mid-division, some headway 8th, ridden and struggling after 3 out, soon behind
led, ridden and headed approaching last, rallied gamely flat, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, one pace before last, faded
chased leaders, not fluent 6th, challenged 9th, led approaching last, headed flat, no impression on winner and lost 2 places towards finish
chased leader, driven and weakened after 2 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, lost place 3 out, soon behind
held up in rear, ridden and struggling after 6th, pulled up before next
mid-division, blundered 9th, in touch 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, close 3rd and edging left before last, unable to quicken, stayed on final 100 yards
chased leaders, not fluent 3 out, outpaced after next, weakened before last
mid-division, headway approaching 9th, ridden and lost place 3 out, soon behind, pulled up after
always in rear, behind 7th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up after
chased leaders, driven and lost place when mistake 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden and struggling after 3rd, well behind 7th
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway after 3 out, ridden and no impression 2 out, weakened
held up in rear, hit 5th, headway after 3 out, challenged before last, led flat, stayed on well, clear final 100 yards
Philip Hobbs won this in 2014 and will be hopeful of a good run from recent course and distance winner So Fine, though he's no certainty to confirm that form with According To Trev, Billy Dutton and Monbeg Gold at the revised terms. Dan Emmett has more to do than when getting off the mark at Chepstow and Southwell scorer Singlefarmpayment will also need to improve again but Batavir has been dropped a couple of pounds since his latest third at Haydock and is preferred to Bangor runner-up A Vos Gardes, who still looks too high in the weights, and doubtful stayer Foxcub. RONS DREAM, representing last year's winning trainer/jockey combination, had Batavir and So Fine well behind when successful here in November and made a bold bid to follow up over a trip too short at the track last month. She is one of the toughest mares in training and, despite another career-high mark, seems sure to be in the shake-up again.
Foxcub (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked leading pair, led after 2 out, ridden and strongly pressed last, stayed on under pressure run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 10, nk behind Simply A Legend (10-5) at Sandown 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Knockara Beau (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Chased leaders to 3rd, mid-division, lost place and behind from 10th, lost touch 13th, tailed off 5 out, soon pulled up, at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Rons Dream 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division on outside, closed after 4th, challenged after 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, edged left and impeded flat, no impression on winner towards finish, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Lily Waugh (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Horizontal Speed (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Led until after 7th, chased winner, knuckled on landing and and lost 2nd 12th, weakening when fell heavily 4 out, at Ascot 2m 5f (2) gs in Dec.
Stopped Out 22-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 4th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 32l behind Vendor (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
According To Trev (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Led 1st until 2nd, prominent, not fluent 4th, challenged 2 out, stayed on flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind So Fine (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
A Vos Gardes (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Prominent, ridden to challenge before 2 out, stayed on same approaching last, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Top Billing (11-0) at Bangor 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
So Fine (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, soon hampered and lost further ground, not fluent 9th, headway from home bend, challenged last, soon led, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating According To Trev (10-11) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Anteros (IRE) 17-2 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 7, 37 1/2l behind April Dusk (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Monbeg Gold (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway after 2 out, not fluent last, no extra flat, 8th of 13, 8 3/4l behind So Fine (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Batavir (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden last, kept on, 3rd of 16, 19l behind Baradari (11-2) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Rock On Rocky 40-1 (11-0) Held up, never involved, 7th of 10, dist behind Arzal (11-7) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Billy Dutton 16-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, challenged 2 out, every chance last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind So Fine (10-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Sybarite (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, jumped slowly throughout, reminders after 1st, weakened 7th, rallied 3 out, kept on under pressure approaching last, never a threat, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Isaacstown Lad (11-8) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Dan Emmett (USA) 9-2 (11-0) Mid-division, tracked leaders 3 out, led next, 3 lengths clear last, ridden and kept on flat, pressed towards finish, held on, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Moorlands Mist (11-4) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Singlefarmpayment 5-4fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, led going best after 2 out, clear when mistake last, comfortably, won at Southwell 3m (4) sft in Dec beating Westren Warrior (11-5) by 7l, 9 ran.
