held up on outside, headway approaching 10th, chased clear leader (winner) 4 out, no impression, stayed on same pace
held up in rear, ridden after 18th, some headway when mistake, slithered on landing and hampered 3 out, soon weakened
held up, struggling 14th, mistake next, fell 16th
chased clear leader (winner), outpaced after 4 out, went 3rd and stayed on same pace before 2 out, no chance with winner
mid-division, not fluent 10th, headway 12th, disputing 10 lengths 3rd when fell 3 out
chased clear leader (winner), hit 2nd, mistake 3 out, soon beaten, hit 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 8th, struggling from 17th
made all, clear until after 10th, clear again before 13th, pecked 4 out, stayed on well, unchallenged
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Aachen is still 5lb out of the handicap here, despite a penalty for last week's success at Wincanton. Forgotten Gold's jumping is a concern around here while Wonderful Charm faces a stiff task under top weight on his return to action. But stablemate Mon Parrain doesn't look badly treated and is a previous course and distance winner and The Druids Nephew is a classy stayer who will have benefitted from a spin over hurdles at Wetherby. SAUSALITO SUNRISE can confirm running here on the Old Course with The Romford Pele, despite the shorter trip, and double his tally for the season with stamina likely to be a big factor again. Up-and-coming stayers Vieux Lion Rouge and Knock House probably face their stiffest task to date over fences and will need more but are still preferred to Shuil Royale.
Wonderful Charm (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, tailed off when blundered 21st, pulled up before 3 out, at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
The Druids Nephew (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5th, mistake 7th, ridden and lost touch after 9th, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Kilcooley (11-9) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
The Romford Pele (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Not that fluent in rear, stayed on from 2 out, ran on, nearest finish, 7th of 17, 6l behind Sausalito Sunrise (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Mon Parrain (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never near leaders, weakened last, 11th of 39, dist behind Many Clouds (11-9) at Aintree 4m 3f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, headway after 5 out, left 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, driven out, won at Haydock 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Sun Cloud (11-5) by 4l, 10 ran.
Knock House (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) In touch when pecked 1st, mid-division, closed up on outside 5th, challenged after 3 out, led after next, ridden and hard pressed flat, held on near finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Foxbridge (10-10) by nk, 12 ran.
Shuil Royale (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased clear leading pair in 3rd, hit 6th, closed 3 out, lost 3rd next, hung right and and no extra in 4th between last 2, plugged on and almost snatched modest 3rd, 4th of 9, 10l behind San Benedeto (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Aachen 7-1 (11-11) Led 2nd, made rest, clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Spending Time (11-0) by 6l, 7 ran.
Sausalito Sunrise (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 8th, headway on outside 3 out, led 2 out, edged left before last and flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gs in Nov beating Upswing (10-9) by 1 1/4l, 17 ran.
River Maigue (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Raced wide, held up last, closer after 6th, outpaced before 2 out, last of 6, 31 1/4l behind Rock On Ruby (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gs in Nov.
Forgotten Gold (IRE) 8-1fav (10-13) Always prominent, driven along in 4th before 3 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 12, 19 1/2l behind Drop Out Joe (11-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
