made most until 9th, lost 2nd next, chased leaders, mistake 13th, stayed chasing leaders but outpaced 4 out, rallied to 2nd final 100 yards, no impression on winner
patiently ridden and held up last, went left 9th, hampered 12th, steady headway from 14th, chased leaders before 4 out, stayed on to lead approaching last, ridden out
held up, mistake 2nd, headway 6th, dropped to rear before 11th, headway again 13th to get in behind leaders next, ridden and weakened quickly when pulled up before 4 out
pressed leader, led 9th until 13th, chased leader, every chance from 4 out, disputing close 2nd last, no extra flat
held up, headwat to get in behind leaders 6th, challenged 11th, upsides when fell next
chased leaders, mistake 9th, went 2nd next, led 13th, joined and strongly pressed from 4 out, driven after 2 out, headed approaching last, no impression on winner when dropped to 3rd final 100 yards
soon held up, bumped 9th, driven after 11th, lost place and behind when blundered badly next, tailed off 14th, pulled up soon after
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 8th, went 3rd at 13th, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, lost place 13th, weakened after next
MUSICAL WEDGE suffered a narrow margin defeat over these fences last time having won at Taunton in November. A conditional's claim negates another 4lb rise and he can confirm latest running with Lupita and land this. Thomas Wild is up 8lb for his C&D victory but that was back in March last year and last month's Bangor winner Flying Award makes more appeal as he returns to a shorter trip. Quinte du Chatelet has yet to win over fences but has slipped down the weights and showed a bit more at Fontwell last time.
Pericoloso (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Behind, slow and ridden 9th (water), mistake 14th, pushed along and struggling in 5th before 4 out, never involved, tailed off, 5th of 8, 43l behind Grandioso (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f beg chs (3) sft in Dec.
Flying Award (IRE) 6-5fav (11-3) Tracked leading pair, challenged for 2nd 4 out, outpaced and niggled along next, rallied to 2nd 2 out, led before mistake last, kept on flat, won at Bangor 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Acrai Rua (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 3 ran.
Meet The Critics (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up, jumped right and got worse as race progressed, mistake 1st, closed after 11th, ridden when pecked 17th, soon outpaced, weakened 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Battlecry (10-8) at Newbury 3m 2f am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov '11, 7 ran.
Quinte du Chatelet (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th, led 12th until 4 out, chased leader, no extra in 4th before last, 4th of 7, 11l behind Father Probus (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Thomas Wild 6-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, hampered 4th, ridden to go 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, all out, won at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar beating Bubbly Bruce (11-12) by ns, 8 ran.
Musical Wedge 11-4fav (11-8) Prominent, led 2nd, headed after next, ridden to challenge 4 out, every chance from 2 out, led closing stages, headed post, 2nd of 8, ns behind The Big Freeze (11-12) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Global Warming (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Chased leaders, blundered 3rd, ridden 4 out, outpaced before next, plugged on again flat, 4th of 8, 6l behind Handtheprizeover (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Forever My Friend (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Tracked winner, mistake 4 out, ridden in close 3rd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Thedreamstillalive (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 6 ran.
Lupita (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway 5th, led next, headed approaching 8th, under pressure 4 out, weakended after 2 out, 3rd of 8, 11l behind The Big Freeze (11-12) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
