chased clear leader, mistake 3rd, closed 9th, led before 4 out, clear from next, stayed on
held up, reminder after 9th, soon closed, hampered 4 out, mistake and no impression on winner 3 out, went 2nd mistake 2 out
slithered badly, nearly fell and unseated rider 1st
held up, hit 7th, closed after 9th, about 2 lengths 2nd when fell 4 out
tore off in front and soon well clear, not fluent and reduced lead 9th, headed before 4 out, mistake and weakened 2 out
held up, hampered 1st, not fluent 6th, closed after 9th, badly hampered and lost any chance 4 out, bad mistake 3 out and immediately pulled up
soon well behind, pulled up before 3 out
This looks tricky but Valseur Du Granval goes better here than anywhere else and will be all the better for a recent pipe-opener over timber though, along with Hatcher, finished behind Capital Force over track and trip in May. COURT ROYALE was closing on the winner when making a mess of the second-last here last month. Also second on his chasing bow, it could be third-time lucky today. Master Work is back in the right grade after pulling up at Cheltenham but the jury is now out on Red Mix.
Hatcher (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leader, led 3rd, clear 4 out, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 17 3/4l behind Diego Du Charmil (11-12) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Master Work (FR) 12-1 (10-5) Held up in touch, pushed along bypassing omitted 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Capital Force (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Towards rear, outpaced after 3 out, weakened before last, tailed off, 9th of 13, dist behind Benny's Bridge (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Court Royale (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Held up, hit 6th, headway 4 out, going well 3 out, challenged next, every chance last, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2l behind What's Occurring (10-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Red Mix (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Raced keenly, led 3 out, weakened and mistake next, last of 6, 19l behind Legal History (10-13) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Valseur Du Granval (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 21 1/4l behind Mix Of Clover (11-5) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Well Said (IRE) 100-1 (10-10) Always behind, tailed off, 9th of 12, dist behind Simply The Betts (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
