led until 8th, led 10th, headed 12th, led again 13th, 3 lengths clear flat, ridden out
pressed winner, not fluent 7th, led 8th until 10th, led 12th, mistake and headed next, lost 2nd after 3 out, one pace from next, lost 3rd last
mid-division, ridden and no impression from 4 out, never on terms with leaders
not always fluent, held up in rear, well beaten from 13th
soon towards rear, not fluent 9th (water), ridden and behind 10th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, mistake 4 out, ridden after 3 out, 4th and no extra before 2 out
chased leaders, hit 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 3 lengths down and held flat, stayed on towards finish
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, struggling 12th, no impression after
mid-division, not fluent 8th, ridden and effort after 11th, mistake 13th, mistake 4 out, weakened before next
slowly away, in rear, mistake 8th, well beaten from 12th, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 13th, never in contention, well beaten from 3 out
prominent on outside, lost place 3rd, headway after 11th, pushed along before 13th, one pace and beaten before 2 out, went 3rd last, kept on
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Baron Alco beat Frodon and Guitar Pete, the last two winners of this, in the BetVictor Gold Cup on the Old Course here last month. The top one in the handicap is arguably the pick of the weights among that trio today and looks sure to give Bryony Frost, already a winner twice on the six-year-old, a good ride. Rather Be was heavily supported in the BetVictor and still travelling well when brought down at the fourth-last. He’s been backed again to gain compensation but is no value at the current odds. It took War Sound nine attempts to get off the mark over fences but he’s still well treated on the pick of his hurdles form. Any rain would hamper the chances of MR MEDIC but Robert Walford’s much-improved chaser has every chance of another victory here if the ground remains good. Trainer and jockey teamed up to land last week’s Becher Chase and the seven-year-old was impressive on his reappearance at Ascot when Cobra De Mai was a well-beaten fourth. Full Glass may need to brush up his jumping to be competitive over these fences but Cepage goes well fresh and is worth a second look.
Frodon (FR) 16-1 (11-12) In touch, led 3rd to 5th, tracked winner, driven after 3 out, 4 lengths down last, ridden and kept on flat, always just held, 2nd of 18, 2l behind Baron Alco (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Baron Alco (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Led to 3rd, lead again 5th, made rest, driven 4 lengths clear last, ridden out flat, held on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov beating Frodon (11-12) by 2l, 18 ran.
Rather Be (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) In touch on inside, still there and going well enough when badly hampered and brought down 4 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
War Sound 11-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway going well 12th, switched left and went 2nd 3 out, switched right before next, led approaching last, clear flat, easily, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating King's Odyssey (11-2) by 6l, 11 ran.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 13-2 (11-10) Towards rear, not fluent 8th, soon behind, ridden and headway 3 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Mr Medic (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Mr Medic 20-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 13th, ridden 2 out, stayed on, won at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Flying Angel (11-9) by 3l, 10 ran.
Cepage (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway on outside 9th, outpaced before 2 out, went 4th and kept on flat, no impression on leaders, 4th of 16, 9 3/4l behind Traffic Fluide (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Casablanca Mix (FR) Evensfav (11-0) Led to 1st, tracked leader, driven to challenge when left 4 lengths clear 3 out, ridden after next, kept on when hard pressed flat, headed narrowly near finish, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Rons Dream (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m lst (1) gd in Nov.
Catamaran Du Seuil (FR) 9-2cfav (11-7) In rear, reminder after 1st, headway on inside when fell 6th, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Romain De Senam (FR) 16-1 (10-3) In rear, blundered and unseated rider 1st, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Foxtail Hill (IRE) 3-1fav (11-1) Raced freely, led, clear before 3rd until 5th, not fluent 3 out, headed 2 out, one pace and held in 3rd from last, 3rd of 7, 9 1/4l behind Modus (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 12-1 (10-2) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure when left well held 3rd last, no chance with clear pair, 3rd of 18, 10l behind Baron Alco (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Full Glass (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, mistake 3rd, not fluent 5 out, soon lost place, rallying when blundered and unseated rider next, at Haydock 2m 6f (2) gd in Nov.
Splash of Ginge 20-1 (10-6) Prominent, mistake 9th, lost place 5 out, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Casse Tete (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Towards rear when blundered badly and unseated rider soon after 7th, at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
