always behind, struggling 6 out, tailed off next, pulled up before 4 out
held up, slow 7th, headway on inside after 4 out, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge 2 out, stayed on strongly to lead close home
mid-division but in touch, slow and lost place 9th, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, under pressure 3 out, weakened after next
led, strongly challenged from 3 out, hard ridden after last, headed and no extra last strides
mid-division, under pressure 3 out, soon beaten, behind when pulled up before last
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 9th, soon behind, pulled up 5 out
held up, towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, ran on after last, nearest finish
mid-division, headway 4 out, mistake next, chased leaders 2 out, never on terms
held up, mistake 11th, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up, towards rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, every chance when mistake last, no extra closing stages
in touch, mistake 5 out, chased leaders next, weakened approaching last
held up, in touch, mistake 4 out, weakened after next
held up, slow 8th, some headway from 2 out, never dangerous
tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, lost place approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up before next
held up, towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened last
chased leaders, mistake 10th, under pressure 4 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up after 2 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
Paul Nicholls runs four and three of those won last month. It will be some feat if the progressive four-year-old Frodon defies a penalty in this company but he already looks a star chaser in the making while As De Mee is upped in class after scoring at Fontwell. Art Mauresque narrowly beat Double Shuffle at Chepstow recently but was beaten off a lower mark in this last year when behind the winner Annacotty and runner-up Buywise. The latter may well reverse running on better terms this time round but MORE OF THAT is preferred. He was ahead of As De Mee and Double Shuffle when landing a novice chase at this meeting in 2015, his first start for nearly a year, and ended last season with a third in the RSA Chase here. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge is preferred to stablemate Taquin Du Seuil and can make another successful reappearance. Colin Tizzard is attempting to bring new inmate and Grade 1 winning novice Sizing Granite back to his best and connections will be hoping Thomas Crapper rediscovers his form in a first-time tongue tie.
Ballynagour (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 9th, chased leaders next, effort 2 out, stayed on well after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 8l behind Long House Hall (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Jul.
Taquin Du Seuil (FR) 11-1 (11-3) Towards rear, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 14, 3l behind Ballyoptic (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Annacotty (IRE) 40-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place from 3rd, struggling 8th, behind when mistake 13th, 11th of 15, dist behind Vautour (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Mar.
Art Mauresque (FR) 10-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, chased leaders 10th, led before 3 out, jumped slowly last, all out, just held on, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Double Shuffle (10-0) by hd, 8 ran.
Village Vic (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Mid-division, hampered 10th (bechers), outpaced after 3 out, weakened from next, 13th of 29, dist behind Eastlake (10-11) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
More Of That (IRE) 6-4fav (11-4) Towards rear, pushed along briefly after 15th, headway approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, close 4th when hampered last, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Blaklion (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Mar.
Sizing Granite (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Settled 4th early, 3rd from 5th, 4th at 7th, ridden entering straight, under pressure in 3rd 3 out, kept on and mistake 2 out, no impression in 2nd before last where slight mistake, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Top Gamble (11-10) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f (1) Yielding in Mar.
Buywise (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, stayed on from omitted last, went 4th close home, nearest finish, 4th of 15, 9 1/4l behind Massini's Trap (10-2) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Bouvreuil (FR) 16-1 (11-4) In rear, headway before 12th, in 4th before 3 out, ridden before next, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 26 3/4l behind Arzal (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gs in Apr.
Double Shuffle (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, hampered next, mistake 8th, slow 10th, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on strongly to go 2nd after last, never reached winner, 2nd of 8, hd behind Art Mauresque (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Aso (FR) 6-4 (10-12) Tracked leading pair, hit 11th, 2nd 4 out, led travelling well 2 out, soon clear, very easily, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (3) sft in Apr beating Fourth Act (10-12) by 10l, 4 ran.
Sizing Platinum (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Prominent early, tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, no impression on winner but stayed on and well clear of rest, 2nd of 14, 11l behind Fox Norton (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Frodon (FR) 5-2 (10-13) Tracked leading pair, 2nd soon after 13th, led on bit 3 out, in command approaching 2 out, left alone last, won at Wincanton 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov
As De Mee (FR) 10-11fav (11-3) Led until after 6th, led 10th, clear 2 out, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) gs in Oct beating Royal Vacation (11-3) by 8l, 6 ran.
Vintage Vinnie (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Led until mistake 1st, led again after next, ridden and headed after 3 out, lost 2nd before next, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 4, 15l behind Virgilio (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) gd in Oct.
Thomas Crapper 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, under pressure before 2 out, soon weakened, lost 3rd towards finish, modest 4th, 4th of 5, 31 3/4l behind Master Dee (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Potters Cross 12-1 (10-0) Made virtually all, not fluent last, soon ridden and hard pressed, stayed on gamely towards finish, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Buckhorn Timothy (10-12) by 1l, 16 ran.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 15-2 (10-11) Led until after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 8, 18l behind Voix D'eau (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Stilletto (IRE) Evensfav (11-8) Led until 4th, led after next, headed 6th, led 8th until not fluent 4 out, beaten next, weakened before 2 out, last of 3, 25 1/2l behind Hollywoodien (10-11) at Warwick 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
