in touch, led 3rd to 5th, tracked winner, driven after 3 out, 4 lengths down last, ridden and kept on flat, always just held
towards rear, headway under pressure on outside before 3 out, soon outpaced, stayed on to take 4th near finish, never nearer
tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, one pace and no impression before next, weakened flat
in touch on inside, still there and going well enough when badly hampered and brought down 4 out
held up behind, blundered and unseated rider 5 out
led to 3rd, lead again 5th, made rest, driven 4 lengths clear last, ridden out flat, held on well
behind, headway into mid-division 11th, hampered 3 out, soon beaten, behind when mistake and unseated rider last
always behind, lost touch and pulled up 9th
prominent, mistake 9th, lost place 5 out, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway when badly hampered and brought down 4 out
mid-division, headway after 5 out, driven after next, chased clear pair 2 out, 3rd and held when fell last
mid-division on outside, headway after 4 out, chased leaders when mistake and unseated rider 3 out
in rear, blundered and unseated rider 1st
towards rear, badly hampered 4 out, no danger after, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure when left well held 3rd last, no chance with clear pair
prominent, disputed 2nd when fell 4 out
mid-division, headway 4 out, outpaced after next, left disputing well held 3rd last, never a threat, lost place near finish
behind, fell 1st
NonRunner
NonRunner
Movewiththetimes ran four times on this track last season with his best run coming when runner-up to Finian's Oscar on this card. He looks the type to make progress this campaign as does his stable companion Frodon, already a ten-times winner despite being only six and impressive in a Grade 2 at Aintree last month. Runner-up in the latter event, JAVERT, was having only his second start since May 2016 having won at Uttoxeter a month earlier and this stiffer track will play to his strengths. He gets the nod at a working man's price in an ultra-competitive event. Splash of Ginge won this last year before an excellent second place in a Grade 3 at the Festival in March and a recent run over hurdles will have put him spot-on. Rather Be was conceding 6lb to Mister Whitaker when beaten a head in a Listed contest at the Festival. The winner reappeared with a comfortable victory at the same level at Carlisle so has a fitness advantage but Nicky Henderson's charge has a 9lb pull in the weights which should be enough to reverse the form. Baron Alco's second to Road To Respect in a Grade 3 here in March, when King's Socks was behind, puts him right in the picture and he made a very encouraging reappearance at Chepstow. The latter will have been prepared for this by David Pipe, who's stable have a fantastic record in the race. while Kalondra, a winner over slightly further here in December before and excellent third in a Grade 2 on the track in April, was still in touch and going well when falling two out at Galway in August. The very progressive Benatar pulled much too hard on his reappearance at Newton Abbot and he beat Finian's Oscar in an Ascot Grade 2 in December.
Frodon (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Always prominent, led 5 out, driven after 2 out, ridden out flat, held on well, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct beating Javert (11-1) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Mister Whitaker (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, driven to lead last, ridden out, ran on well, won at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) gd in Nov beating Happy Diva (10-9) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Javert (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, driven 3 out, ridden to chase winner after next, kept on under pressure flat, always just held, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Frodon (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Rather Be (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, driven to challenge between last 2, ridden after last, led flat, stayed on under pressure when hard pressed inside final 100 yards, headed post, 2nd of 19, hd behind Mister Whitaker (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Kalondra (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) A little keen, soon chased leaders, improved into 3rd from 3 out, fell next, at Galway 2m 7f gd in Aug.
Baron Alco (FR) 4-1jfav (11-0) Often jumped right, raced wide, led until 3rd, chased leader, led again 4 out, 1 length ahead last, hard ridden and strongly pressed run-in, headed and rallied near finish, 2nd of 9, hd behind Charbel (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Shantou Village (IRE) 7-1cfav (10-13) Led, headed before 3rd, chased leaders, pecked 13th, 2nd 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 16, 22 3/4l behind Relentless Dreamer (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
West Approach 9-1 (10-12) Raced freely, tracked leaders, led before 4th, clear 7th until 10th, headed after 2 out, soon held in 3rd, one pace, 3rd of 16, 11 1/4l behind Relentless Dreamer (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Splash of Ginge 33-1 (11-5) Chased leading pair, led 5th until before 2 out, chased winner until 2 out, chased leaders, outpaced approaching last, plugged on run-in, 5th of 14, 12 1/2l behind Jersey Bean (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Happy Diva (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, chased leaders halfway, effort after 2 out, every chance last, kept on well, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Mister Whitaker (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) gd in Nov.
Movewiththetimes (IRE) 4-6fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, hampered 2nd, went 2nd next, blundered and unseated rider 8th, at Fakenham 2m (3) gd in Oct.
King's Socks (FR) 7-2fav (10-13) Mid-division on outside, pushed along and struggling after 8th, well beaten when jumped left 4 out, pulled up before next, at Aintree 2m hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Romain De Senam (FR) 10-3fav (11-1) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway 4th, went 3rd from 2 out, well held before last, 3rd of 11, 25l behind War Sound (10-13) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Ballyandy 11-10fav (11-12) Held up in touch, not fluent 6th and next, outpaced 3 out, went 3rd next, soon ridden, kept on, not fluent last, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Acdc (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 11th until after 4 out, chased leading pair, went 2nd again towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Born Survivor (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Willie Boy (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Tracked leader, led after 3rd, headed when hit 4 out, outpaced next, 2 lengths down 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, held flat, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Acdc (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Eamon An Cnoic (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Mid-division, outpaced bypassing omitted 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 20 1/4l behind Paisley Park (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Whoshotwho (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) In touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, driven to challenge after next, led after last, soon pressed, all out, joined post, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Jul beating Royal Village (11-7), 8 ran.
Benatar (IRE) 15-8fav (11-10) Took keen hold, tracked leaders until led after 2nd, headed 10th, chased winner to before 2 out, no chance with clear pair after, lost modest 3rd final strides, 4th of 5, 11 1/4l behind Beggar's Wishes (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Oct.
Geordie Des Champs (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Mid-division, jumped slowly 3rd and 4th, headway to chase leaders before 11th, slow 14th, mistake 5 out, soon weakened, 7th of 9, 35 1/4l behind Traffic Fluide (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
