chased leaders, chased clear leader from 2nd, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway before 3 out, led after 2 out, headed before and not fluent last, kept on flat
mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, effort before 2 out, never a factor
mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before last, driven out flat
held up in touch, chased leader after 4 out, led before 3 out, headed after 2 out, one pace
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, jumped left 3 out, hung left before 2 out, no impression
always towards rear
chased leaders, challenged 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened final 100 yards
held up towards rear, pushed along 4 out, never dangerous
held up behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led and pulled hard, soon clear, hit first, weakened quickly and headed before 3 out
held up towards rear, beaten when fell 2 out
chased clear leader until 2nd, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, not fluent 3 out, switched left before next, never a factor
This probably won't take much winning so Folie A Deux, a winner at Warwick in January and sporting blinkers for the first time here, has to go on the short-list. J'Adhere is another to consider back over hurdles and looks a better bet than stable companion Tara Warrior with Tom David taking off 5lb. Nouailhas is 10lb higher than when winning at Bangor in December, while Capricornus stepped up on previous efforts when third at Musselburgh. Donny Briggs was third at Sedgefield when sporting headgear for the first time and is handily weighted but JAQUES VERT's fourth at Catterick last month was a solid effort in the context of this race and gets a tentative vote.
Folie A Deux (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Chased leader until well before 2 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, last of 7, 44l behind Pere Blanc (10-9) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Feb.
J'Adhere (FR) 2-1fav (10-9) Always in rear, hampered 3rd, never jumped well, fell last, in a race won by Lord Singer (11-4) at Fakenham 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Jan, 6 ran.
Tara Warrior (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Prominent, ridden 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 14, 36l behind Shalambar (10-13) at Warwick 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Gtaab 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, lost place 3 out, soon switched left and weakened, 10th of 12, 46l behind Credit Swap (11-5) at Leicester 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Coeur De Fou (FR) 10-1 (11-2) In touch, headway to chase leaders, before 3 out, weakened before next, mistake last, 6th of 11, 27l behind Tail Of The Bank (11-12) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Mar '10.
Jaques Vert (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden 2 out, close up when bumped last, one pace last, 4th of 14, 5l behind Fujin Dancer (10-9) at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Feb.
Nouailhas 7-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear and keen, chased leaders 3rd, led and hit 2 out, kept on well, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (4) gd in Dec beating Vin Rose (10-10) by 6l, 10 ran.
South Stack 20-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 14, 48l behind Lady Anne Nevill (10-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Feb.
Capricornus (USA) 9-1 (11-9) In rear, hit 4th, headway approaching 5th, ridden before 2 out, kept on to take 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Antoella (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4yo hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Lil Ella (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Chased winner until after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 8th of 9, 44l behind Tigre D'aron (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4yo mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan.
Pumboo (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Held up, always behind, beaten from 2 out, 8th of 9, 33l behind Oleolat (10-9) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Nov '08.
Lindoro 200-1 (10-7) Led, clear from 3rd, weakening when headed 3 out, 9th of 11, 42l behind Solis (10-2) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Jan.
Steptoe 28-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, bumped 2nd, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 15th of 18, 48l behind Furrows (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Donny Briggs 9-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, with leader and pushed along 4th, led after 3 out, soon headed, ridden and hung right before last, no extra, 3rd of 12, 6l behind Pagan Lightning (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Meridiem 66-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, under pressure 4th, headway 3 out, kept on under pressure to go remote 3rd approaching last, 3rd of 8, 31l behind Alcalde (11-4) at Fakenham 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
