led, not fluent 1st, jumped left and not fluent next, clear 5th, mistake 8th, headed approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace last
held up in rear, pecked 1st, mistake 6th, headway when mistake 4 out, no extra before last
mid-division, mistake and lost place 1st, hit 9th, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace before last
tracked leaders, mistake 8th, went close 2nd when left in lead 3 out, edged left after last, soon headed, held after, stayed on
mid-division, blundered 1st, ridden 4 out, unable to get on terms, blundered 2 out
pressed leader until before 4th, stayed 2nd, led before 4 out, 1 length up when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, lost place 5th, headway next, not fluent 7th, hit 9th, one pace 4 out, rallied before 2 out, led flat, driven out
held up, took keen hold, stumbled badly 1st, closed next, ridden and lost place from 8th, well beaten when pulled up before 4 out
Last Shot was just touched off by an in-form rival at Fontwell on Saturday and has won here in the past. Zarzal also likes it here while Oyster Shell won over course and distance in November but hasn't been seen since and Parsnip Pete also returns from a short break, though was taking on better opposition in the autumn. SONOFAGUN is upped in grade and carries a penalty for his victory at Stratford 10 days ago but could hardly have been more impressive and still has a bit of scope. He only gets a tentative vote, however, as Changing The Guard and Highway Code are others who would go close if back to their best.
Changing The Guard 25-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened after next, 12th of 23, 27l behind Savello (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Parsnip Pete 12-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 7th, headway 4 out, pecked 3 out, every chance next, no extra flat, 4th of 11, 11l behind Eastlake (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Dec.
Highway Code (USA) 25-1 (10-0) Always behind, struggling 10th, tailed off 3 out, 17th of 23, well behind Ballynagour (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Oyster Shell 5-1 (10-13) Made all, clear before 6th, not fluent 3 out, held on, won at Ludlow 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov beating Daymar Bay (10-2) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Zarzal (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Chased leaders in 4th, struggling 12th, went moderate 3rd after 5 out, no chance with front pair, tailed off, 3rd of 5, 43l behind Benbens (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f (3) sft in Feb.
Last Shot (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Led, headed 4 out and dropped to 3rd, ridden and rallied to chase winner 3 out, every chance last, found no extra final 110 yards, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Umberto D'olivate (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Sonofagun (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Pressed leader, not fluent 2nd, led 4th until 5th, led again 8th, hit 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Stratford 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft beating Marleno (10-12) by 20l, 9 ran.
Gracchus (USA) 4-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, outpaced and no impression 3 out, went modest 3rd before last, 3rd of 5, 21l behind Mighty Whitey (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Jul.
