chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 4th led 4 out, over 2 lengths ahead and in command when went left and mistake 2 out, recovered and came clear again before last, eased closing stages
made most, went right 4th, headed next, dropped to 3rd soon after, lost 3rd before 3 out, rallied to poor 3rd again last, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place 4th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
pressed leader until approaching 4th, chased winner from 4 out, ridden before 2 out, readily held before last
not fluent 1st, always behind, never on terms, tailed off
took keen hold, chased leaders, weakened 3rd, tailed off when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway to 3rd before 3 out, no chance when weakened to 4th last, tailed off
All The Aces, a Listed winner on the Flat in 2009, chased home Prospect Wells on his hurdling debut over C&D last month and will have improved for the experience. But big things are expected of DESTROYER DEPLOYED over timber and, on the prevailing ground, Tim Vaughan's five-year-old is just preferred. He finished runner-up to Cheltenian in the Champion Bumper at The Festival in March and plenty of winners have already come out of that contest. Keep Kicking, second in a Sandown bumper on his return to action and a winner at Sedgefield in the spring, should also be worth noting in the coming weeks.
All The Aces (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leader after 1st until approaching 3rd, pushed along after 3 out, led before next, ridden and headed last, stayed on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Prospect Wells (11-5) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Battleoftrafalgar 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 9, 27l behind Omaruru (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4yo hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Billy Bonkers (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Always behind, ridden and struggling over 5f out, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Circular Quay (11-0) at Sandown 2m NH flat (6) sft in Nov.
Destroyer Deployed 66-1 (11-5) Always prominent, challenged and every chance 3f out, ridden to lead briefly well over 1f out, kept on under pressure, no impression with winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 24, 5l behind Cheltenian (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m N H flat G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Douchkirk (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 4th of 8, 13l behind Swincombe Stone (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
Laughton Park 33-1 (10-13) Chased leader until weakened over 4f out, soon behind, last of 12, 20l behind Shutthefrontdoor (11-1) at Ascot 2m NH flat Listed (1) sft.
Vivre Libre 11-4 (11-0) Keen chased clear leader until 3rd, close up, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 10, 40l behind Bin End (10-7) at Leicester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Nov.
Keep Kicking (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) In touch, steady headway over 3f out, went 2nd 2f out, driven to challenge over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, always held, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Circular Quay (11-0) at Sandown 2m NH flat (6) sft in Nov.
