held up in last, outpaced before 4 out, no impression
took keen hold, led, headed before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, well held last
held up in 3rd, raced keenly, outpaced when jumped left 4 out, no impression
tracked leader, challenged 4 out, led before next, clear last, eased close home
The hat-trick seeking Fidux is the only hold-up horse in this contest so could profit if the others take each other on, though has to give weight to his three rivals. Champagne Mystery never saw another horse at Aintree and jumped well but Whatmore made mistakes at Huntingdon. DASHEL DRASHER blundered and got rid of Matt Griffiths at the first in a Grade 2 at Newbury last Friday and continued with the field thereafter. But that has obviously left no ill-effects and his run behind Champ at the Berkshire track earlier is the stand-out form in this.
Fidux (FR) 11-4 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 12th, challenged after 2 out, ridden to lead narrowly flat, kept on well, won at Stratford 2m 7f (3) gd in Jul beating Kings Ryde (10-12) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Champagne Mystery (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Raced keenly, jumped well, made all, clear 4 out, easily, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Present Value (11-1) by 11l, 7 ran.
Whatmore 9-2 (11-7) Led, jumped slowly at open ditches, rallied next, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Deyrann de Carjac (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (3) gd in Nov.
Dashel Drasher 8-1 (11-1) Slight lead when blundered badly and unseated rider 1st, at Newbury 2m 4f (1) gs in Nov.
