raced keenly, tracked leaders on inside, reached for 5th, ridden and weakened 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader until 4th, handy 3rd, went 2nd again 14th, pushed along before 3 out, lost 2nd before next, well held in 3rd when blundered last, lost that placing close home
never travelled in rear, reminders after 7th, still last and plenty to do 4 out, stayed on from after 2 out, went modest 3rd close home
jumped left, chased leaders out wide, went 2nd 4th, led before 7th, headed 11th, led again approaching next, went badly left and headed 13th, blundered next, weakening when mistake 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders in 5th, hit 13th, weakened before 4 out
led until before 7th, pressed leader, led again 11th until approaching next, in front again 13th, made rest, over 1 length ahead last, driven and in command run-in
waited with in last pair, smooth headway when hit 14th, went 3rd before 4 out, pushed along before next, 2nd before 2 out where mistake, over 1 length down when blundered last, no chance after
A decent renewal of this Grade 1 but The Big Breakaway has a bit to prove following defeat by Bold Plan at Exeter, though a return to 3m will play more to his strengths. One For The Team did well to overturn previous running with Kalooki at Newbury behind Next Destination but wouldn’t want any rain. Enrilo and Golan Fortune were both winners last time but more will be needed here while If The Cap Fits surprisingly failed to land the odds against Pym, well beaten since, at Sandown when receiving weight. SHAN BLUE (NAP) has been very impressive in a couple of victories over Wetherby’s stiff fences and had no trouble stepping up 3m in the second of those. He looks a natural over the larger obstacles.
Enrilo (FR) 4-6fav (11-1) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led before 2 out, drifted left last and flat, eased close home, won at Exeter 3m (2) gs in Nov beating Darlac (11-1) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Golan Fortune (IRE) 9-4cfav (11-4) Disputed lead, settled behind leader 2nd, blundered 5th, not fluent 11th (water), led narrowly 12th, extended lead approaching 4 out, reduced advantage 2 out, stayed on strongly last, driven out, won at Ludlow 3m (3) gs in Dec beating Champagne Well (11-4) by 8 1/2l, 4 ran.
If The Cap Fits (IRE) 2-5fav (10-10) Tracked leader and always 2nd, mistake 3rd, niggled along approaching 3 out, shoved along and not fluent 2 out, edged slightly right when ridden approaching last, no match for winner, 2nd of 3, 2 1/2l behind Pym (11-2) at Sandown 3m lst (1) gd in Nov.
Kalooki (GER) 7-4 (11-2) Jumped left at times, led, went clear before 4th, reduced lead 6th, mistake 14th, went left and pecked 3 out, headed between last 2, awkward and weakened into 3rd at the last, 3rd of 5, 7 3/4l behind Next Destination (11-2) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gd in Nov.
One For The Team 8-1 (11-2) Chased leading pair, went 1 length 2nd at the last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Next Destination (11-2) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gd in Nov.
Shan Blue (IRE) 10-11fav (11-10) Jumped really well, tracked leader, led 14th, headed next, led again before 4 out, soon quickened clear, impressive, won at Wetherby 3m (4) gs in Oct beating Snow Leopardess (10-11) by 16l, 4 ran.
The Big Breakaway (IRE) 2-9fav (11-8) Disputed lead, led narrowly 7th, jumped into clear lead 10th, not fluent 4 out, joined last, headed and outpaced flat, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Bold Plan (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f (2) sft in Dec.
