held up, hit 9th, soon weakened
tracked leaders, hampered 8th, weakened after next
in touch, hit 8th, ridden when left close 2nd, soon after last, weakened flat
tracked winner, ridden approaching 2 out, close 2nd when stumbled and fell last
made all, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well flat
held up and keen, mistake 4th, headway and jumped right 8th, ridden after 9th, soon weakened
Nonrunner
A cracking renewal of a race normally run at Kempton, and last year's winner Crystal D'Ainay looks set for a repeat, with Blue Canyon, Patriarch Express and Royal Rosa all providing stiff opposition. The selection reverts to hurdles once more and that can signal a return to form. He stays the trip particularly well, acts with cut in the ground, and looks to be the best horse at the weights, so we will back him to win for the first time since last season's equivalent. Blue Canyon is an interesting contender. Francois Doumen's gelding acts on this sort of ground and will perhaps be better suited by this track than when beaten at Windsor last time. Tony McCoy has been carrying a few home lately and if this one's stamina gives out then he might be doing the same again. Patriarch Express comes from a yard that does particularly well in the big races here. Sue Smith's gelding acts on soft ground, though is unproven on heavy. He just gets three miles, so his stamina will really be tested here, though he does possess more than a touch of class. Stablemate Royal Emperor is a dour stayer who will act on the ground but along with one or two others has a bit to find, while Royal Rosa returns to the racecourse for the first time since finishing injured in last year's renewal. He is a high quality performer at his best, though it is more likely that he will strip fitter for this run which is designed to put him spot on for Cheltenham. But Crystal D'Ainay has some excellent timber form to his name and he can return to winning ways here.
Blue Canyon (FR) 11-4 (11-8) Held up in last pair, headway to track leaders 6th, led well before 2 out, narrowly headed last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind No Refuge (11-4) at Windsor 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.
Crystal d'Ainay (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Led to 2nd, with leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 13, 25l behind Eurotrek (10-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Jan.
Millenium Royal (FR) 10-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, hit 5th, ridden and struggling 9th, tailed off and pulled up at the last in race won by Fire Dragon (11-0) at Sandown 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gd, 12 ran.
Patriarch Express 14-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 3 out, upsides 2 out, ridden and every chance last, no extra, run-in, 4th of 12, 4l behind Fire Dragon (11-0) at Sandown 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) gd.
Royal Emperor (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced 11th, poor 4th approaching 3 out, blundered last, stayed on to take 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 14l behind The Bajan Bandit (11-10) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft.
Sh Boom 25-1 (11-1) Held up well in rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly last, ran on to take 2nd final 100 yards, not reach winner, 2nd of 18, 2 1/2l behind Ungaro (10-8) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd.
The French Furze (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Led and disputed, headed 4 out, soon lost place, last approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure straight, 5th of 7, 14l behind Brave Inca (11-10) at Leopardstown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Jan.
Royal Rosa (FR) 2-1fav (11-8) In touch, led 7th, headed 3 out, rallied to lead next, headed under pressure before last, weakened and eased flat, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Crystal d'Ainay (11-12) at Kempton 3m hdl Grd 2 (A) sft.
