tracked leader, led after 9th, gradually drew clear, unchallenged from 3 out, slight mistake last, very easily
held up in touch, chased after 11th, soon hard ridden, tired and mistake last, no chance with winner
reared and lost ground at start, soon racing in 3rd, chased winner 10th, hard driven and kept on one-paced but soon tailed off
led at steady pace, headed after 9th, chased winner until weakened 11th, soon tailed off
hldup last and pulled hard, mistake 4th, struggling from 10th, tailed off 3 out
A race here which has cut up badly since the five-day stage, with just five left in it. Stamina is clearly the key for this three mile contest in soft ground and Ad Hoc has that in abundance, having won a Whitbread Gold Cup and travelling well when coming down late on in the Martell Grand National last season. Now he has had his first outing over hurdles, the eight-year-old can show his class here and break his duck over the smaller obstacles. He is the TEAMtalk selection for the opener on the card. Francois Doumen's Krach is an interesting visitor. The French trainer has a fantastic record when sending his horses to England and so the four-year-old must be respected. it is of course difficult to translate the form of his two wins and an Auteuil second to Ascot, but it is unlikely that he will be too far away here. Of the remainder, McSnappy would have the best chance, though his four-length second to Shardam at Chepstow last time looks some way below the sort of performance that will be needed to defeat the other pair. Rosarian has shown some ability, but again looks out of his depth, as does Sungate.
