held up in rear, mistake 13th, well beaten from 3 out
prominent, ridden 12th, outpaced when mistake 3 out, no impression 2 out
led until 5th, led 7th, headed 8th, led 10th, headed 11th, led after 13th, headed and hanging left before 2 out, rallied flat, no impression on winner
chased leaders, lost place 8th, well held from 3 out
mid-division, hit 11th, headway 13th, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten final bend before 2 out, soon pulled up
in rear, ridden 7th, well behind when pulled up before 12th
mid-division on outside, closed 8th, challenged 3 out, led before 2 out, wandered before last, driven out
towards rear, headway on outside 10th, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten 2 out
mid-division, headway 4 out, 5th 2 out, went 3rd flat, stayed on
mid-division, towards rear 11th, progress before 3 out, no impression 2 out
handy on inside, lost place before 3 out, switched right and closed before 2 out, 2nd when jumped left last, weakened flat
chased leaders, hit 7th, challenged 3 out, weakened flat
chased leaders on outside, led 5th, headed 7th, led next, mistake and headed 10th, led 11th, headed after 13th, weakened from 3 out, well beaten before 2 out, soon pulled up
in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 12th, ridden after 3 out, no impression 2 out
prominent, mistake 2nd, lost place next, struggling 11th, mistake and behind next, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, ridden after 13th, never involved, well beaten from 3 out
NonRunner
A wide-open renewal. Simply The Betts seeks to go one better than last year racing off a 4lb lower mark. Paul Nicholls also runs Il Ridoto, who split Midnight River and Deyrann de Carjac when fourth in the Paddy Power here in November. Nassalam was only sixth that day but Sebastopol, Eden Du Houx, Brave Seasca and Fantastic Lady are among a host of recent winners though SHAKEM UP’ARRY also made a winning reappearance. Ben Pauling’s gelding may be the one to side with given the runner-up at Exeter, Tile Tapper, filled the same position in a hot handicap at Kempton over Christmas. Stolen Silver came back lame after unseating his rider in the Paddy Power but is useful on his day, as is War Lord, and none of the others are dismissed out of hand.
Brave Seasca (FR) 12-1 (12-1) Held up, headway from 4 out, upside leader 2 out, soon led, ran on strongly after last, soon in command, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Handsworth (10-2) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Happygolucky (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Prominent, not fluent 4th, challenged leader 14th, pushed along to chase leader 3 out, not fluent 2 out, lost 2nd approaching last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 4l behind L'Homme Presse (12-0) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Stolen Silver (FR) 4-1fav (11-8) Chased leaders on inside, mistake and lost place briefly 9th, in touch when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Simply The Betts (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway on inside tracking leaders 3rd, pushed along before 3 out, mistake and weakened 2 out, 7th of 14, 11 3/4l behind Ga Law (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
War Lord (GER) 15-8 (10-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 5th, outpaced 8th, well held 4 out, kept on from 2 out, went 3rd before last, no impression, 3rd of 5, 21l behind Greaneteen (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Lostintranslation (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Off the pace and always towards rear, never in the race, 11th of 15, 34 3/4l behind Le Milos (11-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Midnight River 15-2 (11-3) Off the pace in last trio, mistake 11th, steady headway out wide before 2 out, ridden before the last, stayed on into 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 14, 3 3/4l behind Ga Law (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Fantastic Lady (FR) 5-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, closed before 8th, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, dived right through last, clear flat, stayed on, won at Market Rasen 3m lst fll (1) gs in Nov beating Zambella (11-6) by 4 3/4l, 6 ran.
Nassalam (FR) 22-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 7th until 4 out, weakened quickly and soon behind, 6th of 14, 11 1/4l behind Ga Law (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Demachine (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Close 3rd, 2nd before 4 out, led next, ridden and headed between last two, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Zanza (11-8) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Il Ridoto (FR) 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, closer in mid-division at 6th, headway chasing leaders 4 out, disputing 2nd when mistake last, weakened and lost 3rd final 110 yards, 4th of 14, 5l behind Ga Law (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Shakem Up'arry (IRE) 16-5 (11-13) Prominent, led narrowly 4 out, ridden after 2 out, ran on well, always doing enough, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Tile Tapper (11-3) by 3 1/4l, 11 ran.
Eden Du Houx (FR) 3-1 (12-0) Prominent, jumped well, led 3 out, shaken up and clear before 2 out, hit 2 out, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Blackjack Magic (12-1) by 9 1/2l, 9 ran.
Jacamar (GER) 28-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, 23l behind Zanza (11-8) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Coconut Splash (IRE) 9-4fav (10-10) Chased leaders, went right 7th, went 2nd 4 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, went right last, dropped to 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Into Overdrive (10-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (1) gs in Oct.
Deyrann de Carjac (FR) 18-1 (10-2) Off the pace in last pair, stayed on in 5th run-in, never going pace to reach leaders, 5th of 14, 5 3/4l behind Ga Law (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Sebastopol (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Chased leader, not fluent 9th, challenged from 4 out, led run-in, ridden clear, won at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov beating Stage Star (11-4) by 5l, 4 ran.
