towards rear, cajoled along at times, pushed along 14th, struggling 16th, tailed off
led, not fluent 1st, jumped left 3rd, headed and tracked leader after 4th, weakened 16th and dropped away
handy, led after 4th, faced challenge 3 out, headed narrowly approaching 2 out, soon ridden and weakened quickly
mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders home turn, ridden 2 out and weakened last
mid-division, pushed along 3 out, stayed on steadily and went 3rd run-in, never threatened
prominent, pressed leader 3 out, shaken up and outpaced approaching 2 out, beaten when fell 2 out
towards rear, headway into mid-division 10th, pushed along and dropped to rear after 14th, lost touch 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, soon ridden, hit 2 out and weakened
mid-division, headway to track leaders 3 out, soon ridden, plugged on, no impression
mid-division, not fluent 14th, ridden home turn, one pace and beaten when brought down 2 out
in rear, pushed along 4 out, stayed on, never on terms
chased leaders, headway to press front rank 3 out, led narrowly approaching 2 out, soon pushed along, forged on before last, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in
mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 10th
mid-division, headway 4 out, went 4th home turn, joined leaders 2 out where not fluent, soon pushed along, kept on, well held by winner run-in
Regal Encore won this five years ago and has placed three times in the race since but is now an old man in equine terms. Cap Du Nord is much respected back on the same mark as when successful in a Grade 3 at Kempton around this time last year and he didn’t do a lot wrong when second in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster last month. Phoenix Way has shown his best form over shorter trips and stamina could be an issue for the front-running Nocte Volatus but The Wolf stays further, though 4m was too far last time at Musselburgh and he can make mistakes. Neon Moon was only headed in the final strides at Taunton 11 days ago and Revels Hill was given too much to do last time at Sandown but LASKALIN appears to be more straightforward than some and has had excuses the last twice. Lucy Turner, who has ridden him before, takes off 7lb. Danny Kirwan is having a first run since second over track and trip in October but goes well fresh so is not ruled out.
Sporting John (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Towards rear, not fluent 11th, struggling 15th, pulled up 4 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Farinet (FR) 9-2fav (12-0) Pressed leader, led 9th until 12th, not fluent 4 out, beaten 2 out, one pace, 5th of 11, 12 3/4l behind Rapper (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Riders Onthe Storm (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up, midfield, mistake 4th, not fluent 9th, mistake 10th, pushed along from 3 out, no impression, 11th of 13, dist behind Brave Seasca (12-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Phoenix Way (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) In rear, mistake and jockey unbalanced briefly 10th, headway after 3 out, 4th and no impression from 2 out, kept on, 4th of 16, 16 1/2l behind Il Ridoto (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Revels Hill (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Held up off the pace towards rear, only 6th when hit 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th run-in, 4th of 11, 9 3/4l behind Quick Wave (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Danny Kirwan (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Front mid-division, went 2nd 8th, led 4 out, ridden before last, headed final 110 yards on run-in, no extra, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Our Power (11-2) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Laskalin (FR) 7-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway 8th, challenged 2 out, held by winner inside final 100 yards, stayed on, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Castle Robin (11-5) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Nocte Volatus 14-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, blundered 11th, ridden after 3 out, 5th and no impression 2 out, 6th of 16, 25 1/2l behind Il Ridoto (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
The Wolf (FR) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders when went right and bumped rival 5 out, pushed along in 4th before next, soon ridden, mistake 4 out, went right next, weakened badly run-in, 6th of 13, 17l behind Magna Sam (10-8) at Musselburgh 3m 7f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Dorking Lad 10-3 (12-0) Held up, mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
One True King (IRE) 66-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway after 4 out, no impression in 6th 2 out, 5th of 16, 20 3/4l behind Il Ridoto (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 17-2 (10-3) Mid-division, pushed along in 5th 4 out, soon switched right, ridden before 2 out where left in 3rd, left in 2nd at last, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Cooper's Cross (10-6) at Doncaster 3m hcp (1) gd in Jan.
Regal Encore (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division on outside, lost place when mistake 3rd, headway 13th, lost place next, well beaten 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Neon Moon (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Not that fluent 1st and next, waited with in rear, jumped into 3rd place at 4th, went 2nd approaching 11th, led 13th, over 4 lengths ahead at the last idled badly run-in, headed towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Dead Right (11-5) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
