held up in touch, raced keen, pushed along and hit 2 out, soon weakened, hit last
held up towards rear on inside, headway on outer approaching 2 out, chased winner and every chance approaching last, lost 2nd and edged left final 100 yards, no extra
tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway after 7th, led after 2 out, ridden after last, kept on well towards finish
held up towards rear, mistake 5th and pushed along, hit next, reminders after 7th, soon struggling
in touch, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on outer and going well approaching 2 out when fell
held up towards rear, some headway 8th, soon weakened
led, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out
in rear, mistake 1st, headway on outer 7th, weakened before 2 out
held up in touch on inside, lost place 6th, slightly hampered next, soon weakened
chase leader and keen, hit 6th, ridden after 2 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 2 out, ridden and headway before last, chased winner final 100 yards, kept on towards finish
held up towards rear, headway on outer after 5th, weakened after 3 out
Astracad's defeat of Organisateur over 2m1f here in October is probably the best form on offer and he's been highly tried in two races at this track since. The five-year-old has already won over 2m4f so stamina shouldn't be a problem today but, along with the hat-trick seeking Habbie Simpson and French import Saint Are, he's saddled with a double penalty which tilts the selection in favour of BOBS WORTH. A son of Bob Back, Nicky Henderson's charge cruised clear of a couple of decent novices on his hurdling bow over 2m at Kempton and gave every indication he'd relish this extra distance. Golden Chieftain may not have stayed 3m here last time and shouldn't be written off just yet but Lethal Glaze and Safran De Cotte would have to improve on their respective wins at Catterick and Bangor to follow up here.
Astracad (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, hit 4th, outpaced 2 out, never on terms, 6th of 9, 13l behind Menorah (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec.
Habbie Simpson 10-3 (11-5) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, led 2 out, clear last, edged right flat, stayed on well, driven out, won at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Youralltalk (10-12) by 6l, 17 ran.
Saint Are (FR) (10-7) won at Les Sables(FR) 2m 1f hdl gs in Jun beating Salome Des Pictons (9-13) by 5l, 11 ran.
Bobs Worth (IRE) 4-9fav (10-12) Tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, clear before last, easily, won at Kempton 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gd in Nov beating Sire De Grugy (10-12) by 9l, 17 ran.
Golden Chieftain (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Reluctantly led and set slow pace, headed before 3 out, lost place when mistake next, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 9, 23l behind Mossley (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Dec.
Heez A Cracker (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Raced wide, behind, some headway 3 out, no impression next, 8th of 17, 33l behind Grands Crus (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Lethal Glaze (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden to challenge approaching last, led flat, just held on, won at Catterick 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec beating Moon Indigo (11-5) by hd, 16 ran.
Safran De Cotte (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Made all, raced keenly, strongly challenged from 2 out, kept on under pressure, all out, won at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov beating Scoter Fontaine (10-12) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Total Submission 16-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, led narrowly between last 2, ridden and headed approaching last, soon weakened, 9th of 16, 14l behind Lush Life (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Dec.
Barbatos (FR) (10-3) 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Spirit Son (10-3) at Auteuil(FR) 2m 2f hdl in Sep.
Easter Meteor 25-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, ridden and headway 2 out, stayed on to go 3rd at last, until near finish, 4th of 12, 11l behind Frascati Park (10-12) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Master Beau 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, driven and effort between last 2, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression, 4th of 16, 27l behind Prince Of Pirates (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gd in Dec.
On His Own (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Tracked leader 3f, in touch, driven and lost place over 3f out, soon weakened, 18th of 24, 32l behind Cue Card (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Rose Of The Moon (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway over 5f out, ridden to chase leaders and hung left over 1f out, kept on well under pressure towards finish, 4th of 15, 6l behind Rock On Ruby (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m NH flat Listed (1) gs in Nov.
The White Admiral (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4f out, led 3f out, headed over 2f out, chased leader until well over 1f out, soon one pace and no impression on leading duo, 3rd of 13, 9l behind Rock On Ruby (11-9) at Newbury 2m NH flat (5) gs in Mar.
Royal Scoundrel (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, lost place over 3f out, 10th of 11, 23l behind Knight Pass (11-0) at Sandown 2m NH flat (5) gs in Nov.
