raced wide, held up in last pair, no chance and tailed off when blundered 3 out
held up in touch, mistake 6th, not fluent next, headway approaching 9th, stayed on same pace in 5th, weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway to track leading pair approaching 8th, went 2nd approaching and mistake 2 out, soon no chance with winner, lost 2nd approaching last, dropped to 4th close home
soon towards rear, jumped slowly 5th, went left next, soon lost touch, tailed off
led, clear 4th, hit 7th, headed soon after 4 out, chased winner until approaching 2 out, rallied to regain 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
mistake 1st, held up in rear, headway under pressure on inside approaching 2 out, hit last, stayed on flat to 3rd close home
chased leading trio, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd 6th, led soon after 4 out, clear from 2 out, not fluent and clever last, kept on well
hit 1st, chased leader, lost 2nd 6th, stayed chasing leaders, mistake 8th, mistake 4 out, weakened 2 out
chased leading pair, mistake 2nd, mistake 6th, mistake and weakened 8th, tailed off
Safari Journey is 12lb higher than when successful in this 12 months ago but he's already had a few outing this term and shouldn't fail through lack of fitness. Takeroc bids for a hat-trick and can't be ignored with his regular amateur pilot again taking off 7lb, while King Edmund was only headed close home at Fontwell last time and looks to be running into form. Torphichen still has time on his side, while Baseball Ted proved most consistent last season and made a promising start to the new campaign at Carlisle and is fancied to reverse Newbury running in March with Fiftyonefiftyone. ANQUETTA disappointed on his final start last term but had earlier run well when sixth in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham having won earlier at Leicester and Sandown. He should have more to offer this season and starts out off a decent mark so gets the nod.
Safari Journey (USA) 12-1 (11-7) Soon in touch, not fluent 1st or 7th, mistake 8th (water), not fluent 4 out, ridden next, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 8, 29l behind Billie Magern (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf.
Takeroc (FR) 11-4fav (10-9) Tracked leaders, went 3rd approaching 3 out, challenged next, led before last, soon clear, ran on well, won at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd beating Quicuyo (10-5) by 12l, 8 ran.
Torphichen 10-1 (10-0) Mid-division, 7th after 5 out, ridden and no impression 3 out, kept on one pace, 7th of 17, 37l behind Wishfull Thinking (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 5f nov chs gd in May.
Panjo Bere (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 4th, led 12th, headed next, ridden 4 out, 4th and beaten approaching 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 9, 22l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb.
King Edmund 14-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Rio Gael (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Sep.
Darceys Dancer (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, mistake and lost place 3rd, ridden after 5th, not fluent 3 out, no impression, soon beaten, last of 8, 15l behind Star Of Aragon (9-11) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gf.
Anquetta (IRE) 11-4fav (11-9) In touch, blundered 5th, blundered and weakened 4 out, 7th of 9, 39l behind Cruchain (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp chs (0-135) (3) gd in Apr.
Baseball Ted (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, chaswed winner from 4 out, soon ridden, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Quicuyo (11-7) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Fiftyonefiftyone (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Tracked leader, challenged 2nd, led after 4th, ridden and headed approaching last, one pace flat, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Alderley Rover (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
