with leader to 1st, held up 3rd and last, left close up 2nd and sole rival 3rd, shaken up to challenge 2 out, led on bit between last 2, clear last, comfortably
led, hit 1st, soon headed, tracked leader, left in lead again 3rd, driven 2 out, headed between last 2, soon no chance with winner
took keen hold, led after 1st, blundered and unseated rider 3rd
Nonrunner
FAR WEST pulled 12 lengths clear of Handazan on his UK debut at Chepstow in October with Mr Lando a distant fourth. He did have the benefit of previous experience that day and is 4lb worse off here with the runner-up but Alan King's charge may still struggle to reverse the form, despite getting off the mark himself at Aintree shortly after, as the selection was even more impressive when landing a Grade 2 over this track and trip next time when Dovils Date was a well-beaten fourth. Tidal Way is upped in class after victories at Bangor and Ludlow and may struggle to complete the hat-trick.
Far West (FR) 15-8 (11-2) Led and took keen hold, went right 1st, settled in 2nd before next, led again soon after next, ridden and 1 length ahead last, driven and stayed on strongly, came clear flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hdl (1) sft in Nov beating Vasco Du Ronceray (11-2) by 7l, 8 ran.
Handazan (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Led, wandered into 1st, not fluent next, jumped slowly 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, headed next, hampered last, led again flat, all out, won at Aintree 2m 1f 3yo hdl (4) sft in Oct beating For Two (11-5) by 4l, 7 ran.
Mr Lando 7-1 (11-5) Took keen hold in 4th, went 3rd and mistake 2nd, chased leader after 3 out, led 2 out, hit last, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Whipcrackaway (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 3yo hdl (4) sft.
Dovils Date 14-1 (11-2) In touch, hit 3rd, headway to chase leaders 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 5th and no chance when blundered next, went modest 4th post, 4th of 8, 36l behind Far West (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 3yo hdl (1) sft in Nov.
Tidal Way (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, soon went 2nd, led when not fluent 3 out, ridden and edged left after last, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m 3yo hdl (4) gd in Nov beating Vasco D'ycy (10-12) by 2l, 10 ran.