chased leaders, went 2nd 6th until after next, handy 3rd, 2nd again 5 out, led 4 out, clear when hit 2 out, easily
towards rear, blundered 9th, headway into 5th and slightly hampered 11th, 3rd before 4 out, 2nd 3 out, held when mistake next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner but clear 2nd
chased leaders, lost place 5th, never on terms after, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 5 out
raced wide, chased leaders early, lost place and towards rear before 5th, rallied 10th, driven along and struggling in 5th before 5 out, weakened 5 out, pulled up soon after
in rear, mistake 5th, pushed along and struggling in 6th when jumped left 5 out, tailed off, blundered last
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 4th, went 2nd 8th until hit 5 out, chased leading pair until ridden before next, weakened
chased leader until 6th, 2nd again after next until 8th, chased leaders, not fluent next, pushed along and losing place in about 8th when brought down 11th
led until 4 out, chased winner until next, plugged on in 3rd
chased leaders, 5th and looked held when fell 11th
keen to post, towards rear, headway on inside chasing leaders approaching 7th, weakened 10th, tailed off
NonRunner
BACK TO THE THATCH has only run three times over fences. He’s been placed in the last two, both on heavy going, and Henry Daly’s runners are always to be feared when Richard Johnson gets the leg-up. Greyed A goes for a hat-trick and is similarly unexposed. He carries a penalty but can’t be ignored and veteran course specialist Paddy The Oscar will no doubt be prominent again. Kingston may need this, however, and the likes of Astigos, Alberobello and Catching On will need to step up on recent efforts. Only Gorgeous and Wood Yer are others with plenty to find.
Back To The Thatch (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Held up, headway when not fluent 9th, lost place next, closed 11th, ridden before 4 out, 3rd and well held from 3 out, 3rd of 5, 9 1/4l behind Town Parks (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Catching On (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, bumped 7th, not fluent next, mistake 9th, headway after 12th, 3rd 2 out, blundered last, no extra, 4th of 7, 14 1/2l behind Vice Et Vertu (11-4) at Bangor 3m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Alberobello (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Led until 2nd, disputed lead from 4th until 10th, outpaced 5 out, rallied 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Aunty Ann (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Greyed A (IRE) 11-10fav (11-12) Made all, pecked and sprawled on landing 6 out, remained a narrow leader, ridden before 2 out, kept on very gamely, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Lac Sacre (11-7) by 5l, 5 ran.
Kingston (GER) 4-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden after 11th, lost place next, soon behind, mistake last, 7th of 8, 29 3/4l behind Definite Future (11-6) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in May.
Pine Warbler 20-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway when hampered 9th, weakened after 4 out, 8th of 14, 29l behind Miss Tongabezi (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Umberto D'olivate (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Led, slow 9th, soon headed, weakened next, behind 12th, pulled up next, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Paddy The Oscar (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Made most from after 1st, headed 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, kept on but no chance with eased down winner flat, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Themanfrom Minella (11-6) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Wood Yer (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, mistake 7th and reminder, pushed along before 12th, never dangerous, 5th of 6, 27 3/4l behind Misty Mai (11-6) at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Astigos (FR) 20-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, chased leaders after 11th, outpaced 3 out, plugged on into modest 3rd after last, never troubled front pair, 3rd of 7, 12 1/2l behind Themanfrom Minella (11-6) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Only Gorgeous (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Chased winner until 4 out, chased leaders, dropped to 4th 3 out, weakened, 4th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Siruh Du Lac (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec.