to press leader 3 out, stayed on strongly flat, just denied, 2nd of 12, nk behind Two For Gold (11-6) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
