held up in rear, headway 8th, went 2nd before 4 out until 3 out, 3rd and stayed on same pace approaching last, no impression on winner
jumped right, held up, mistake 1st, headway 3rd, lost place after 8th, well beaten 4 out
led, not that fluent, mistake 4th, mistake and headed 5th, hit 7th, lost place next, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, led 5th, ridden and headed before 2 out, no impression on winner, stayed on same pace
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th until before 4 out, mistake and weakened 3 out
held up in rear, blundered 1st, 6th and 7th, headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd next, led before 2 out, clear last, eased towards finish
jumped right, chased leaders, lost place before 4th, struggling 8th, mistake when behind 4 out
NonRunner
NICOLAS CHAUVIN easily beat Little Pop at Wetherby in October. The latter is 7lb better off today but James Moffatt’s charge can confirm the form and complete the double. Welcome Ben returned from a break to finish second at Kelso but a 5lb rise looks harsh. Chestnut Ben isn’t getting any younger while this may be too competitive for No Ceiling, who doesn’t always find much off the bridle but has won here over hurdles. Ink Master has a bit to prove at present and Blandfords Gunner lacks a recent run but Valseur Du Granval is respected as he goes well fresh and has his ground.
Nicolas Chauvin (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) In rear, headway before 4 out, went 2nd from 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, kept on strongly, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Little Pop (11-7) by 6l, 8 ran.
Valseur Du Granval (FR) 5-2fav (11-10) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 8, 28 1/2l behind Tangolan (11-8) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Little Pop 16-1 (10-3) Hit 1st, led, hit 4 out, driven and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Blandfords Gunner 5-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, reminders halfway, soon lost place, weakened 3 out, last of 5, 27l behind Storming Strumpet (11-4) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Welcome Ben (IRE) 9-4fav (10-6) Led, ridden before last, soon hard pressed, headed flat, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Chain Of Beacons (10-7) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
No Ceiling (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Held up behind, headway 4 out, tracked leaders before 2 out, one pace last, ridden and kept on flat, always held, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Jarlath (11-11) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Chestnut Ben (IRE) 7-2jfav (12-0) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, lost 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 9 3/4l behind Rhythm Of Sound (10-0) at Leicester 2m hcp (5) gf in Nov.
Ink Master (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Led until 1st, tracked leader, not fluent 5th, hit 8th, lost place 2 out, weakened, 7th of 8, 31 1/2l behind Baby King (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
