chased leader, hit 4 out, lost 2nd after 3 out, weakened before next
took keen hold early, held up in 5th, hit 3rd, headway into 4th soon after 3 out, on heels of leaders when blundered 2 out, rallied under pressure run-in, went 2nd 100 yards out, led post
took keen hold early, tracked leading pair, travelling well 3 out, went 2nd last, every chance run-in until no extra in 3rd final 100 yards
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, every chance when blundered last, weakened, not recover
held up in 7th, pushed along before 3 out, modest 5th before next, never involved
always behind, tailed off when blundered last, never a factor
led, ridden and joined last, kept on well run-in, caught post
last trio, struggling in rear after 4 out, tailed off
held up in 8th, pushed along before 3 out, soon struggling and never involved
last trio, struggling before 3 out, never a factor, tailed off
held up off the pace in 6th, pushed along 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
Barry Geraghty has chosen CLEAN SHEET ahead of Ludlow bumper winner Laurium and can have his decision justified. Nicky Henderson's five-year-old was only headed close home on his hurdling debut at Sandown and is just preferred to Great Try. The latter caught the eye when second at Aintree earlier this month and is certain to have improved for the experience. Recent course and distance fourth Seven Nation Army is just in danger of becoming disappointing and needs to improve in the jumping department while the remainder, including Magheral Express and winning bumper Katcha Kopek, have a bit to prove.
Bekkensfirth 12-1 (11-0) Took keen hold chased leader, led approaching final 5f, headed over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 7th of 8, 22l behind Sugar Baron (10-11) at Ascot 2m NH flat (5) sft in Nov.
Clean Sheet (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leading trio 4th, went 3rd well before 2 out, travelling well when hit 2 out, led before last, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Caracci Apache (10-12) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (3) sft.
Great Try (IRE) 2-1 (10-12) Disputed 2nd, effort when blundered 3 out, soon chased winner, ridden and kept on in clear 2nd flat, no impression, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Ballybolley (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gs.
Laurium 3-1fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, challenged 5f out, led 3f out, edged left 2f out, ran on, won at Ludlow 2m NH flat (5) gs in Nov beating Champagne Chaser (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Magheral Express (IRE) 11-4fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, ridden after 3 out, beaten from next, no extra last, 5th of 7, 22l behind River Deep (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Mr Mafia (IRE) 200-1 (11-0) Mid-division, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Days Of Heaven (11-0) at Ludlow 2m NH mdn hdl (4) gs.
Seven Nation Army (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Chased leading pair, blundered 3 out, dropped to 4th between last two, weakened before last, 4th of 10, 15l behind Different Gravey (10-11) at Newbury 2m NH mdn hdl (3) sft in Nov.
The Shropshire Lad 33-1 (10-7) Held up mid-division, took keen hold, pushed along and weakened after 3 out, 9th of 13, 33l behind Zulu Oscar (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Tidestream 16-1 (11-7) Midfield, headway under pressure, before 2 out, staying on when not fluent last, never a threat, 5th of 10, 26l behind The Green Ogre (11-7) at Plumpton 2m nov hdl (4) hvy.
Yul Finegold (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Slowly away, towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never on terms, 6th of 8, 13l behind Street Artist (9-12) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Nov (flat).
Katcha Kopek (IRE) 11-4 (10-9) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden clear 1f out, driven and kept up to work inside final furlong, always doing enough, won at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gs in Sep beating Seacon Beg (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
