held up in rear on inside, not fluent 3rd or 5th, headway 11th, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next
tracked leader, hampered and unseated rider 11th
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, left in lead 11th, blundered and headed 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner from next, stayed on
held up in rear, headway 10th, led before 4 out, clear 2 out, stayed on well
held up in rear on outside, took keen hold, mistake 3rd, headway 9th, led 5 out, headed before mistake next, 3rd and beaten when hit 3 out, no extra next
tracked leaders, lost place 10th, jumped slowly and outpaced 5 out, stayed on from 3 out, went 3rd before last, no impression on front pair
Nonrunner
Three Musketeers has more than four lengths to find with Sametegal on Huntingdon running but is 7lb better off. However the second in that race, El Namoose, has let the form down since. ACTIVIAL was placed three times in Grade 3 races over hurdles last season, including one here. He's got the size to make a chaser and can lay down a marker here for the coming months by making a winning start over fences. Dell' Arca failed to give 7lb to More Of That and As De Mee at Cheltenham two weeks ago but there was no disgrace in that and he should make the frame. Carlisle second Maximiser has plenty of scope and so does Zeroeshadesofgrey but L'unique didn't impress with her jumping at Wincanton and the once-useful Ubak returns from a 945-day absence.
Dell' Arca (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Held up behind in touch, not fluent 11th, chased leaders 3 out, effort next, went 3rd and ridden flat, kept on same pace, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 7, 6l behind More Of That (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gs in Nov.
Sametegal (FR) 3-1fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, reached at 10th, closed 2 out, led last, driven and stayed on well flat, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (3) gs in Nov beating El Namoose (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Activial (FR) 10-1 (10-5) 9th of 15, dist behind Un Temps Pour Tout (10-10) at Auteuil 3m 1f hvy in Jun.
Maximiser (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 3rd, strongly challenged last, headed soon after, rallied closing stages, kept on well, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Silsol (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f (3) hvy in Nov.
Three Musketeers (IRE) Evensfav (11-2) Pressed leader, reached at 3rd, led 5th, ridden before 2 out, headed last, one pace flat, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Sametegal (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (3) gs in Nov.
Ubak (FR) 9-4fav (11-10) Tracked leader in 2nd, driven along after 2 out and challenged before last where led, kept on under pressure, not match winner and headed close home, 2nd of 3, nk behind Un Atout (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f (1) hvy in Apr.
L'unique (FR) 8-1 (10-9) With winner until slowed badly into 5th and lost place, chased leaders, hampered 11th, never on terms after, went poor 3rd post, 3rd of 6, dist behind Junction Fourteen (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f (1) sft in Nov.
Zeroeshadesofgrey (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th or 14th, mistake 15th, went 2nd before 4 out, no impression on winner next, 2nd of 6, 20l behind Southfield Royale (11-4) at Wetherby 3m (4) sft in Oct.
