led until 3 out, no extra last
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led 3 out, driven before 2 out, a little slow last, headed flat, stayed on, just held
behind after slow jump 1st, closed a bit 8th, not fluent and pushed along 11th, went 4th before 4 out, no impression
held up behind leaders, closed before 11th, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened
chased leader until 4th, pushed along 8th, not fluent 10th, lost place before 14th, soon behind
held up behind leaders, closed before 11th, went 2nd and jumped left 2 out, switched left just after last, led flat, idled, did enough
NonRunner
Ramses De Teillee and Run To Milan, who won this 12 months ago, were second and third respectively in the final of last year’s series at Sandown last month when Elegant Escape was pulled up and Chambard unseated his rider when tailed off. Mister Malarky was pulled up in his only run so far this season but Senior Citizen showed he stays 3m when scoring at Doncaster and runs in one of these veterans’ chases for the first time. MUSICAL SLAVE made mistakes when well beaten in the Welsh Grand National latest but this is a much easier assignment with Philip Hobbs’ stayer dropped 3lb as he enters his favourite time of the year.
Ramses De Teillee (FR) 6-1jfav (12-0) Prominent, led before 2nd, headed before 12th, chased winner, well held 3 out, stayed on for 2nd, 2nd of 18, 2 1/4l behind Wishing And Hoping (11-10) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Mister Malarky 14-1 (11-13) Chased leaders, ridden after 12th and steadily lost ground, well behind 3 out and pulled up, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Chambard (FR) 22-1 (11-11) Never fluent in rear, hit 8th, unseated rider next, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Senior Citizen 12-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, travelled strongly, chased leader after 4 out, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, led over 110 yards out on run-in, stayed on well and won going away, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Dec beating Burrows Diamond (11-8) by 3 3/4l, 9 ran.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 28-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, jumped slowly 14th, outpaced and struggling in rear 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before next, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Musical Slave (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Rear mid-division, bad mistake 17th and soon beaten, plugged on in rear, 7th of 17, dist behind The Two Amigos (10-6) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Run To Milan (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Raced wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders and pushed along after 3 out, plugged on into modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 18, 7 1/4l behind Wishing And Hoping (11-10) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
