in rear, headway before 3 out, ridden to lead run-in, just held on, driven out
towards rear and in touch, led and jumped slightly left last, rider lost his iron, soon headed, kept on gamely towards finish, just held
led, pressed from 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra and lost 3rd place run-in
tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish
tracked leader, outpaced before 3 out
Victor Dartnall usually has a couple laid out for this meeting and there should be plenty of confidence behind the strapping UT MAJEUR AULMES after an excellent first run over fences behind Ohio Gold at Uttoxeter. The third, Shotavodka, was second in a decent handicap at Haydock subsequently. Roc D'apsis has gone up 6lb since winning narrowly at Southwell while Too Cool To Fool will need to improve again to add to a couple of wins at Ayr. Castlelawn would have a chance if fully wound-up after a break, however, and Gud Day won over course and distance in September.
Ut Majeur Aulmes (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent when challenging 8th, led narrowly 3 out, headed next, ridden before last, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Ohio Gold (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m nov chs (4) gs in Mar.
Roc D'Apsis (FR) 5-2 (11-3) Held up behind, close up 10th, blundered next, went 2nd before 2 out (usual 3 out), challenged on long run between last 2, ridden to lead flat, all out, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Dec beating Entertain Me (11-5) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Castlelawn (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) With leader, fell 7th, in a race won by Next Sensation (11-10) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Gud Day (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up 4th and last, taken wide and went 3rd approaching 6th, pressed leader after 11th, lost place 4 out, soon behind, beaten when blundered 2 out, last of 4, 28l behind Ballywatt (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Mar.
Too Cool To Fool (IRE) 9-1 (9-10) Tracked leader, not fluent 1st, lost 2nd 6th, losing place next, rallied 2 out, went 2nd last, stayed on well to lead towards finish, won at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs beating Le Bacardy (11-9) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
