Chateau d'Eau has looked decent in winning bumpers at Punchestown and Down Royal and Noel Meade's four-year-old is taken to make it three from three, getting the verdict ahead of Theft and Seven Is My Number. The last mentioned looked useful when making a winning start to his career at Ascot but was subsequently well held at Newbury and David Pipe's gelding may now be best watched. Hold Em has won all three starts since switched from point-to-points and has to be respected but he may struggle to give weight away all round, while Equity Release showed promise on his Exeter debut but needs to improve to trouble the judge. A market move for Free World would be of interest but more solid claims are held by Nicky Henderson's Kempton winner Theft. Chateau d'Eau sets a decent standard though and he is preferred.
Hold Em (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, led 2f out, ran on well, readily, won at Ascot 2m nhf (3) gf beating Karasakal (11-0) by 2l, 8 ran.
Chateau d'Eau (FR) Evensfav (11-4) Raced in 6th, improved to lead well over 3f out, strongly pressed 1 1/2f out, stayed on well final furlong, eased final 50yds, won at Down Royal 2m nhf gd beating Our Bob (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Ashby Jo (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 7f out, ridden 3f out, soon went 2nd and hung left, stayed on inside final furlong to lead post, won at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) hvy in Jul beating Terminal Bee (10-5) by a shd, 12 ran.
Morgansaccord (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, 7th 6f out, 5th into straight, soon ridden, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 5th of 18, 5l behind Zaarito (11-7) at Tipperary 2m nhf gd in Oct.
Seven Is My Number (IRE) 15-8jt-fav (11-7) Mid-division, took closer over 4f out, soon ridden and weakened, last of 10, well behind Crocodiles Rock (11-7) at Newbury 2m nhf Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Silly Wupple 50-1 (11-0) Held up, headway over 4f out, led over 2f out, clear final furlong, won at Aintree 2m 1f nhf (4) gd in Oct beating Mealagh Valley (11-0) by 4l, 18 ran.
Asparagus Wingnut (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Prominent, ridden over 3f out, ran on well final furlong, 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Team Chaser (11-2) at Taunton 2m 1f nhf (6) gd in Mar.
Calgary Bay (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 7f out, led 3f out, hung left over 1f out, headed near finish, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Keki Buku (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) sft in Oct.
Equity Release (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway from halfway, led 2f out, soon ridden, no extra when headed close home, 3rd of 15, 1/2l behind Or Bleu (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn nhf (5) gf in May.
Free World (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Mid division, ridden over 2f out, kept on, 4th of 16, 7l behind Oberon Moon (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nhf (4) gd in Oct.
King Of The Titans (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leader in 2nd, keen hold early, ridden over 4f out, weakened from before straight, 16th of 20, 33l behind Fleeting Chance (10-11) at Tipperary 2m nhf gf in Jun.
The Great Alfie 5-1 (11-0) In touch, led over 5f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Run For Moor (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gd in Oct.
Theft 9-2 (10-2) Held up, steady headway from half way, tracked leaders 5f out, led 3f out, ridden clear from over 1f out, won at Kempton 2m nhf (5) gd in Mar beating Easement (10-9) by 5l, 14 ran.
