chased leaders, 2nd after normal 3 out until normal 2 out, one pace final 100 yards
mid-division, headway on inside normal 3 out, weakened normal 2 out
always in rear
held up in mid-division, closed before 4th, weakened before normal 2 out
tracked leaders, 2nd from 2nd, led and hanging right before normal 3 out, driven and reduced lead bypassing omitted last, headed close home
held up in rear, headway before normal 2 out, stayed on final 150 yards, went 2nd close home
held up towards rear, headway after normal 3 out, went 2nd after normal 2 out, closed on lead bypassing omitted last, led close home
led, headed before normal 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader until 2nd, stayed handy, ridden after normal 3 out, weakened after omitted last
MOSCOW ME wasn’t beaten far off a higher mark at Exeter two runs ago and may be capable of defying top weight in a race that lacks any strength-in-depth. Lake Chapala has been in good form over fences lately but is 0-19 over hurdles. Seven Summits was returning from a lay-off when third at Ayr and should strip fitter here and he makes more appeal than the disappointing Grand March. Chivers has also let down supporters over timber considering he won three times on the Flat, though his latest fourth at Wincanton was an improvement.
Moscow Me (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Keen tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 19 3/4l behind Unzing (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Seven Summits (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, one pace in 3rd from last, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Little Bruce (11-9) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Dragon Khan (IRE) 150-1 (11-2) Always towards rear, weakened after 4 out, 9th of 13, 33 1/4l behind Deepsand (11-11) at Haydock 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Grand March 11-4fav (11-6) Led 2nd, mistake and lost place 3rd, not fluent after, ridden and struggling 6th, well behind 9th, pulled up after, at Wincanton 2m hcp (5) gs in Dec.
Chivers (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 4th of 10, 11 1/2l behind Chakisto (11-0) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Lake Chapala (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up, left 3rd briefly 2nd, mistake and outpaced 3 out, closed under pressure from next, still 3rd before last, led flat, stayed on, won at Hereford 2m hcp (5) sft in Jan beating Free World (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Aza Run (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, ridden and no impression before 4 out, 8th of 14, dist behind Manwell (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Old Magic (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place before 4 out, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Jun.
Xhale (FR) 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, beaten when mistake 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 12, dist behind Rather Be (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (4) gs in Dec.
