raced keenly, towards rear, pushed along behind leaders after 3 out, ridden and beaten 2 out, plugged on
led, headed and tracked leaders 3rd, pressed front pair 2 out, pushed along in close 2nd approaching last, ridden and led over 110 yards out on run-in, stayed on
pulled hard early, settled behind front two after 1st, pressed leader travelling strongly before 2 out, soon pushed along, led narrowly approaching last, ridden and headed over 110 yards out on run-in, no extra
prominent, led 3rd, pushed along before 2 out and faced challenge, ridden and headed approaching last, hung left run-in and faded
held up in rear, headway on inner to track leaders home turn, soon pushed along and outpaced, tailed off
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Paul Nicholls has won this seven times and normally has one laid out for the race. AFADIL has won three of his six starts to date over hurdles and was still improving in the spring so looks the one to be on. Chaos Control failed to stay 2m4f at Uttoxeter in August but has become expensive to follow. Zestful has been racing over further and has gone up 5lb for finishing second at Market Rasen while New Year Honours needs forgiving a poor run at Listowel. Shared was well behind the selection on a couple of occasions last season but a case can be made for Jilaijone, especially if there is significant rain.
Zestful 7-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway after 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, edged right and ridden flat, led towards finish, headed close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Giovanni Change (11-13) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in May.
Shared 8-1 (10-10) Chased leading pair until 4 out, chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced 2 out, kept on run-in, went 3rd towards finish, almost snatched 2nd, 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Takeit Easy (11-5) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Jilaijone (FR) 6-1 (10-10) 2nd of 12, nk behind Eclat De Choeur (10-10) at Clairefontaine 2m 2f sft in Sep.
Despereaux (FR) 17-2 (11-5) Raced keenly towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, never on terms, 12th of 13, 15 1/4l behind Blueking D'oroux (12-0) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Faded Fantasy (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, ridden before 7th, well beaten before 3 out, 7th of 16, 29 1/4l behind Ike Sport (11-9) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Sep.
Afadil (FR) 9-2 (11-1) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, challenging when mistake 2 out, led last, stayed on well, clear towards finish, won at Ayr 2m hcp (3) gs in Apr beating Bythesametoken (11-4) by 2l, 15 ran.
Chaos Control (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Held up behind leaders, closed before 3 out, outpaced in 3rd 2 out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 6 1/4l behind Presenting Pete (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
New Year Honours 17-2 (10-7) Always towards rear, never a factor, not fluent 1st, no impression and slight mistake 3 out, no extra, 13th of 18, 37 1/4l behind Samui (11-4) at Listowel 2m hcp lst (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Planet Legend (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened next, 6th of 13, 24 1/2l behind Cianciana (11-10) at Musselburgh 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
