prominent, ridden to lead 3 out, pressed approaching 2 out and soon outpaced, kept on same pace run-in, lost 2nd close home
held up, dropped to rear after 10th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, kept on from last, never a threat
held up, headway on outside 4 out, not fluent 3 out and weakened thereafter
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened 3 out, tailed off
made virtually all, ridden and headed briefly 3 out, rallied to lead again 2 out, kept on well from last, pushed out
in rear, headway to press leaders 4 out, could not go pace of leader 2 out, stayed on well from last, grabbed 2nd close home
NonRunner
NonRunner
NonRunner
Steel Wave won in this grade in the autumn and was only beaten a head over course and distance last month. He is 6lb higher now but still goes on the shortlist. It would be no surprise to see First Figaro go well, despite returning from a lay-off, and Sir Jack Yeats has plummeted down the weights since fifth in last year’s Topham at Aintree. Vivas has claims on his second at Chepstow in the autumn but his completion rate is a concern. Course winner CRACKING FIND hasn’t been at his best the last twice but is now on a career-low mark with Thomas Willmott one of the few riders able to claim in this. Royal Village may be best of the rest.
Tanarpino 22-1 (11-10) Prominent, challenged 9th, led 10th until 13th, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last, at Haydock 2m 6f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Vivas (FR) 11-2 (11-3) Mid-division, not much room and faltered bend after 10th, outpaced after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Game Of War (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Held up last, gained a place 5 out, plugged on in modest 4th 3 out, 4th of 6, 13 3/4l behind Mr Whipped (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Cracking Find (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, hit 5 out, blundered next, ridden and every chance 3 out, tiring approaching last when crawled over and unseated rider on landing, at Market Rasen 3m hcp (4) gs in Feb.
First Figaro (GER) 16-1 (10-0) Close-up, went in pursuit of leader before 14th, pushed after 4 out, ridden after 3 out, lost 2nd last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Tinkers Hill Tommy (10-13) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Steel Wave (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway from 8th, blundered 11th, challenged 14th, led 3 out, hard pressed flat, headed last stride, 2nd of 13, shd behind Lough Salt (10-2) at Doncaster 3m hcp (5) gd in Feb.
Royal Village (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Always behind, 7th of 8, 25 1/4l behind Buster Thomas (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Road To Rome (IRE) 5-4jfav (11-10) Led, mistake 6th, headed 9th, led 14th, headed after 15th, mistake and beaten 4 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, dist behind Duhallow Tornado (11-2) at Wetherby 3m (6) sft in Feb.
Sir Jack Yeats (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Led, headed 2nd, tracked leader until ridden 4 out, weakened next, behind when pulled up approaching last, at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
