tracked leader, not fluent 5th, not fluent and jumped left from 8th, clear before 2 out, went badly left last, stayed on well
held up, closed from 4th, pushed along 8th, went 3rd after 3 out, went 2nd before last, stayed on, no impression on winner
held up in rear, mistake 3 out, no impression, well beaten when mistake 2 out, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden after next, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 4th, mistake 7th, well beaten after 3 out
led, jumped left, not fluent 5th, headed 3 out, no impression on winner when mistake 2 out, weakened into 3rd last
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
TAKE THE CROWN finished a couple of lengths ahead of Midnight Chorister when runner-up at Leicester earlier this month - he can confirm running and go one better in this. Topthorn won this last year but was pulled up behind the selection last time while Sonofagun failed to cope in better company at Ludlow on his return but should be sharper for this and is not badly weighted. Boss In Boots has slipped down the handicap and could also go well dropping back down a grade.
Sonofagun (FR) 20-1 (10-3) Held up, left 4th 3rd, mistakes 7th and 9th, weakened and lost 4th 3 out, 5th of 9, 37 3/4l behind Sir Valentino (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Safari Journey (USA) 25-1 (11-6) Mid-division, pushed along 8th, lost place 10th, soon behind, tailed off, 7th of 10, dist behind Boric (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Ciceron (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, last 8th, weakened 12th, behind next, pulled up after, at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Take The Crown 9-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 4 out, effort 2 out, soon ridden to chase winner, kept on same pace, no impression final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Exmoor Mist (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Topthorn 22-1 (11-5) Led, headed before 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Little Windmill (IRE) 5-1 (10-1) Led to 3rd, tracked leader until before 8th, blundered and unseated rider 5 out, at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Boss In Boots (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Mid-division, lost place 5th struggling next, reminders after 7th, tailed off after 10th, last of 10, dist behind Vision Des Champs (11-0) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Midnight Chorister 7-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 4 out, driven to chase front pair before last, ridden and one pace flat, no impression when lost 3rd final 50 yards, 4th of 8, 5 3/4l behind Exmoor Mist (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gd in Dec.
Grand March 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, hit 5th, hampered 7th, not fluent and lost place 8th, one pace and no impression from 4 out, went 4th from last, 4th of 12, 14l behind Truckers Highway (11-0) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
