chased leaders on inside early, dropped to mid-division at 7th, lost place and behind next, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, led before 9th, hit 2 out (normal 3 out) 3 lengths ahead last (normal 2 out), stayed on strongly
raced out wide in mid-division, pushed along before 10th, weakened before next, behind and pulled up soon after
mid-division on inside, hit 11th, weakened and hit 2 out (normal 3 out)
towards rear, mistake 5th, hampered next, pushed along and struggling before 10th, blundered next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out (normal 4 out)
chased leaders, went 2nd 9th until before 11th, chased leaders, weakened before 3 out (normal 4 out), pulled up in home straight
mid-division, pushed along and struggling before 3 out (normal 4 out) tailed off
patiently ridden in last pair, steady headway approaching 11th, chasing leaders when pecked 3 out (normal 4 out), kept on in 3rd before last (normal 2 out), closed on 2nd but no chance with winner
in rear, mistake 2nd, hampered 6th, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out (normal 5 out)
closer tracking leaders when fell 7th
chased leader until 7th, chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out (normal 4 out) until after next, weakened on long run before last, (normal 2 out)
led until before 9th where dropped to 3rd, 2nd before 11th until before 3 out (normal 4 out) went 2nd again after next, 3 lengths down last (normal 2 out), just held on for 2nd, no chance with winner
BENNYS KING just came up sort over slightly further here at the start of the year. Despite looking in need of the run, he still finished ahead of the disappointing Drumcliff at Aintree six weeks ago and has dropped a couple of pounds since so could be the answer to a very competitive handicap. Enrichissant is consistent and gets his favoured going for the first time this season while conditions will also suit the returning Kapgarry. Early Du Lemo looks a threat to all if improving on his second at Sandown while Saint Sonnet has his sights lowered. Saint De Vassy’s victory at Exeter will have boosted confidence and he may be a better bet than other recent winners Mengli Khan and Theo. Smarty Wild was third over track and trip in October but jumped poorly when favourite at Wetherby next time.
Mengli Khan (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Made all, not fluent at 3rd, asserted and 8 lengths clear after 3 out, not fluent at last, driven out, easily, won at Ballinrobe 2m 3f sft in Sep beating Livelovelaugh (11-12) by 26l, 5 ran.
Bennys King (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-12) Chased leaders, lost a bit of ground on outside 9th, outpaced and hanging left 3 out, no impression, 5th of 8, 12 3/4l behind Modus (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Saint Sonnet (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, hampered 5th, blundered badly 10th, pulled up before 11th, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Theo (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway over 4 out, every chance 3 out, shaken up 2 out, led last, ridden close home, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Sir Ivan (11-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Not Another Muddle 20-1 (10-9) Mistake 2nd, towards rear, hampered 8th, struggling before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Saint De Vassy (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Led, headed narrowly 5th, upsides 4 out, led before 3 out, ridden 2 out, pulled clear before last, stretched clear flat, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Keep Moving (11-3) by 11l, 9 ran.
Drumcliff (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway to chase leader after 5th, led before 6 out, headed before 2 out, weakened after bypassed last, 3rd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Espoir De Guye (11-12) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Smarty Wild 9-4fav (11-6) Held up, mistakes 3rd and 4th, detached last 5 out, headway to chase leaders 3 out, mistake 2 out, kept on after last, 4th of 8, 9 1/4l behind Joke Dancer (11-10) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Kapgarry (FR) 11-4fav (11-7) Made all, jumped right in places, hard driven when pressed after 2 out, stayed on gamely (4 fences omitted), won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Not A Role Model (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Early Du Lemo (FR) 5-2 (11-8) Patiently ridden in rear, awkward 4th, good headway on outside 7th, went 2nd after 3 out, every chance last, stayed on run-in, just held, 2nd of 6, nk behind Darebin (10-11) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Enrichissant (FR) 11-1 (11-0) Led, drew clear approaching 4 out, ridden after 3 out, lead reduced 2 out, outjumped when headed last, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Imperil (10-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Gardefort (FR) 6-1 (12-5) Chased leaders to after 8th, behind from next, lost touch when pulled up before 5 out, at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in May.
