in rear, in touch, closed up in 4th after 4 out, no impression 2 out and stayed on same pace
led, headed and remained pressing leader after 2nd, led narrowly 13th, pushed along and headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden and held
prominent, led narrowly after 2nd, slipped on bend approaching 9th, mistake and headed 13th, soon lost position and struggling, pulled up 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along and pressed front rank 2 out, ridden before last, weakened quickly run-in
towards rear, headway 3 out, shaken up and led approaching 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on strongly and asserted run-in
tracked leaders, went close 2nd at 13th, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on but no match for winner run-in
NonRunner
Grandads Cottage blew the start at Cheltenham last month so that run can be ignored. Coconut Splash is 0-13 over fences but has steadily slipped to a mark off which he should be capable of winning. Valleres hasn’t run since April but the lack of a recent run is rarely a disadvantage for one from his yard. Duke Of Deception is back over fences after a couple of decent runs over hurdles but stablemate NO BUT I WILL has a bit more scope and can confirm Wetherby running with Snipe, despite worse terms. Some Scope won in this grade at Catterick but is 5lb higher.
Grandads Cottage (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) In rear, hampered 14th, never on terms, 13th of 16, 29 1/2l behind Hascoeur Clermont (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Coconut Splash (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Held up in midfield, slow jump 5 out, ridden in rear before 4 out, soon outpaced, stayed into modest 3rd near finish, 3rd of 6, 10 1/2l behind Credo (10-11) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Valleres (FR) 9-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, slow and lost place 2nd, not always fluent after, towards rear from 4th, tailed off 18th, 13th of 20, dist behind Madera Mist (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
No But I Will 7-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 6th, led after 4 out, ridden before 2 out, hung left run-in, kept on, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov beating Snipe (11-11) by 1l, 7 ran.
Snipe (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) In rear, pushed along in 5th 4 out, stayed on and pressed leader approaching last, kept on run-in, not much room on rail and switched right 75 yards out, no impression, 2nd of 7, 1l behind No But I Will (11-9) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Duke Of Deception (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Midfield, headway before 3 out where not fluent, soon ridden, in touch with leading group when not fluent 2 out, outpaced in 4th approaching last, kept on one pace run-in, 4th of 9, 11 1/2l behind Scamallach Liath (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Some Scope 7-2 (11-2) Held up off the pace in last pair, closer approaching 12th, led 3 out, over 2 lengths ahead last, eased and reduced lead towards finish, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Twoshotsoftequila (11-12) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
