behind, headway approaching 5 out, no impression on winner 4 out, well held 3 out, mistake 2 out
towards rear, outpaced before 4 out, rallied from 2 out, went 3rd last, stayed on, no impression
mid-division, closed 11th, disputing 2nd from 15th, ridden and no impression on winner 4 out, weakened last
mid-division, headway after 16th, outpaced 4 out, well held from 3 out, tailed off
chased winner, mistake 13th, not fluent next, no impression from 4 out, kept on
jumped slowly at times, prominent until 1st, chased leaders, lost place 13th, behind 16th, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
jumped right, made all, not fluent 8th or 9th, clear from 4 out, eased towards finish
NonRunner
The final of last year’s veterans’ chase series was run in January at Sandown and won by Prime Venture, who is 7lb higher now. ASO was pulled up that day but that wasn’t his running. He’d earlier finished second to Blaklion at Haydock and has dropped 5lb in the ratings since. Indy Five was also pulled at Sandown but ran well either side of that effort and is a past winner here. Saint Xavier has a squeak but none of the others arrive in peak form.
Kauto Riko (FR) 66-1 (11-2) Held up last, went remote 4th towards finish, never involved, 4th of 5, 11 1/4l behind Chantry House (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) gd in Jan.
Prime Venture (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway after 8th, lost place before 3 out, soon well held, plugged on from 2 out, 7th of 8, 16 3/4l behind Ballyandy (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Minellacelebration (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden and not fluent 3 out, weakened next, 7th of 11, dist behind Final Nudge (10-12) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Encounter A Giant (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Towards rear, slow 11th, pushed along and weakened after 13th, pulled up before 3 out (usual 4 out), at Exeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Saint Xavier (FR) 10-3 (11-1) Led, headed 2nd, led again and slow 4th, headed 6th, led again before next, headed 9th, pushed along 2 out (usual 4 out), ridden after last (usual 3 out), weakened after bypassing 2 out, last of 4, 25 3/4l behind Big River (11-12) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Christmas In April (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Led, headed briefly 14th, soon led again, headed 16th, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Rapper (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Indy Five (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Jumped right, led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed and mistake last, no impression and eased towards finish, 2nd of 6, 7 1/2l behind Manwell (11-12) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Aso (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3rd, joined leader briefly approaching 3 out (usual 4 out), soon nudged along and headed, lost second and switched right before 2 out, held before last, 3rd of 7, 19 3/4l behind Run To Milan (10-11) at Exeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
