chased leaders, mistake 7th, 4th and one pace 2 out, kept on final 100 yards, carried right towards finish
in rear, mistake 4th, pushed along 6th, not fluent next, mistake 8th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, mistake 4 out, every chance 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway going well 3 out, went 2nd 2 out until shaken up before last, ridden flat, edged right towards finish, kept on
led after 2nd, headed 3 out, beaten 2 out, plugged on
held up towards rear, slow 1st, headway before 4 out, 3rd 2 out, went 2nd before last, led flat, went over 1 length up, headed post
held up in rear, fell 10th
held up towards rear, outpaced 13th, not fluent 4 out, well beaten 3 out
in touch in mid-division, closed before 8th, dropped to 8th but still in touch when blundered 3 out, weakened after
held up towards rear, mistake 10th and next, well beaten 3 out
held up, effort on outside 12th, lost place when mistake 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
led until after 2nd, prominent, challenged 11th, led 3 out, headed flat, rallied gamely to lead again post
held up in rear, headway on outside 12th, ridden and beaten after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
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Paul Nicholls has saddled the winner in this five times in the last 10 years. Brelan D'As appears to have the beating of Warthog on their run behind Happy Diva in the BetVictor Gold Cup here last month but stablemate SECRET INVESTOR is less exposed and preferred running in his first handicap. The latter found the going too soft at Down Royal on his reappearance and will strip fitter here. Riders Onthe Storm beat Cepage, runner-up in this last year, at Aintree but is no certainty to confirm the form at the revised terms. Keeper Hill’s jumping is a concern over these stiff fences but Lalor has jumped around here in the past, though has become disappointing and has never raced beyond 2m1f. Stamina could also be an issue for Clondaw Castle and Robin Des Foret makes little appeal on his first run since March while novice Not That Fuisse has plenty to prove but Good Man Pat probably has each-way claims.
Cepage (FR) 4-1cfav (11-12) Prominent, led 8th, headed 12th, every chance 2 out, held by winner last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Riders Onthe Storm (11-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Keeper Hill (IRE) 18-1 (11-8) Pressed leader to 4th, tracked leaders, blundered 8th, outpaced after 4 out, ridden after next, stayed on to lead narrowly last, rallied when headed briefly flat, found extra near finish, won at Haydock 2m 6f (2) gs in Nov beating Midnight Shadow (10-11) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Secret Investor 5-1 (11-6) Disputed lead, slight mistake 5th, led 9th, mistake next, strongly pressed when slight mistake 3 out, soon ridden, headed 2 out, no impression on winner when mistake at last, kept on one pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 4, 14l behind Real Steel (11-5) at Down Royal 2m 4f (1) sft in Nov.
Robin Des Foret (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway approaching straight and travelled well to challenge 2 out, ridden and no impression on winner run-in, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Burrows Saint (11-0) at Limerick 3m 1f (1) gd in Mar.
Imperial Presence (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Led until 5 out, soon rallied, weakened 3 out, 8th of 10, 32l behind Capeland (10-13) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Always in rear, never on terms, tailed off, 11th of 12, dist behind Oldgrangewood (10-6) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Knocknanuss (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, jumped left throughout, every chance 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, 29 3/4l behind Capeland (10-13) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Clondaw Castle (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Held up in touch, lost place 9th, pushed along 4 out, rallied after 3 out, ridden and every chance flat, ran on, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Diego Du Charmil (11-12) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Brelan D'As (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out (usual 4 out), every chance when left 2nd 2 out, soon ridden, kept on towards finish, not quite reach winner, 2nd of 17, nk behind Happy Diva (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Good Man Pat (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) In touch, ridden and headway 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 11 1/4l behind Militarian (11-10) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Generous Day (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, led going well before 3 out, joined when good jump last, stayed on well run-in, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Doctor Dex (11-11) by 6l, 10 ran.
Warthog (FR) 33-1 (10-6) Tracked leader, led narrowly 9th, headed 2 out, ridden and no extra after last, weakened flat, 3rd of 17, 8 1/4l behind Happy Diva (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Not That Fuisse (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 7th, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 24 1/4l behind Torpillo (10-9) at Warwick 2m (3) sft in Nov.
Riders Onthe Storm (IRE) 4-1cfav (11-5) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway from 9th, led 12th, hit 3 out, stayed on, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Cepage (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Lalor (GER) 5-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, jumped slowly, outpaced 6 out, stayed on into modest 4th, never a threat, 4th of 6, 16l behind Janika (11-10) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Benatar (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Raced keenly, tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd at 3rd, never near winner, hit 9th and 12th, went left and lost remote 2nd 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 10, dist behind Cyrname (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
