soon behind, pushed along after 6th, detatched next, pulled up before 5 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 10th, chased leaders next, led 2 out, headed last, no extra flat
tracked leader, led 5 out, headed 2 out, rallied last, kept on well
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5 out, weakened 3 out
mid-division, headway 11th, chased leaders next, every chance 2 out, led last, ran on well
held up towards rear, never jumped well, blundered badly 5 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, under pressure 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up 3 out
in touch, lost place 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out
held up towards rear, under pressure before 5 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last
in rear, mistake 1st, fell 5 out
in touch, headway to track leader approaching 5th, every chance when not fluent 3 out, weakened after 2 out
in touch, chased leaders 3 out, driven to challenge next, stayed on same pace flat
led, mistake 6th, hit 5 out, soon headed, weakening when not fluent next, soon pulled up
NonRunner
Paul Nicholls, responsible for six of the last eight winners of this Grade 3 handicap, holds a strong hand again. ART MAURESQUE was beaten less than seven lengths when sixth in the Paddy Power in November. He didn't reproduce that form at Cheltenham next time but has been dropped 3lb since and will be a threat to all following a break. Stablemate Sametegal makes his handicap debut off a potentially lenient mark but Ultragold's victory at Wincanton two weeks ago came over 2m and Bennys Mist is probably being aimed at next month's Topham again. Generous Ransom was well behind the selection in the Paddy Power but showed that form to be all wrong when a staying-on fifth at Doncaster subsequently. He was third at The Festival last year off today's mark and looks a danger if back to that form. Little Jon won here in November but is error-prone and looks held on subsequent form. Vicomte Du Seuil may prove the pick of Emmanuel Clayeux' two raiders.
Shutthefrontdoor (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, stayed on to take 3rd before last, edged left and no impression flat, 3rd of 7, 8 1/2l behind Broxbourne (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Pythagore 5-1 (10-12) won at Pau 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Feb beating Al Bucq (10-12) by 9l, 9 ran.
Bennys Mist (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Led, soon joined, not fluent 2nd, headed 6 out, rallied after 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 10, 7 1/4l behind Dare Me (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Art Mauresque (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden in 5th before 2 out, not fluent last, weakened flat, 7th of 14, 23 1/2l behind Village Vic (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Sametegal (FR) 1-2fav (11-3) Tracked leader, mistake 4th, not fluent next, led 6th, driven after 3 out, 3 lengths clear flat, headed close home, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Five In A Row (10-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f (3) sft in Feb.
Little Jon 8-1 (10-9) Prominent, mistake 5th, not fluent 7th, blundered 9th, outpaced 11th, 6th and weakening 2 out, last of 11, 37 1/2l behind Village Vic (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Un Beau Roman (FR) 50-1 (11-0) In touch, in 4th, weakened before 4 out, modest 4th, last of 4, dist behind Top Gamble (11-5) at Newbury 2m (1) sft in Feb.
Off The Ground (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, about a length down and staying on when fell 2 out, at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Generous Ransom (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, no impression, 5th of 10, 20 1/4l behind Sego Success (11-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Vicomte Du Seuil (FR) 6-4fav (10-10) 2nd of 9, 2l behind Utah De La Coquais (10-10) at Pau 2m 1f sft in Feb.
Ultragold (FR) 2-1fav (10-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, closed 6th, 2nd from next, led before 4 out, clear 2 out, mistake last, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Gardefort (11-10) by 17l, 5 ran.
Aerlite Supreme (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 10, 25 1/4l behind Dare Me (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Laser Hawk (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Led, jumped left at times, slowed into 3 out and mistake, headed next, 3rd and no extra when mistake last, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Pressurize (10-3) at Taunton 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Seventh Sky (GER) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, jumped left 12th, lost place 18th, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Le Reve (11-4) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
