led and keen, headed 4th, fell 8 out
chased leaders, hampered and fell 8 out
held up mid-division, headway before 4 out, led narrowly before and blundered 2 out, hard pressed last, kept on well towards finish, driven out
tracked leader, led 5 out, headed narrowly before 2 out, ridden and every chance run-in, no extra and held towards finish
chased leaders, led from 4th, headed 5 out, weakened before 3 out
in rear, badly hampered 8 out, weakened from next
held up in touch, blundered 6 out, weakened from next
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went remote before 2 out, one pace
held up mid-division, badly hampered and unseated rider 8 out
held up towards rear, fell 5 out
VOIX D'EAU looks a worthy favourite in this as he looked a shade unlucky against Padge at Ascot last time when hampered close home. An 8lb rise in the weights has done him no favours but Mikey Legg takes off 7lb again so he looks the one to beat. Off The Ground looks an interesting alternative as he had every chance in a Listed race at Wetherby last month until stopped in his track by a mistake three out. Jumping remains a concern, however, while Le Bacardy appears to have gone off the boil. But Enchanted Garden has now won two of his last three over fences and is versatile as to trip. Kings Bandit only got as far as the fifth on his reappearance at Wetherby but remains unexposed.
Enchanted Garden 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on well, won at Carlisle 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Loose Chips (11-7) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Le Bacardy (FR) 16-1 (11-9) In touch, reminders and lost place after 7th (water), soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 9-2fav (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, chased leaders next, 3rd 2 out, challenged last, went 2nd run-in, soon carried left and slightly hampered, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Padge (11-6) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Off The Ground (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, 2nd approaching 4th until 7th, chased leaders, weakening when mistake 3 out, 5th of 8, 19 1/4l behind Wakanda (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
Minella Forfitness (IRE) 13-2 (10-11) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, mistake next, weakened before next, 7th of 9, 36l behind Pepite Rose (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Kings Bandit (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Held up, mistake and unseated rider 5th, at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Strongly Suggested 20-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, pushed along before 9th, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 12, dist behind Cold March (11-4) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Waltz Darling (IRE) 25-1 (9-7) Always behind, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 10, 21 3/4l behind Frosty Berry (9-10) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (6) sft in Nov.
Buck Mulligan 7-2fav (11-12) Held up in touch, closed 12th, went 2nd next, 3 lengths down from 4 out until closed after last, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Butlergrove King (11-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Ever So Much (IRE) 5-1fav (10-8) Held up towards rear, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, kept on and no impression, 4th of 8, 12 3/4l behind Distime (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
