tracked leaders, led 2nd, headed before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last
held up mid-division, reminders and weakened from 6 out, soon pulled up
prominent, pushed along before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
held up towards rear, brought down 5 out
tracked leaders, lost place 4th, soon in rear and struggling, pulled up before 5 out
held up in touch, led before 3 out, headed before last, kept on and no chance with winner
held up mid-division, weakened before 4 out
always behind, pulled up before 5 out
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, led before last, soon clear, kept on well
held up mid-division, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, soon in rear and struggling, pulled up before 5 out
in touch, fell 5 out
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden last, kept on
led to 2nd, weakened before 3 out
always towards rear
towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, one pace
David Pipe has won three of the last five renewals of this race, including with Dynaste and Grands Crus. He runs the progressive Low Key under amateur pilot David Noonan, who has impressed on the prolific Ashcott Boy recently, and Tom Scudamore's mount Batavir, who was in tremendous form around this time last year. Shantou Bob was unbeaten after four starts before placed in Grade 2 novice company then failing to sparkle in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He is not exactly thrown in for his handicap debut but takes a drop in class. Tea For Two was pulled up in that latter contest after he'd looked very progressive previously and a recent run at Chepstow will have put him straight. Definitly Red is another to have failed at Cheltenham after he had completed a double with a victory in a Grade 2 on this track. He has also won two Listed bumpers and is clearly very useful so he is one for the shortlist on his handicap debu.. YALA ENKI, twice a winner over fences in France, made a pleasing start for Venetia Williams in March and showed the benefit when grinding his rivals into the ground at Exeter earlier this month. With conditions in his favour and a nice low weight he looks the one to be on here. Paul Nicholls had a couple of big priced winners at Cheltenham last weekend so Alcala shouldn't be dismissed despite being well beaten there last Friday, as he was running on at the finish.
Closing Ceremony (IRE) 17-2 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 3rd until 7th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 9, dist behind Kilcooley (11-9) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Shantou Bob (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Behind, slow 3rd, plugged on before last, never in contention with leaders, 6th of 19, 18 1/4l behind Martello Tower (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Tea For Two 7-2fav (11-5) Prominent, pushed along 4 out, one pace and no impression from 2 out, 6th of 17, 10 1/4l behind Court Minstrel (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Our Kaempfer (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased winner next, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Broxbourne (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Barafundle (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 1st, headed 5th, led again before next, headed 11th, led again next, headed 6 out, weakened after next, behind when pulled up 2 out, at Carlisle 3m (2) hvy in Nov.
Definitly Red (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) In touch on outside, ridden after 6th, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Vics Canvas (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway when squueezed approaching 19th, chased leading trio before 2 out, kept on well and every chance run-in, 2nd but not pace of winner, 2nd of 20, 1 1/4l behind Just A Par (10-3) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Mijhaar 7-1 (11-9) Held up, headway after 8th, led 2 out, headed last, no extra final 100 yards, 3rd of 11, 14 1/4l behind Dark Spirit (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Baradari (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost place 4 out, soon ridden and behind, 15th of 21, dist behind Theinval (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Low Key (IRE) 5-1 (10-4) Settled well in rear, slow 2nd, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, ridden to challenge before last, kept on under pressure, 3rd of 5, 4 1/4l behind Brother Tedd (10-13) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
One For Harry (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Led to 2nd, tracked leaders, led 3 out, mistake 2 out, headed last, rallied run-in, kept on to regain lead towards finish, won at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Shotavodka (11-2) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Wychwoods Brook 25-1 (11-3) In touch, went 2nd 16th until 18th, weakened and pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 4m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Batavir (FR) 8-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway before 9th, every chance 2 out, no extra flat, 9th of 16, 16l behind Rons Dream (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Yala Enki (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Made all, jumped left 1st, ridden when not fluent 3 out, clear from next, stayed on well, comfortably, won at Exeter 2m 6f (3) gs in Nov beating Duke Des Champs (10-12) by 16l, 14 ran.
Bold Sir Brian (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Midfield, mistake 3rd, headway to chase leaders 5 out, blundered next, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, at Haydock 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Alcala (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leading pair, outpaced in 4th approaching 2 out, soon beaten, kept on under pressure flat, just held for modest 3rd near finish, last of 4, 18l behind Shantou Village (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
