held up, pushed along well before 2 out, soon beaten, hit last
held up in rear, good headway on inside approaching 2 out, soon challenging, led before last, driven, in command final 100 yards
keen hold, held up in touch, jumped slowly, dropped to rear 4th, effort on inside approaching 2 out, weakened before last
very free to post, keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden well before 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader, narrow lead after 2nd, headed well before 2 out, weakened quickly
held up, smooth headway well before 2 out, upsides, every chance last, driven, found no extra final 100 yards
led to after 2nd, chased leader, regained lead well before 2 out, hung left, headed before last, stayed on same pace run-in
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, one pace, not much room approaching last, rallied under pressure run-in
Faasel has an 11lb pull with Noble Request on their running at Ayr last week and the Nicky Richards-trained gelding is taken to reverse the form with Darrias potentially the most interesting of the remainder. The selection has not progressed as much as may have been anticipated this term but showed enough at Ayr to suggest that he may now finally be coming back to form and, if that is the case, he looks worth a bet. Irish raider Publican was good value for his win at Fairyhouse last time and it is interesting that he comes here rather than having been found a race at Punchestown this week. Arcalis gave no sign for encouragement at Ayr last week, while Penzance has failed to sparkle since his Triumph success last year. Intersky Falcon looks a shadow of his former self and a bigger threat may come from Darrias. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding is less exposed than most of these and looks to be progressing the right way but Faasel has solid claims and he gets the vote.
Arcalis 2-1fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 4 out, last of 9, 18l behind Noble Request (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gd.
Noble Request (FR) 7-2 (10-9) Held up in rear, smooth headway to lead 3 out, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gd beating Faasel (11-6) by 5l, 9 ran.
Publican (IRE) 9-4 (11-9) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, 4th 3 out, improved to lead before 2 out, ridden clear last, stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 2m hdl gd beating Tiger Cry (11-12) by 4l, 7 ran.
Darrias (GER) 10-3fav (10-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, rapid headway after 2 out to chase leader last, ridden and led close home, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd beating Arrayou (10-0) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Alph 33-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, ridden well before 2 out, weakened 2 out, 10th of 21, 15l behind Victram (9-12) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) sft in Mar.
Faasel (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on to chase winner after last, no impression, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Noble Request (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gd.
Intersky Falcon 33-1 (11-7) In touch to 8th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Asian Maze (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 (1) gd, 9 ran.
Penzance 9-1 (11-9) Held up, some progress 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 8th of 11, 29l behind Darrias (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd.
