held up, not fluent 9th or 12th, left 3rd 15th, weakened before 4 out
mistakes, chased leaders, went 2nd before 9th, weakened 3 out, finished tired
chased winner, hampered 3rd, lost 2nd before 9th, mistake 14th, 7 lengths 3rd and ridden when fell 14th
jumped left at times, made all, clear 3 out, unchallenged
held up on outside, jumped left 4th, ridden after 12th, mistake next, pulled up before 14th
behind, brought down 14th
chased leaders on inside, not fluent 3rd, mistake next, lost place 12th, mistake next, well beaten when pulled up before 4 out
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The top two in the weights - Definitly Red and Saint Xavier – are likely to divert to Kelso but the latter’s trainer is still represented by Worthy Farm, who is on a hat-trick after back-to-back wins over 3m1f at Wincanton. Captain Chaos produced a bold front-running performance in the Classic Chase at Warwick before getting outstayed by Kimberlite Candy. Boldmere was in front when falling at the last in the Grade 2 Towton at Wetherby and should go well with a clear round while Yalltari looked in need of the run at Ascot in December. CHIDSWELL is 5lb higher than when successful 12 months ago but again showed his liking for this track when third in last month’s Skybet Chase, despite some indifferent jumping – he’ll be suited by the return to a longer trip.
Yalltari 10-3fav (10-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, led before 7th until before 11th, chased leader until after 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 10, 31 3/4l behind Regal Encore (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Worthy Farm (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway before 6 out, soon challenged led before last, held on well, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating The Kings Writ (11-11) by 2l, 12 ran.
Aaron Lad (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, made all, bumped and steep at 7th, came clear from 3 out, 3 lengths ahead when not fluent stayed on gamely, unchallenged, won at Exeter 3m (3) hvy in Jan beating Prime Venture (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 3 ran.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Led, clear at times, mistake 8th, ridden and headed last, well held by winner flat, 2nd of 13, 10l behind Kimberlite Candy (11-4) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Fortified Bay (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway before 5th, went 2nd 4 out, led before last, driven out, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Hill Sixteen (11-4) by 2l, 10 ran.
Ascot De Bruyere (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent and lost place 4th, headway 12th, outpaced after 15th, 4th before 3 out, weakened approaching next, 4th of 10, 21l behind Fortified Bay (11-8) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Cesar Et Rosalie (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders on inside, close up when unseated rider after 14th, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Definitly Red (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, ridden and headway 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Vintage Clouds (10-11) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Saint Xavier (FR) 6-4fav (11-5) Led, pushed along after 4 out, headed last, no impression flat, 2nd of 4, 4 1/2l behind I K Brunel (11-5) at Musselburgh 3m (2) sft in Feb.
Boldmere 5-2fav (11-0) Prominent, led after 4 out, about 3 lengths ahead when fell last, at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Chidswell (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, hit 5th, mistake next and lost place, towards rear, rallied before 4 out, where stumbled badly, staying on when blundered again 2 out, no chance after but took 3rd run-in, 3rd of 14, 14 1/2l behind Ok Corral (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Jan.
