prominent on outside, hit 12th (canal turn), jumped right and struggling from next (valentines), remote in 4th from 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 4th (water), headway 11th, no chance with front pair after 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, close 3rd when fell 5 out
led, not fluent 8th, headed after next, tracked leader, challenged 2 out, led final 150 yards, all out
tracked leaders, challenged 9th, soon led, pressed from 2 out, headed final 150 yards, held after
mid-division, not fluent 7th or 9th, mistake an weakened 12th (canal turn), pulled up before 5 out
held up in mid-division, not fluent 12th (canal turn), headway when mistake and unseated rider 5 out
held up in rear, not fluent 1st or 8th, fell 9th
held up in rear, struggling 12th (canal turn), left remote 5th 5 out, pulled up before 2 out
Some useful chasers face the starter here and Nacarat's declaration means that the bottom four are all racing from out of the handicap proper, Cerium being a massive 19lb wrong in the weights. Tom George's grey, winner of the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton for the second time in February, could be difficult to peg back if poaching a lead while Tranquil Sea should do better back in a handicap after being outclassed behind Sizing Europe at Clonmel. Both Little Josh and Wetherby runner-up Gansey would have a chance on their best form and this is probably Rebel Du Maquis' best trip. CHANCE DU ROY was second to Always Waining over these fences in the Topham in April. Only a couple of pounds higher, he ran well for a long way on his reappearance at Chepstow and may be ready to strike now.
Nacarat (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Chased clear pair, close up 9th, outpaced when switched outside after 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 11, 41l behind For Non Stop (10-11) at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Tranquil Sea (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Settled behind leaders, headway into 3rd 5th, pushed along 4 out, slightly hampered and ridden 3 out, disputed 2nd before straight, no impression leader, dropped to 4th 2 out, no extra and weakened, last of 5, 40l behind Sizing Europe (11-12) at Clonmel 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Chance Du Roy (FR) 50-1 (11-5) Led, mistake 6th, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened before next, 10th of 13, 26l behind Lamb Or Cod (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Little Josh (IRE) 6-1fav (11-4) Led to 15th, chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 26, 34l behind Always Waining (10-11) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Gansey (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, went close 2nd at 9th, led next, narrowly headed 2 out, stayed pressing winner, no extra flat, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Bless The Wings (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Carrickboy (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th to 5th, ridden after 3 out, beaten next, 4th of 9, 15l behind The Rainbow Hunter (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Rio Gael (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear and in touch, pushed along and outpaced from 2 out, 5th of 6, 8l behind Kings Grey (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Blackstaff (IRE) 10-11 (11-0) Led to 14; wknd 3 out, last of 4, 19l behind Oslot (11-0) at Bratton Down 3m ptp gf in May.
Cerium (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway before 8 out, led 5 out, headed 4 out, quickly weakened, pulled up before next, in a race won by Wellforth (11-8) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Jun, 6 ran.
Rebel Du Maquis (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, closed 11th, tracking leaders when mistake 3 out, weakened next, 11th of 20, 38l behind Nadiya De La Vega (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct.
