chased leaders, took closer order 10th, switched left to challenge 3 out, ridden before last, left in lead last, ran on well flat
held up in rear, switched right to challenge before 3 out, stayed on well from last
led, blundered 1st, ridden and headed before last, switched right last, kept on to grab second final strides
raced keenly, chased leaders, ridden along before 2 out, no extra approaching last
mid-division, ridden along before 3 out, made no impression from 2 out
tracked leader, bad mistake 8th and dropped to midfield, pushed along before 4 out, weakened 3 out
held up, bad mistake 1st, hit 3rd, made headway approaching 4 out, hit last, kept on one pace flat
midfield when mistake and unseated rider 1st
chased leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, sprawled on landing and headed last, kept on flat
held up towards rear, bad mistake 5th, headway to chase leaders, 10th ridden to challenge when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
NonRunner
Oldgrangewood bids to win this for a third time in four years and has an obvious chance of the hat-trick having made a pleasing reappearance in a Grade 2 at Aintree. He does, however, have more than five lengths to find with Clondaw Castle and is only 2lb better off. Sully D'oc Aa was winning for the first time in this country at Ascot but can’t be ignored given he’s only a six-year-old. Fidux had SAN BENEDETO behind when second at Market Rasen in July and wasn’t winning out of turn at that track last month. But Paul Nicholls’ charge looks the pick of the weights today and is a massive 16lb better off with Oldgrangewood than when fourth in this 12 months ago. Defi Sacre won twice here at the end of last year but this is a step up in grade and Cepage is among several making a seasonal reappearance.
Clondaw Castle (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, mistake 11th, headway on outside 4 out, challenged 2 out, led last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Nuts Well (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Oldgrangewood 13-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, hampered 2nd, headway 9th, challenged 3 out, soon led, mistake and headed last, no extra flat, 4th of 12, 7l behind Nuts Well (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Gala Ball (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, led 7th, not fluent 10th, headed next, lost place when not much room 3 out, soon beaten, plugged on before last, 4th of 8, 9 1/2l behind Clondaw Castle (11-7) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
San Benedeto (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, headway before 4 out, 7th 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 17, 25 1/2l behind Really Super (10-4) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Jul.
Fidux (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Midfield, shaken up before 3 out, left in third 2 out, ridden on run-in, battled on well to narrowly lead close home, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Court Master (10-6) by hd, 10 ran.
Count Meribel 13-2 (11-10) Led, mistake and unseated rider 5th, at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Musical Slave (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway 12th, ridden and went 2nd before last, stayed on under pressure flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Sam's Adventure (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Whatswrongwithyou (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on, 7th of 20, 11l behind Delire D'Estruval (11-11) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Sully D'Oc Aa (FR) 9-2 (10-8) Held up in mid-division, hit 6th, closed from next, went 2nd 9th, challenged 2 out, led last, in command flat, stayed on, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Editeur Du Gite (10-3) by 4 3/4l, 8 ran.
Defi Sacre (FR) 9-2 (11-1) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 5th, ridden before 2 out, no impression on winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 8, 4l behind The Big Bite (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Cepage (FR) 14-1 (11-8) In touch, headway to lead after 8th, headed narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, lost place after last, weakened closing stages, 7th of 23, 10 1/2l behind The Conditional (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
