tracked winner, hit 4th, mistake and lost 2nd 3 out, ridden readily outpaced and no chance with leading duo before 2 out, kept on to hold 3rd
held up in touch, some progress after 3 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leading trio, pushed along after 4 out, driven and outpaced next, weakened 2 out
led, dived badly at 3rd, hit 7th, pushed along before 2 out, joined 2 out, ridden and headed before last, mistake last, 2 lengths down and looked held flat, rallied gamely to lead again towards finish
tracked leading pair travelling well, 2nd 3 out, upsides on bit 2 out, led before last where not fluent, 2 lengths clear flat, driven and headed towards finish, kept on
Zarkandar upset the odds-on Gemix in a Grade 1 at Auteuil last month but the runner-up probably didn't reproduce his true running as he'd beaten Paul Nicholls' charge easily at the same track in June. There is just a question mark over the seven-year-old in a truly-run race over 3m and REVE DE SIVOLA is unlikely to be hanging around. He's twice ground out victories in this race from the front and conditions are in his favour again. Though well behind Zarkandar at Auteuil, this will have been his mid-term target and Nick Williams' mud-lover can turn the form on its head. Medinas pounced late to win a Grade 2 at Newbury last month but may have been flattered by that success and has come up short in this grade in the past. Aubusson gets on well with Lizzie Kelly but the Haydock scorer would be a surprise winner of this while Dell' Arca has been chasing and still has his stamina to prove over 3m.
Aubusson (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Made virtually all, ridden before last, kept on, driven out, won at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov beating Big Easy (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 16 ran.
Dell' Arca (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, steady headway tracking leaders 11th, went 2nd 4 out, no impression 2 out, mistake last, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Coneygree (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grade 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Medinas (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leading trio, tracked clear leading pair 4th, closed 4 out, went 2nd between last 2, upsides and hit last, soon led, driven clear, won at Newbury 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Nov beating Cole Harden (11-8) by 7l, 6 ran.
Reve De Sivola (FR) (10-7) 7th of 10, 18l behind Zarkandar (10-7) at Auteuil(FR) 3m hdl G1 sft in Nov.
Zarkandar (IRE) (10-7) won at Auteuil(FR) 3m hdl G1 sft in Nov beating Gemix (10-7) by 5l, 10 ran.
