held up in rear, steady headway from 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, led before last, stayed on well
mid-division, headway 12th, chased leaders 5 out, soon pushed along, weakened before 3 out
held up well in rear, some headway 4 out, never dangerous
held up in touch, headway 5th, soon tracking leaders, every from chance 2 out, no extra flat
tracked leaders, lost place 5 out
mid-division, driven to challenge 4 out, chased leaders, next, never able to challenge
chased leaders, led 9th, headed before 4 out, soon weakened
prominent, led before 8th, headed next, saddle slipped after 12th, led again before 4 out, headed approaching when blundered last, faded
mid-division, headway 4 out, never on terms
always behind
held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, weakened 4 out
held up in rear, slow 3rd, headway2 out, never nearer
raced freely in mid-division, headway 12th, tracked leaders next, weakened 3 out
led, raced freely, headed 8th, weakened 10th, soon detatched, pulled up 12th
This looked an open contest before the defection of ante-post favourite Hold On Julio and it's even more so now. I'msingingtheblues was beaten only a head at Ascot last time and comes out much the same horse as recent Cheltenham winner Calgary Bay. It's been some time since one at the top end of the weights has won this, however, so Aiteen Thirtythree also faces a tough task after both he and Wayward Prince disappointed behind Carruthers in the Hennessey at Newbury. Carruthers had earlier fallen prey to GALAXY ROCK at Cheltenham when Jonjo O'Neill's chaser ran out an impressive winner. Pulled-up in testing ground in the Welsh National last time, he's fancied to return to form here. Shakalakaboomboom is still improving judged on his recent win at Cheltenham and is a leading contender, while collateral form gives Kempton winner Fruity O'Rooney the beating of Emma Lavelle's progressive chaser Qianshan Leader, who scored over C&D last month.
Calgary Bay (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 7th, challenged 3 out, soon led, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs beating Hector's Choice (10-0) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Aiteen Thirtythree (IRE) 9-2fav (10-10) Tracked leaders, led 5th, soon headed, led 8th until 10th, led 13th, not fluent and headed 16th, weakened from 2 out, 11th of 18, 19l behind Carruthers (10-4) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Wayward Prince 8-1 (11-1) Held up, headway 4 out, driven and weakened 2 out, 4th of 13, 19l behind According To Pete (9-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Shakalakaboomboom (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3 out, led next, hard pressed last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec beating Knockara Beau (11-3) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Cape Tribulation 14-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway 13th, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on flat, just failed to grab 4th, 5th of 14, 11l behind Calgary Bay (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Chasing leaders after 1st, mistake 13th, soon lost place, pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Le Beau Bai (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 20 ran.
Wymott (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Chased leading trio, slow 2nd, went 3rd 10th, ridden and lost 3rd 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 10, 29l behind Hold On Julio (10-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs.
Fruity O'Rooney 12-1 (11-7) Jumped left throughout, led, joined when blundered 3 out, went left bumped rival and left clear next, driven out from last, won at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Dec beating Midnight Appeal (10-10) by 3 1/2l, 12 ran.
Qianshan Leader (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Close up, led before 3 out, kept on well under pressure towards finish, won at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Dec beating Benny Be Good (11-12) by nk, 13 ran.
Merigo (FR) 66-1 (10-3) Always in rear, 8th of 13, well behind According To Pete (9-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Shalimar Fromentro (FR) 8-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, 4th when fell 13th (bechers brook), in a race won by West End Rocker (10-10) at Aintree 3m 2f lstd hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Nikola (FR) 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, went 2nd 16th, led next, clear with one rival 4 out, ridden and being closed down before 2 out, headed approaching last where not fluent, no extra, 5th of 13, 14l behind Mostly Bob (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Riguez Dancer 20-1 (11-2) Behind, struggling 10th, headway under pressure 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish, no impression, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Fiendish Flame (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd.
Osric (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 11th, no impression and well held by leaders after 3 out, 6th of 14, 24l behind Chance Du Roy (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Carrickmines (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Held up well in rear, headway approaching 12th, went 4th when not fluent 15th, ridden before 4 out, no impression, mistake last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 9l behind Gorge (10-13) at Ludlow 3m Am hcp ch 0-125 (3) gs.
I'msingingtheblues (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, steady headway before 10th, chased leaders after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on flat, caught last stride, 2nd of 14, hd behind Tatenen (11-3) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs.
Hold On Julio (IRE) 5-2fav (10-0) Mid-division, hit 6th and next, reminders before 13th, headway to close 4th when blundered 4 out, travelling well before next, went 2nd before 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on strongly flat, easily, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs beating Neptune Collonges (11-12) by 9l, 10 ran.
