in touch on inside, chased leaders halfway, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace after next
led until 6th, remained prominent, mistake 16th, effort 4 out, soon under pressure, no extra approaching last
mid-division, mistake 1st, headway 14th, blundered next, soon lost place
held up in touch, lost place 5th, under pressure in last 12th, soon detached, pulled up 6 out
held up in rear, headway 14th, weakened after 5 out
always prominent, led 6th, headed 3 out, rallied and every chance next, no extra closing stages
behind, mistake 1st, slow next, beaten 6 out
in touch, lost place 5th, outpaced 5 out, rallied 3 out, never on terms
tracked leaders, always travelling well, led 3 out, strongly challenged from next, stayed on well
chased leaders, weakened 6 out, tailed off after next
Only a length separated Ami Desbois and Back To The Thatch in the race won by Ramses De Teillee at Chepstow earlier this month. Another Venture was further behind but will strip fitter today. Very First Time is another who will have benefited from a recent outing and Chef D'Oeuvre appears to be running into form and stays well. Dell' Arca has been below par lately though could bounce back at any time but WEST OF THE EDGE (NAP) looks a better bet. He races off the same mark as when second last year and looks to have been aimed at the race again.
Dell' Arca (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up in touch in last pair, struggling after 8th, tailed 2 out, 7th of 10, 36 3/4l behind First Assignment (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Ami Desbois (FR) 16-1 (11-3) Made most, headed approaching 5 out, not fluent 3 out, hard ridden after 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Ramses De Teillee (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Another Venture (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Prominent until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 10, 23l behind Ramses De Teillee (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Ballycross 8-1 (11-0) With leader until mistake 8th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 11th, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
West Of The Edge (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) In touch, blundered and dropped to mid-division 15th, ridden to chase leaders after 5 out, outpaced when hampered 3 out, weakened after next, 8th of 16, 20 1/4l behind Harry The Viking (10-5) at Kelso 4m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Back To The Thatch (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Held up, progress on inside 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace under pressure from 2 out, 4th of 10, 6l behind Ramses De Teillee (11-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Very First Time 10-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, slow 8th, took closer order 14th, weakened 16th, tailed off 5 out, 5th of 8, dist behind Red Infantry (11-9) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Ballymalin (IRE) 2-1fav (12-0) Mid-division, not fluent 9th, lost place and towards rear after 10th, no chance after, 10th of 11, dist behind Sharp Response (11-12) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Chef D'Oeuvre (FR) 11-4jfav (11-8) Led to 9th, pressed leader, ridden and outpaced by clear pair after 4 out, no danger in clear 3rd from next, 3rd of 7, 9 1/2l behind Nakadam (10-9) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Dare To Endeavour 66-1 (10-0) Hampered start, behind, hampered 2nd, tailed off 13th 3 out, 12th of 18, dist behind Walk In The Mill (10-3) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
