held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, outpaced 4 out, well beaten approaching next, tailed off
held up in touch, headway 7th, challenged 3 out, headed approaching last, stayed on, held towards finish
mid-division, not fluent 1st, lost place approaching 5th, ridden 8th, well beaten 4 out, tailed off
mid-division on inside, closed 3rd, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
pressed leader, not fluent 7th, led 10th, not fluent 4 out or 2 out, headed approaching last, rallied flat, no extra towards finish
mid-division on outside, not fluent 2nd, lost place 9th, well beaten 4 out, tailed off
held up, headway on inside from 9th, mistake 3 out, challenged last, led and edged right flat, driven out
led, not fluent 5th, headed 10th, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 7th, headway 4 out, pecked 3 out, every chance next, no extra flat
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway on outside 6th, every chance 3 out, one pace after next
tracked leaders, ridden 9th, lost place approaching 4 out, well beaten next
Nicky Henderson is mob-handed in this and all four of his entries know their way around here and would have some sort of chance in an open race. Geraghty rides Tanks For That but French Opera will strip fitter for his run behind Al Ferof at Ascot. Eastlake has been in good form but looks to have been nailed by the handicapper on his latest third over track and trip, though still finished well ahead of subsequent Newbury second Parsnip Pete. Drumshambo can reverse Ascot running with Saved By John on 3lb better terms but it's about time 2011 winner ASTRACAD was successful in another one of these and, dropped in trip after running in the Paddy Power, Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge has his chance today. Shooters Wood returns from a break but landed this 12 months ago and is only 6lb higher.
Petit Robin (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, blundered 6 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Conquisto (10-10) at Ayr 2m lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
French Opera 7-2 (11-1) Took keen hold and tended to jump left, tracked winner, mistake 11th, pushed along and held from next, driven between last 2, mistake last, never able to challenge, last of 2, 8l behind Al Ferof (11-7) at Ascot 2m 3f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
Drumshambo (USA) 5-2fav (11-12) Tracked leading pair, reached for 2nd, not fluent 4th, dropped to 4th at 6th, went 3rd again on outside 2 out, keeping on same pace under pressure when switched right before last, blundered last, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Alasi (11-0) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov.
Tanks For That (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear on outside, mid-division 3rd, hit next, closed 7th, lost place before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Johns Spirit (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Oct, 16 ran.
Astracad (FR) 20-1 (10-5) In touch, outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from next, never troubled leaders, 11th of 20, 29l behind Johns Spirit (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Anquetta (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened before 2 out where jumped right, 5th of 7, 31l behind Dineur (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Aug.
Eastlake (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, chased leading pair last, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression, held on for 3rd near finsih, 3rd of 17, 5l behind Anay Turge (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Shooters Wood (IRE) 7-4fav (10-12) Chased leader until 2nd, chased leading pair until lost place 4th, driven in 6th after 3 out, no real progress after next, weakened approaching last, 6th of 18, 19l behind Benefit Cut (10-9) at Kempton 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Parsnip Pete 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leading pair, pecked 6th, left 2nd 8th, led before 4 out, headed and no extra final 150 yards, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Filbert (10-8) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Saved By John (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Led, clear 8th, narrowly headed last, rallied and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Alasi (11-0) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov.
Greywell Boy 7-1 (10-6) Led until 2nd, chased leader, left in lead 8th, narrowly headed before 4 out, ridden and lost 2nd 3 out, hit 2 out, driven in 3rd and one pace between last 2, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Filbert (10-8) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
