pulled hard, tracked leading pair, left 2nd at 7th, ridden and lost that placing bypassing 5 out, weakened rapidly, tailed off and pulled up before next
led until 2nd, led again 6th, blundered badly and unseated rider next
raced wide, held up in 4th, left in 3rd place 7th, went 2nd bypassing 5 out, held when went left next, stayed on same pace and never going pace to challenge
tracked leader, led 2nd until 6th, left in lead next, clear when dived at 4 out, blundered badly 2 out, hung left and not look resolute run-in
NonRunner
Breaking Waves jumped poorly on his chasing bow and was pulled up but Fox Pro is an interesting newcomer to fences having won a Listed race over hurdles when trained in France. Golden Whisky won on heavy going at Ffos Las before being pulled up when raised in class at Ascot. Dream Du Grand Val should make a chaser and the lack of recent run is rarely a concern for one for his yard but we’ll give a final chance to WESTEND STORY, who has been a shade unlucky over fences so far with his fourth behind Defi Du Seuil, Topofthegame and Black Op here last season being the stand-out form.
Dream Du Grand Val (FR) 14-1 (11-1) Jinked right and started slowly, took keen hold in last pair, good headway chasing leaders 4th, weakened rapidly soon after 2 out, 14th of 15, 35 1/4l behind Getaway Trump (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Westend Story (IRE) 9-2fav (11-1) Chased leaders, led 3rd until after 13th, chased winner until before 4 out, chased leaders until fell 3 out, at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Fox Pro (FR) (10-7) at Auteuil 2m 2f Grp 3 (1) hvy in Sep.
Breaking Waves (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Held up, went left at times, outpaced 7th, mistake 10th, not fluent 13th, mistake next, pulled up before 15th, at Huntingdon 3m (3) gs in Dec.
Golden Whisky (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, behind and struggling after 8th, jumped slowly next, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
