held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 8th, struggling and no impression when mistake 15th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, 3rd 4 out, went 2nd and hit last, plugged on at same pace, no chance with winner
never going and well in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
made most until 4th, chased leader, led again 15th until 3 out, chased winner, no chance when lost 2nd at the last, plugged on in 3rd
mostly tracked leader until led 4th, mistake and briefly headed 6th, headed 15th, pushed along and lost 2nd before 17th, weakened quickly before next, behind and pulled up before 3 out
always front rank, close 2nd going well approaching 17th, led 3 out, clear next, stayed on strongly
towards rear, reminders and struggling after 10th, plugging on past beaten horses when mistake 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along in well held 3rd before 4 out, weakened next, finished tired
always towards rear, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway tracking leaders approaching 12th, weakened 14th, tailed off when blundered 3 out
raced wide towards rear, headway and in touch 15th, chasing leaders when hung left from 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, losing place when slightly hampered on bend before 12th, weakened rapidly next, tailed off and pulled up before 15th
NonRunner
NonRunner
The smallest field for this in 14 years, reduced further by the defection of Kemboy. Elegant Escape wore down THOMAS PATRICK when the pair clashed at Sandown last month but Tom Lacey’s bold-jumping front-runner is 5lb better off now for half-a-length and, already a course and distance winner, can turn the tables and give Richard Johnson a second win in this Grade 3 handicap in three years. As well as Elegant Escape, Colin Tizzard also runs Sizing Tennessee and West Approach but both have a bit to find in this company. Ms Parfois is very tough but lacks a run this term, as does American. Dingo Dollar had a pipe-opener over hurdles last month, however, and still has scope over the larger obstacles. The Young Master has rediscovered some form this season but only one nine-year-old has won this since 2000. Bryony Frost resembled a rodeo act when keeping her partnership with Black Corton intact at Wetherby and the top weight usually runs his race, though looks a few pounds too high. Stamina might be an issue with the Twiston-Davies pair Flying Angel and Go Conquer but Beware The Bear won the Rehearsal Chase on his reappearance last season and could go well if wind surgery has had the desired effect. Allysson Monterg also goes well fresh.
Black Corton (FR) 5-4fav (11-3) Keen, led, jumped awkwardly 3rd and rider lost irons and reins, made fantastic recovery and regained irons 5th, not fluent 7th, headed next, tracked winner, not fluent 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Definitly Red (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (1) gd in Nov.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Tracked leader, not fluent 13th or 15th, challenging when mistake last, nearly 2 lengths to make up flat, rallied and stayed on well towards finish, led close home, won at Sandown 3m lst (1) sft in Nov beating Thomas Patrick (11-6) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
American (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Chased leaders on outside, not fluent 3rd, mistake 5th, disputing 5th 4 out, weakened next, 9th of 15, dist behind Native River (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (1) sft in Mar.
Dingo Dollar (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led until 5th, chased leader until 3 out, chased leading pair, hung left and ridden before next, outpaced between last 2, plugged on run-in, 4th of 14, 10 1/4l behind Jersey Bean (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Thomas Patrick (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Led, not fluent 14th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on, headed close home, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Elegant Escape (11-8) at Sandown 3m lst (1) sft in Nov.
Sizing Tennessee (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Chased leader, led 10th to 11th, led approaching 4 out, pushed along and headed 2 out, led last, driven clear, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Capeland (10-10) by 11l, 5 ran.
Beware The Bear (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Always in rear, tailed off 20th, pulled up after, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Ms Parfois (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Held up in touch, tracked leaders on outside 5 out, led 3 out, ridden when hard pressed after next, headed before last, kept on, well held in clear 2nd final 110 yards, 2nd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Terrefort (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Allysson Monterg (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Always prominent, hampered 5th, led 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Perth 3m hcp (3) sft in Apr beating As De Pique (10-12) by 4 1/2l, 11 ran.
Flying Angel (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 13th, ridden 3 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Mr Medic (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
West Approach 9-1 (10-7) Always behind, lost touch and pulled up 9th, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
The Young Master 9-2 (11-8) Made all, pressed when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, driven clear flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Station Master (11-6) by 8l, 11 ran.
Kemboy (FR) 11-8fav (11-4) A little keen, slight mistake 1st, raced in 2nd, on terms briefly after 5th, slight mistake 7th, gained narrow lead before 2 out where slight mistake, jumped slightly right last and stayed on best, won at Clonmel 2m 4f (1) gd in Nov beating Alpha Des Obeaux (11-10) by 3l, 5 ran.
Go Conquer (IRE) 11-4fav (11-10) Led, headed after 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Traffic Fluide (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
