tracked leaders, lost place after 12th, ridden before 13th, remote 4th 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, 2nd last, no impression on winner
pressed leader, led 6th, pressed after 5 out, headed next, no impression on winner from 3 out, lost 2nd last
tracked leaders, challenged after 5 out, led 4 out, clear next, stayed on well
in rear, not fluent 1st, pushed along 10th, driven 11th, behind next, tailed off 13th, soon pulled up
led, not fluent 1st, headed 6th, not fluent 13th, well beaten after 15th, hit 4 out, plugged on flat
in touch, effort 11th, ridden 13th, close up after 15th, no impression on winner 3 out, lost 3rd and weakened 2 out
in rear, pushed along after 12th, struggling next, well behind from 15th
THE LAST SAMURI (NAP) is 12lb higher than when winning this last year, well ahead of Sego Success, en route to finishing second in the Grand National but ran another cracker at Aintree in the Becher Chase last time and is plotting a similar course this season. Definitly Red beat Wakanda and Yala Enki in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day but was a beaten horse when unseating his rider racing off this mark in the Peter Marsh at Haydock in January. Looking Well has gone up 5lb since finishing second in the Sky Bet Chase here last time but is favourably treated with Definitly Red on their run together at Catterick last season. Vivaldi Collonges hasn’t really got his act together so far this term.
The Last Samuri (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Always handy, challenged before 2 out, 3 lengths 2nd elbow, 3rd and held close home, 3rd of 22, 1 1/4l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-9) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Wakanda (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) In rear, weakened quickly from 15th, pulled up before 4 out, tailed off, pulled up, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (1) gs in Feb.
Definitly Red (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 10th, held when badly hampered and unseated rider 3 out, at Haydock 3m hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Vivaldi Collonges (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Soon prominent, not fluent 2nd, lost place after 15th, pulled up before 17th, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Yala Enki (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Led until 2nd, led after 10th, not fluent and headed 12th, mistake 15th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 10, 28 1/2l behind Definitly Red (11-0) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Sego Success (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway before 6th, ridden and lost place after 15th, weakened 18th, pulled up after 3 out, at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Looking Well (IRE) 18-1 (10-6) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before last, kept on well to chase winner run-in, always held, 2nd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Ziga Boy (10-11) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
