held up in last pair, headway on outside 8th, hit 5 out, weakened soon after
chased leader, not fluent 7th, lost 2nd before 5 out, chased leaders, outpaced next, plugged on run-in
held up in touch, good headway tracking leaders 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, led last, stayed on well run-in
held up last, never on terms
chased leaders, 2nd going well before 5 out, led and went badly left next, headed last, hung left and no extra run-in
led, joined 4 out, headed and bumped next, lost modest 3rd approaching last, plugged on again run-in
raced keenly, tracked leaders on inside, jumped slowly and lost place 6th, rallied after 8th, going for run on inside when badly hampered and hit rail after 5 out, soon rallied, weakened run-in
DEFI SACRE (NAP) easily justified favouritism at Musselburgh nine days ago and it’s unlikely that a penalty will prevent a follow-up with the booking of Jonjo O’Neill Jr a positive. The danger may be Le Coeur Net, who gets cheekpieces for the first time having placed in both starts this term. Shanahan's Turn boasts a similar record this season but it’s a long time since Colin Tizzard’s veteran got his head in front. Rock On Rocky has gone well here in the past so may be the pick of the remainder as Atlantic Storm appears to have gone off the boil and Valseur Du Granval and Ut Majeur Aulmes have plenty to prove at present.
Valseur Du Granval (FR) 12-1 (11-0) 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, at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Shanahan's Turn (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Prominent, led 5th, soon headed, outpaced 3 out, switched left and rallied last, held by winner towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Finnegan's Garden (10-9) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Defi Sacre (FR) Evensfav (11-8) Tracked leader, hit 8th, led before 4 out, clear next, stayed on strongly, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp (4) gs in Dec beating Sporting Press (11-10) by 14l, 6 ran.
Atlantic Storm (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) In rear, headway before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 7 1/4l behind Rocco (11-1) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Le Coeur Net (FR) 9-4 (11-10) Chased leaders, not much room, switched right and went 2nd before last, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Duhallow Lad (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Rock On Rocky 16-1 (10-10) Led, headed 3rd, tracked leader until 4 out, weakened next, 9th of 10, 33 1/4l behind Johnbb (11-11) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Ut Majeur Aulmes (FR) 18-1 (12-0) Mid-division on inside, tracked leaders 4 out, driven to challenge approaching last, soon ridden and no impression, weakened into 5th towards finish, 5th of 12, 8 3/4l behind Wisecracker (10-8) at Hereford 2m hcp (5) gd in Nov.
