always in rear, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, tailed off before 2 out
disputed lead, led outright 9th, not fluent and headed 10th where rider briefly lost irons, soon lost position, ridden before 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
disputed lead, not fluent 2nd, headed 9th, lost position and ridden before 3 out, tailed off before 2 out
midfield, headway to chase leader 3 out, soon ridden, a length down in 3rd 2 out, soon weakened, kept on one pace run-in
prominent, headway to lead 4 out, a length ahead 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, stayed on to lead before last where 2 lengths clear, kept up to work run-in
never travelling, midfield, dropped to rear and ridden before 5th, tailed off when pulled up with a circuit to go
ran in snatches, midfield, in touch with leaders 3 out, soon led and ridden, every chance 2 out, soon headed, 2 lengths down approaching last, kept on one pace run-in
Hold That Taught made a winning reappearance at Ascot last month having slipped down the weights but it was good ground on that occasion. First Lord De Cuet unseated in a tougher contest at Cheltenham having made several blunders earlier while TIGER ORCHID was less than fluent over the Aintree fences on his return from a break. But the latter faces an easier task on this occasion and has the beating of Good Work on collateral form. Yes Indeed hasn’t won since 2021 though has placed off his current mark the last twice.
Dieu Vivant (FR) 40-1 (10-2) Off the pace in last pair, brief effort 21st, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
First Lord De Cuet (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Mistake 1st, held up, badly hampered buy faller at 3rd, well in rear, towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Yes Indeed (FR) 12-1 (11-8) In touch, pushed along and outpaced 4 out, ridden and headway approaching last, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 11, 7 1/2l behind Houston Texas (11-0) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Tiger Orchid (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Chased leaders hit 15th, went 3rd after 4 out, pressed leader before omitted last, every chance and no extra, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 4 1/2l behind Giovinco (11-10) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Hold That Taught 7-2 (10-13) Prominent, briefly led before 12th, led 14th, ridden before 2 out where a length clear, slightly inconvenienced by loose horse approaching last, soon briefly pressed for lead, stayed on well run-in, won at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Tea Clipper (11-13) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Salvatore 18-1 (12-2) Tracked leaders, slow jump 4th and lost ground, soon in rear, lost touch 9th, last of 6, dist behind Hardy Fella (12-0) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Good Work (FR) 3-1jfav (10-5) Led unto 5th, chased winner, pushed along going out on last circuit, lost 2nd 11th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before next, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
