held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, challenged towards stands side last, ridden and every chance flat, kept on, no extra towards finish
mid-division, headway before 3 out, effort when not fluent next, every chance last, soon ridden and one pace, weakened last
mid-division, lost place 4 out, behind when ridden after next, weakened last
held up behind, mistake 5th, headway before 2 out, every chance last, ridden and kept on flat, no extra in 3rd final 100 yards
held up in rear, headway 2 out, chased leaders towards stands side approaching last, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression in 4th flat
tracked clear leader, close up 6th, challenged on outside 3 out, every chance next, lost place before last, weakened flat
held up in 4th, close up 6th, hit 4 out, every chance last, soon ridden and one pace, no impression flat
quickly away, led and clear to 6th, headed 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, headway 3 out, driven to lead narrowly when hit last, ridden and edged left flat, stayed on well towards finish
tracked clear leader, close up 6th, led 2 out, driven and headed last, weakened flat
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Exeter winner Morito Du Berlais has to be interesting in his first handicap off a relatively low weight. River Deep, Commitment, Cloudy Beach and Irish raider Buster Dan Dan are others who arrive off the back of recent victories, though easier going will be a concern for connections of the latter. The four-year-old Cassells Rock looks to be improving but Go West Young Man is starting to run out of chances and Volcanic didn't beat much at Bangor or Cartmel in May and was pulled up when making his reappearance over fences. CUP FINAL was placed twice behind the smart Irving last season and can be forgiven his run behind Faugheen here at The Festival in March when outpaced throughout. He will find this a lot easier and he still has plenty of scope.
Knight Of Noir (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, driven along and struggling before 2 out, never a factor, 14th of 16, well behind Brave Vic (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcap hdle Grd 3 (1) sft in Mar.
River Deep (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, not fluent 6th or 7th, led well before 3 out, wandered before mistake last, edged right flat, stayed on well, drawing clear towards finish, won at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Bulfin Island (10-12) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Rolling Maul (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led 6 out, headed before 3 out, weakened after last, 7th of 8, 13l behind Peckhamecho (11-2) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Cup Final (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division on inside, pushed along 5th, weakened before 3 out, 10th of 15, 45l behind Faugheen (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Cassells Rock (IRE) 2-1fav (10-9) Held up towards rear, progress 4 out, 5th next, ridden 2 out, stayed on into 3rd last, kept on run-in, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Battling Boru (10-5) at Galway 2m 6f hcp hdl in Oct.
Commitment 5-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, closed 6th, challenged 3 out, led before next, stayed on gamely, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Oct beating El Macca (11-7) by 2l, 11 ran.
Here's Herbie 14-1 (11-4) Held up in touch in mid-division, headway when not fluent 8th, tracking leaders before 2 out, every chance approaching last, 5th and one pace at hurdle, no extra flat, 6th of 19, 9l behind Tinker Time (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Buster Dan Dan (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Led, soon clear, jumped left, reduced lead from 4th, joined 5 out, soon led again, asserted from before straight, soon clear, hit last, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl gf in Oct beating Top Cat Henry (11-1) by 8l, 10 ran.
Morito Du Berlais (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Exeter 2m 7f am nov hdl (4) gs in Oct beating The Nephew (11-1) by 3l, 11 ran.
Cloudy Beach (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, lost place before 3rd, headway 4 out, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, every chance last, led flat, soon pressed, just held on, won at Fontwell 2m 2f NH mdn hdl (4) gd in May beating Garnock (10-7) by shd, 7 ran.
Volcanic (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 6th, lost place next, mistake 8th and when behind 10th, pulled up before 12th, in a race won by Golden Hoof (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Rally 7-1 (11-9) Pressed leader, led 4th to next, with leader, driven after 4 out, lost place next, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, 45l behind Society Shares (10-8) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
Go West Young Man (IRE) 9-4fav (10-8) Held up behind, steady headway after 4th, tracked leaders 2 out (usual 3 out), 3rd when not clear run and switched outside approaching last, driven and stayed on to press winner when carried right towards finish, just held, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind On Tour (11-4) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
