raced keenly, chased leaders, 4th and no impression from 3 out
chased winner until 6th, handy 3rd, 2nd again 14th, ridden before next, stayed on same pace, never able to challenge
chased leading pair, went 2nd 6th, hit 8th (water) and pecked, hit 11th, lost 2nd and hit 14th, soon ridden and weakened quickly
held up in last pair, closer in 5th before 12th, ridden hung left and went 3rd 3 out, plugged on
held up off the pace in 5th, dropped to rear 7th, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 14th
held up in last pair, stumbled 9th, behind and never on terms after, tailed off and pulled up before 14th
jumped and travelled well throughout, made all, clear from 13th, slight mistake 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
towards rear, went modest 5th before 4 out, hung left after, never on terms
NonRunner
Several of these ran in the race won by Double Shuffle at Kempton last month. Ami Desbois fared best, staying on into second despite spreading a plate. Beau Bay was only sixth but Guitar Pete was on the heels of the leaders when falling, though has never won over a trip this far. Rocky's Treasure is hard to catch right but won here in December and will have found the company too hot in last month’s Sky Bet Chase. FAGAN (NAP) sauntered clear of an in-form rival at Newbury last time and has been very lightly raced so is fancied to defy a 10lb hike in the ratings. Flying Angel won off a higher mark last season but, like West Approach, has become disappointing.
West Approach 8-1 (11-0) In touch, not much room and lost place 14th, pushed along 15th, well behind 17th, pulled up after 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Ami Desbois (FR) 22-1 (11-3) Led until 7th, with leader, led again 4 out, joined 2 out, over 1 length ahead when bad mistake and headed last, not recover, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Double Shuffle (11-2) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Rocky's Treasure (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Raced out wide, chased leaders until pushed along and lost place quickly before 12th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Activial (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Prominent until 2nd, chased leaders, lost place after 11th, behind 4 out, fell 3 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Flying Angel (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Chased leader until hit 2nd, chased leaders, pushed along before 13th, weakened 2 out (normal 3 out), 5th of 10, 24 3/4l behind Mister Malarky (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, good headway on inside chasing leaders approaching 12th, when fell heavily 4 out, at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Beau Bay (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Never closer than mid-division, 6th of 11, 15l behind Double Shuffle (11-2) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Red Infantry (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Midfield, ridden and lost place over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, 10th of 11, 20 1/4l behind Who's My Jockey (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 4f (4) pol in Feb.
Fagan 5-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led going well and dived at last, soon clear, won at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Ouro Branco (11-6) by 8l, 10 ran.
