held up towards rear, headway 3 out, no impression in 4th before 2 out, went 3rd last
mid-division, jumped left, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next
with leader, led 3rd, headed before 10th, weakened approaching 12th, pulled up before next
led until 3rd, not fluent 9th, led before next, headed 2 out, no impression final 50 yards
tracked leaders, led 2 out, stayed on, drawing clear final 50 yards
held up in rear, some headway 5th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, jumped badly left 2 out and last
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, closed 11th, lost 2nd before 2 out, soon weakened, lost 3rd flat
jumped left, not jump well, in rear, well behind 7th, tailed off 9th, pulled up after
General Bux was successful over course and distance on Boxing Day on his first run for Sophie Leech. That was only his third race over fences so there is probably more to come but he’s gone 9lb and a clean round of jumping and step up in trip could see AIR DE ROCK finally get his head in front after narrow defeats at Chepstow and Lingfield. Zamparelli is back in the right grade after falling at Newbury but Sackett didn’t show much on his only previous try over the larger obstacles. The Captain is blinkered after a disappointing effort at Leicester last week and looks very one-paced.
Zamparelli (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Behind, fell 8th, at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Vocaliser (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, every chance next, lost 2nd before 2 out, kept on same pace in 3rd, no extra in 4th final 75 yards, 4th of 8, 10l behind Larry (11-11) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
General Bux 7-2 (12-0) Made all, ridden clear 3 out, ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Dec beating Quantum Of Solace (11-6) by 5l, 8 ran.
Sackett 13-2 (11-11) Raced on inside, ran in snatches, held up in rear, headway chasing leaders approaching 8th, ridden 10th, lost place and outpaced before 3 out, plugged on in remote 4th run-in, 4th of 8, dist behind Potters Hedger (12-1) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Air De Rock (FR) 10-11fav (10-10) Prominent, driven to challenge approaching 2 out, soon every chance, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Early Du Lemo (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp (4) gs in Jan.
Klepht (IRE) 2-1 (12-5) (tt) hdwy 11; outpcd 15; no imp 3 out, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Cave Hunter (12-5) at Hexham 3m gd in May.
The Captain (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Tracked leader, outpaced after 5 out, stayed on after last, never a threat, 3rd of 4, 10l behind Edgar (11-0) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Againn Dul Aghaidh 66-1 (11-12) Held up, weakened 5 out, 8th of 14, dist behind Gone Platinum (12-2) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Jan.