always towards rear
in touch, lost place from 10 out, soon behind
mid-division, weakened from 9 out
towards rear, mistake 2nd, never dangerous
mid-division, headway 6 out, weakened from 2 out
prominent, went 2nd from 10th, weakened before 4 out
mid-division, pushed along and weakened before 5 out
tracked winner, weakened from 7 out, pulled up before 2 out
made all, mistake 7 out, clear from 6 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on strongly
mid-division, reminders after 6th, soon struggling, fell on flat before 8th
in rear, headway before 8th, went 3rd from 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on one and lost 2nd place run-in
tracked leaders, ridden before 4 out, no extra from before last
towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before last, kept on well to chase winner run-in, always held
in rear, weakened before 4 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
Last year’s first and second, Ziga Boy and Coologue, are back for more and both arrive off the back of decent efforts. Bigbadjohn is a potential blot on the handicap on his second to Thistlecrack at Newbury while Ballyboker Breeze and Potters Cross were both winners last time. Another Hero appeared to leave previous form behind when fourth at Ascot before Christmas and Neil Mulholland will have given Southfield Royale plenty of work. He’s preferred to the Nicholls pair Vicente and Caid Du Berlais but Tenor Nivernais is capable of running well, despite joint top weight. OUT SAM has been blundering his way around Cheltenham and Aintree since last successful but did better over less-taxing fences last time at Kempton, despite jumping left. Going the other way around here might suit Warren Greatrex’ gelding, who gets the nod to pounce late from near the foot of the weights.
Third Intention (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Held up, headway 26th, left 2nd briefly 27th, one pace and beaten from 2 out, 5th of 7, 13 1/2l behind Cantlow (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 6f hcp (2) gf in Dec.
Holywell (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Badly hampered 1st, behind, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 14th, at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Vicente (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 8th, effort on outside when not fluent 14th, disputing 5th 5 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 20, 26 1/2l behind Native River (11-12) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Southfield Royale 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, 3rd 5 out, ridden from next, soon weakened, 7th of 9, dist behind Zabana (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Good - Yielding in Apr.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Held up disputing 3rd place behind leading pair, driven along and struggling in 4th place before 2 out, 4th of 5, 9 1/4l behind Top Notch (11-3) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) gs in Dec.
Coologue (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked winner, hit 6th, dropped to 3rd when left 2nd 14th, ridden and no impression before 4 out, hit 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 13l behind Three Faces West (11-7) at Newbury 2m 7f (2) gs in Dec.
Ballyboker Breeze (IRE) 4-1fav (11-7) Held up behind, steady headway after 9th, tracked leaders 12th, led narrowly 3 out, ridden after next, clear flat, driven out, won at Bangor 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Kaki De La Pree (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Potters Cross 11-2 (12-2) Made most until narrowly headed 14th, chased leader, led again 17th, stayed on gamely from last, driven out, won at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Treaty Girl (11-9) by 2l, 12 ran.
Ziga Boy (FR) 5-1 (11-8) Led to 9th, led again 11th, headed 4 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 5l behind No Duffer (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Bigbadjohn (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Sometimes jumped right, chased winner until 7th, chased leading pair, outpaced 10th, rallied into 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, hit last, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Thistlecrack (11-9) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gs in Nov.
Another Hero (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Hampered 1st, held up towards rear, steady headway tracking leaders 13th, 3rd before 2 out, ridden between last two, every chance after last, no extra in 4th final 100 yards, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Regal Encore (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Out Sam 7-1 (11-5) Jumped left, held up in mid-division, steady headway tracking leaders 9th, mistake 13th, pushed along and outpaced in 5th after 4 out, rallied before the last, kept on into 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Double Shuffle (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Looking Well (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, went 3rd before 4 out, led after 2 out, kept on well and left clear from last, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) gf in May beating Pena Dorada (10-13) by 13l, 7 ran.
Long Lunch 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 11th, led 4 out, pressed from 2 out, kept on gamely run-in, caught post, 2nd of 11, shd behind No Duffer (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leader until 13th, outpaced and no impression from 3 out, went 4th flat, 4th of 11, 8 1/2l behind Shantou Flyer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Katachenko (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Chased leaders in 4th, blundered 8th when outpaced, weakened from next, 5th of 8, 29 1/2l behind Kalane (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
