chased leaders, mistake 6th, blundered 8th, driven in 4th after 3 out, one pace and no real impression when went left 2 out
chased leaders, ridden and one pace after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
held up well in rear, steady headway approaching 3 out, kept on well flat, went 5th close home, never nearer
chased leaders in 5th, driven and lost place 9th, in rear and struggling next, tailed off
always towards rear, pushed along after 8th, never involved
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, not fluent next, no threat after
not fluent 3rd, towards rear, plugged on from 2 out, kept on run-in, never involved
in close touch in 6th, stayed on to 3rd before 2 out, one pace when edged left run-in
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, chased winner soon after 3 out, challenged and every chance when stumbled next, staying on same pace and held when hung left run-in
led, blundered 6th, blundered and headed 3 out, soon weakened and eased before last
chased leader, led 3 out, joined 2 out, idled run-in, driven out and always doing enough
never jumped or travelled in rear, tailed off 5th, pulled up soon after
always towards rear, never involved
blundered 1st, mid-division, pushed along after 7th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when blundered 2 out
Silver Roque ran well off his new mark at Aintree but has gone up a further 2lb since and is no certainty to confirm that form with Kid Cassidy, who was making his reappearance that day. French raider Wetak could be interesting back over fences after a pipe-opener over hurdles at Ascot while Shooters Wood has gone close in his last two starts and entitled to reverse Kempton running with Lucy's Legend, who is 4lb wrong in the weights here. ASTRACAD won three times last season as a novice and ran well on all three starts here. He should develop into a smart handicapper this term and may be capable of defying top weight against these. Oh Crick is also useful but usually needs a couple of runs to blow away the cobwebs.
Astracad (FR) 40-85fav (11-8) Tracked leader, challenging when left in lead 7th, hung and jumped left from next, joined last, driven clear flat, stayed on well, won at Perth 2m nov chs (3) sft in Apr beating Kai Broon (11-4) by 8l, 4 ran.
Oh Crick (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders on inside, effort 3 out to next, no extra approaching last, 4th of 9, 16l behind Doeslessthanme (11-11) at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Kid Cassidy (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Held up in detached last, took keen hold, not always fluent, mistake 8th, hit 4 out, went 4th and progress from 2 out, 12 lengths off leaders last, stayed on well, nearest finish, 4th of 7, 6l behind Gus Macrae (9-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Oct.
Consigliere (FR) 40-1 (9-11) In touch, lost place after 4 out, outpaced 2 out, beaten when hampered last, 9th of 28, 21l behind Son Of Flicka (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Takeroc (FR) 22-1 (11-8) Held up, effort when not fluent 4 out, weakened approaching next, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Gus Macrae (9-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Oct, 7 ran.
Free World (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, pulled up before last, in a race won by Foildubh (11-8) at Tipperary 2m hcp hdl hvy in Oct, 10 ran.
Rio Gael (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Of fthe pace in 6th, pushed along before 9th, weakened next, no chance when mistake 3 out, 7th of 10, 19l behind Shoegazer (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) sft in Sep.
Silver Roque (FR) 9-4fav (10-7) Prominent, led when mistake 6th, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Gus Macrae (9-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Oct.
Wetak (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Led at steady pace, joined 4 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, mistake and weakened 2 out, 5th of 6, 23l behind My Tent Or Yours (10-12) at Ascot 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 10-3fav (11-1) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed after 5th, led approaching 12th, not fluent 3 out, headed 2 out, weary when led again flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Mad Moose (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr.
Shooters Wood (IRE) 7-4fav (11-6) Chased leaders, challenged from 8th, led 4 out, joined when blundered 3 out, driven before next, headed and no extra final 75 yards, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Royale's Charter (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Salute Him (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Yeoman (10-0) at Galway 2m 1f hcp chs 0-116 in Oct.
Fiftyonefiftyone (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Chased leading pair, mistake 2nd, mistake 6th, mistake and weakened 8th, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Anquetta (11-0) at Ascot 2m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct '11.
Lucy's Legend (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 5th, 3rd when hit 3 out, went 2nd before next, led flat, driven out, won at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Oct beating Shooters Wood (11-5) by 1l, 12 ran.