held up towards rear, headway to track leaders from 10th, stayed on to go 2nd last, no chance with winner
chased leaders to 9th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up and dismounted approaching 2 out
bumped 1st, held up in mid-division, under pressure 4 out, no impression and beaten when hung left approaching 2 out
tended to jump right, led to 3rd, stayed tracking leader to approaching 2 out, rallied under pressure to take 3rd near finish
mid-division, mistake and driven 7th, tailed off before 4 out
led 3rd, headed when not fluent 2 out, chased winner but no chance at last, weakened run-in and lost 3rd near finish
held up in rear, headway and in touch 10th, weakened after 3 out
held up in mid-division,smooth headway to track leaders 8th, led on bit approaching 2 out, soon clear, easily
chased leaders until weakened 8th, tailed off
took keen hold, held up in rear, headway to track leaders after 8th, weakened soon after 3 out
mid-division, ridden 8th, weakened next, soon tailed off, jumped badly right 3 out
jumped right 1st, ridden and blundered 5th, soon struggling
Nonrunner
Almaydan was fancied by many to run a big race in the Grand Annual at last months Cheltenham Festival but ultimately disappointed there and may be worth another chance in this company, with the Paul Nicholls-trained Andreas and Martin Pipe's pair Figaro du Rocher and Mark Equal rated the biggest dangers. The selection went into the festival on the back of convincing wins against decent novices at Warwick and Huntingdon and with ground conditions to suit but ran no sort of race. Clearly better than he showed that day, it may be worth forgiving Richard Lee's gelding that one poor run. Figaro du Rocher finished in front of the selection in the Grand Annual when out of the handicap and has to be respected on his showing there, while stablemate Mark Equal returns to chasing on a fair mark judged by his hurdling exploits but has not always looked a natural over fences. Latalomne has gone well here before but is probably not as good as he once was and others are open to further improvement like the ex-French Andreas, who made a winning chase debut at Taunton last month and could be anything. Korakor and Fantasmic come here fresher than most and are others worthy of a mention but, in the hope that his Grand Annual running was all wrong, Almaydan gets the vote.
Almaydan 5-1 Mid-division, blundered 8th, weakened after next, 15th of 24, 38l behind Fota Island at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Emperors Guest 8-1 Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, 5th of 6, 14l behind Sovereign State at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd in Mar.
Latalomne (USA) 66-1 Towards rear, some headway 2 out, never dangerous, 10th of 24, 21l behind Fota Island at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Figaro du Rocher (FR) 50-1 Led to 2nd, with leader, led and blundered 9th, soon headed, weakened after 10th, 12th of 24, 26l behind Fota Island at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Korakor (FR) 8-1 Tracked leader until badly hampered and lost place 5th, headway approaching 7th, no impression from 3 out, 4th of 7, 11l behind Palua at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Jan.
Enzo de Baune (FR) 11-2 (last 4 fences omitted) raced keen, led after 5f, hit 5th, headed last, weakened approaching 2f out, 5th of 7, 30l behind Polar Scout at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Mar.
Mark Equal 2-1fav Held up, headway approaching 4th, chased winner approaching 3 out, switched left approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 4l behind O'Toole at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gs in Mar.
Andreas (FR) 2-5fav Jumped well, made all, drew clear from 9th, unchallenged, won at Taunton 2m beg chs (D) gf in Mar beating Pennys From Heaven by 11l, 3 ran.
Saby (FR) 10-3jt-fav Chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 11, 26l behind Just Muckin Around at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Mar.
Fantasmic 8-1 Raced keenly, led, narrowly headed 3 out, led again 2 out, pecked last, kept on well under pressure run-in, won at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) hvy in Nov beating Brigadier Du Bois by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Mr Meyer (IRE) 4-1 Led, stumbled badly and headed after 3 out, soon ridden, switched right approaching last, ran on towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Mighty Fine at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Mar.
Captains Table 14-1 In touch, hit 15th, soon weakened, 4th and beaten when mistake last, 7th of 8, 21l behind Ankles Back at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gf in Mar.
Pak Jack (FR) 10-3 Held up, pushed along 6th, weakened next, tailed off approaching 4 out, 5th of 6, well behind Locksmith at Doncaster 2m nov chs (B) gd in Jan.
