held up in rear, steady headway from 15th, chased leaders bypasing omitted 2 out, soon ridden, disputing well held 3rd before last, not fluent last, no extra in 4th flat
held up, mistake 3rd, struggling 14th, no chance when hampered 2 out (normal 3 out)
patiently ridden towards rear, not much room 3rd, steady headway from 12th, chased leaders 4 out (normal 5 out), led bypassing omitted 2 out, soon clear, kept on strongly
chased leaders, weakened 4 out, badly hampered 2 out (normal 3 out)
chased leaders, driven and chased winner bypasing omitted 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, led 4th until 8th, stayed well there until weakened 2 out (normal 3 out), tailed off
behind, blundered 7th, blundered and pulled up after next
took keen hold, close up behind leaders, not fluent 2nd, blundered 9th, chased leaders 15th, fell 2 out (normal 3 out)
fell 4th
towards rear until brought down 4th
led, headed 4th, led again 8th, made most after until headed 11th, chased leader until after 2 out (normal 3 out) stayed on same pace in 3rd after
raced wide, chased leaders, went right 4th, led 11th, headed before bypasing omitted 2 out, soon lost 2nd, no extra from last
chased leaders, lost place 11th, behind from 13th, pulled up before 2 out (normal 3 out)
towards rear, some headway 12th, soon behind, tailed off
Roberto Goldback and Cannington Brook both come here rather than taking up an engagement in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby. Neither can be ignored while Paul Nicholls has the top two in the weights with Join Together just preferred to Poquelin over this trip. Tullamore Dew is potentially well treated while Duke Of Lucca ended last term with victories at Bangor and Cheltenham. Nataani is on a four-timer and last season's Welsh National winner Le Beau Bai should be approaching peak fitness now, though needs a thorough test of stamina. ACE HIGH beat Duke Of Lucca at Chepstow a year ago and ran a blinder on his return from a lay-off at that track three weeks ago when only head at the last. If that's blown away a few cobwebs, Victor Dartnall's lightly-raced eight-year-old could be tough to pass here. Alfie Spinner should win more races this winter but may just need this.
Poquelin (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Led, mistake and headed 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 41l behind Finian's Rainbow (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
Join Together (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Led, jumped right 1st and badly bumped, headed 3rd, led again 10th, headed 11th, mistake 14th, led again 5 out, headed after 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 3rd of 5, 25l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Roberto Goldback (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Waited with, struggling in last from before 4 out, soon no extra, 7th of 8, 44l behind China Rock (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f chs G1 (1) hvy in Apr.
Cannington Brook (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 14, 36l behind Saint Are (10-13) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 6-4fav (11-8) Tracked leader, led 5th until 7th, led 9th until before 10th, not fluent 13th (water), hit 16th, led next, headed narrowly when left in lead 4 out, ridden clear when hit 2 out, kept up to work until close home, finished tired, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) gs in Apr beating Drumbaloo (11-5) by well, 4 ran.
Matuhi 25-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, stumbled and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Always Waining (10-11) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 26 ran.
Ace High 8-1 (11-12) Led, hit 5 out, joined 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, pecked last, no extra in 3rd flat, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Lost Glory (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Oct.
Frisco Depot 12-1 (11-10) Settled on inner, 5th halfway, went 3rd 2 out, ridden and no impression in 4th before last, kept on one pace, 4th of 14, 6l behind Caduceus (10-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 sft in May.
Le Beau Bai (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Slightly hampered 3rd, always behind, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Lost Glory (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Oct.
Tullamore Dew (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Towards rear, some headway when stumbled 16th, jumped slowly and weakened next, tailed off and pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Tidal Bay (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Apr, 19 ran.
Alfie Spinner (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, 5th and outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with leaders from next, 5th of 19, 11l behind Teaforthree (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gd in Mar.
Nataani (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led 8th, jumped right 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on, won at Worcester 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Alpancho (10-9) by 7l, 10 ran.
Mostly Bob (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5 out, driven before 4 out, dropped to 3rd 4 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat, kept on, readily held, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Lost Glory (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Oct.
Baile Anrai (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Tracked leaders, left 2nd and disputed lead 10th, led 12th, drew clear from 3 out, driven out flat, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov chs (3) sft in Apr beating Mic's Delight (11-8) by 24l, 5 ran.
