held up towards rear on inside, not fluent 9th or 10th, well beaten 11th, pulled up before 4 out
led until 9th, weakened before 4 out
last 2nd, some slow jumps, headway on outside after 11th, weakened before 4 out
tracked leaders, not fluent and lost ground 7th, ridden after 8th, well beaten from 10th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders on outside, went 2nd after 11th, challenging when mistake 3 out, led last, stayed on well
pressed leader, led 9th, shaken up 2 out, headed last, no extra flat
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 7th, headway 8th, beaten 3 out, jumped left and weakened 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway 9th, 3rd before 4 out, held and jumped left 2 out, weakened last
The Kings Writ probably needs further nowadays but is a previous course and distance winner. Cut The Mustard still hasn’t won since switching from Willie Mullins to Paul Nicholls while Tile Tapper is tackling fences for the first time, though was often highly tried over timber. Longshanks was a fair third at Stratford on his chasing bow and Gunsight Ridge filled the same position at Aintree but L’HOMME PRESSE is bred to jump fences and won first-time out last season so is definitely worth a second look representing a yard that has hit form in recent weeks.
Antunes 10-1 (11-12) Led until 3rd, led after next, blundered and headed 5th, lost place 4 out, well beaten next, last of 8, dist behind Darling Du Large (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
The Kings Writ (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd 12th, pushed along before 4 out, no impression when lost 2nd before 2 out, plugged on in 3rd, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Sir Ivan (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Cut The Mustard (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, not fluent 4 out, ridden after 3 out, well beaten when pulled up before 2 out, at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
L'Air Du Vent (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Slight lead until mistake 1st, chased leading pair until before 11th, weakened next, tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Informateur (11-3) at Haydock 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
L'Homme Presse (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Raced wide, chased leader until pushed along before 2 out, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Scaramanga (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Gunsight Ridge 2-1fav (10-13) Chased leaders, lost place 8th, rallied after 3 out, no impression before last, kept on flat, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Darling Du Large (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Tile Tapper 14-1 (11-0) Chased leader until before 3 out, soon weakened, last of 7, dist behind Camprond (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f (1) gd in Oct.
Longshanks (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Mistake 1st in rear, soon in mid-division, ridden and keeping on one pace when hampered and left in third after last, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Kap Auteuil (11-3) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
