chased leaders, not much room 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened final 150 yards
led to 1st, soon rear of mid-division, behind 8th
mid-division, headway when not fluent 4th, switched right before 2 out, kept on flat
held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, stayed on flat, nearest finish
led 1st, headed after 3rd, led before 4th, headed 7th, led next, headed 3 out, weakened final 100 yards
towards rear, last when slow 5th, behind when hampered 7th
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, led 7th, not fluent and headed next, ridden 3 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on
raced freely, disputing lead when bad mistake and rider lost iron briefly 2nd, not fluent 3rd, soon led, headed before 4th, weakening when fell 7th
mid-division on outside, headway when bumped 4th, no impression 2 out, weakened flat
held up in rear, headway 6th, mistake 2 out, stayed on flat, went 4th towards finish
towards rear, struggling 5th, mistake and behind 8th
mid-division, closed before 4th, led 3 out, in command last, ridden out
Honourary Gift was still travelling when unseating his rider at Sedgefield and will be fancied to recoup losses. Halcyon Days is 3-3 over course and distance and was still running well at the start of the year. Though he’s approaching the veteran stage, Rebecca Menzies’ charge is unlikely to be far away if fully wound-up. Valence D'Aumont has gone up 8lb since winning at Sedgefield in the spring, however, and Just Call Me Al jumped poorly on his only previous try over fences. LARCH HILL has a lengthy absence to overcome but that is rarely a problem for one from his yard. He appeared to take well to fences in the first half of last year and can start making up for lost time.
Shetland Bus (GER) 12-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, landed awkwardly and lost place 4th, closed 6th, ridden after 2 out, beaten before last, 4th of 7, 17 3/4l behind Leapaway (11-2) at Hexham 2m (4) gd in Sep.
Ard Chros (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, headway on inside tracking leaders 5th, outpaced 8th, weakened 4 out,, 6th of 8, 28 3/4l behind The Paddy Pie (11-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Wolfcatcher (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Prominent, ridden and lost ground before 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 10, 30 1/4l behind Dancing In The Sky (11-4) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Ardera Cross (IRE) 28-1 (11-11) Midfield, awkward 1st and relegated towards rear, hit 6th, reminders 7th, ridden before 6 out, tailed off before 3 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Dancing In The Sky (11-4) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Sep.
Halcyon Days 33-1 (11-4) Led or disputed lead, driven into narrow advantage over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on when narrowly headed inside final 100 yards, just held, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Presentandcounting (11-4) at Newcastle 2m (4) Slow in Feb.
Honourary Gift (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Prominent then chased leader, mistake when unseating rider 6 out, at Sedgefield 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Valence D'Aumont (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Jumped well, made virtually all, ridden clear approaching last, stayed on strongly, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Vocaliser (10-10) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Larch Hill (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, left 3rd at 7th, blundered 4 out, soon chased winner, ridden and no impression between last 2, well held when lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Dallas Cowboy (10-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Millarville (IRE) 7-1 (12-5) Chased leaders, lost place before not fluent 4th, never back in contention, 6th of 12, 29 3/4l behind Frau Georgia (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Just Call Me Al (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up in last pair, steady headway on inside approaching 3 out, went 2nd before the last, led run-in, headed on line, 2nd of 12, shd behind Western Rules (12-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Divine Port (USA) 20-1 (12-7) Pressed leader, led 7th, soon headed, led 10th, headed 3 out, weakened from next, mistake last, 3rd of 6, 33 1/2l behind Up Helly Aa King (12-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Las Tunas (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Held up, hard ridden 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 10, 33 1/2l behind Mint Gold (11-11) at Perth 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
