tracked leaders, chased leaders 4 out, gradually faded
prominent, led 3rd, headed 14th, soon weakened and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, reminders 11th, weakened 16th, pulled up after 4 out
held up in touch, blundered 2nd, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, chased winner last, led flat, all out
towards rear, weakened after 16th, pulled up after 4 out
mid-division and mistakes, fell 14th
led, headed 3rd, mistake 4th, led again 14th, headed 5 out, led again approaching 2 out, all out when headed flat
in touch, mistake 14th and 15th, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before last
towards rear, mistakes, ridden 4 out, stayed on well, not reached leaders
towards rear, mistake 7th, blundered badly 16th, lost place and pulled up before next
held up towards rear, headway 12th, not fluent next, led 17th, headed and hit approaching 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakening and one pace
Sir Rembrandt and Take The Stand, who finished third and sixth respectively in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby two weeks ago lock horns again but neither make much appeal in a race where the tentative vote goes to Joacci, who is preferred to My Will. The last mentioned has the beating of Lacdoudal on running in the Betfred Gold Cup and should again finish in front of the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding; however, he may have to settle for a minor role off his current mark. Tom George's Scottish National fourth Idle Talk may well need the run on his return and of more interest may be his conqueror that day Run For Paddy, who can race off just a 4lb higher mark and comes from a yard very much in form right now. A chance though is taken with David Pipe's Joacci, who did not have the best of luck last term and remains potentially well treated as a result. The Pipe yard always has to be respected, particularly at this fixture, and Joacci is taken to give David another winner at it.
Lacdoudal (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Close up, badly hampered and nearly unseated rider 8th, headway to chase leading pair 14th, led 4 out, 3 lengths clear last, pressed, driven and stayed on gamely run-in, won at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr beating Eric's Char.
Take The Stand (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened 11th, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Our Vic (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Sir Rembrandt (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden and outpaced 10th, stayed on from 3 out, took 3rd flat, no impression, 3rd of 10, 12l behind Our Vic (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct.
My Will (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, slightly hampered 16th, steady headway from 19th, chased leading pair 3 out, driven and stayed on well run-in, 3rd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Lacdoudal (11-5) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Joaaci (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by State of Play (10-2) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 18 ran.
Royal Emperor (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) In touch, hit 7th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Our Vic (11-10) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct, 10 ran.
Idle Talk (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, mistake 15th, led 21st, headed 5 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 30, 11l behind Run For Paddy (10-2) at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Barrow Drive 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leader in 2nd,, dropped to moderate 4th and ridden before 3 out, 5th 2 out, ran on well without threatening from before last to go 3rd, 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Strong Project (11-0) at Thurles 2m 6f hdl gs in Oct.
Run For Paddy 9-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, ridden and headway 18th, chased leaders 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 9, 13l behind Tanterari (10-1) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Oct.
Baron Windrush 66-1 (10-6) Always towards rear, behind when pulled up at the 20th in race won by Run For Paddy (10-2) at Ayr 4m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr, 30 ran.
Model Son (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Chased leader until 4 out, weakened approaching next, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Irish Wolf (11-11) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Tribal Venture (FR) 4-1 (10-8) Chased leader, challenged 4 out, led approaching 3 out, hard ridden and headed approaching last, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Tanterari (10-1) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Oct.
Joes Edge (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, 7th of 11, 46l behind See You Sometime (10-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gf in Oct.
