tracked leaders in 4th, blundered 3rd, not fluent and dropped to rear 4th, struggling in rear 7th, beaten when went badly right 3 out, went poor 3rd before the last
led until 5th, chased leaders, challenged in 2nd 3 out, led narrowly next, edged left run-in, driven out
chased leading pair, went 2nd 4th until after 6th, mistake and outpaced 3 out, rallied into modest 3rd before next until weakened before the last
held up, headway chasing leaders 4th, led next, clear 8th, headed 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
raced keenly, tracked leader until 4th, 2nd again after 6th, led 3 out, narrowly headed when rider dropped reins briefly after 2 out, switched right and kept on run-in, always held
Sitting Back has a shocking strike-rate and hasn't run for well over a year but would probably win this in a canter if anywhere near fully fit as all-weather winner Edgar fell on his only previous try over fences and didn’t manage a place in five runs over hurdles. KILLABRAHER CROSS won and was placed over further here in the autumn. He's been waiting for the better ground and looks the one to beat as Topthorn and Nouailhas are moderate in the extreme.
Edgar (GER) 2-1 (10-10) Led and soon clear, reduced lead over 4f out, headed entering final 3f, weakened over 1f out, 2nd of 4, 22l behind Dark Diamond (10-0) at Southwell 1m 6f stks (6) pol in Mar.
Killabraher Cross (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Led 2nd until before next, mistake 5th, last and pushed along briefly after 6th, blundered and unseated rider next, at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Sitting Back (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Mid-division, chased leading pair 6th, not fluent 12th, led after 4 out, blundered next, soon ridden, hard pressed last, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Strawberry Hill (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Topthorn 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, never on terms, 6th of 8, 33 3/4l behind Guaracha (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Nouailhas 25-1 (10-2) In rear, blundered 3rd, soon struggling, pulled up before 8th, at Fontwell 2m 1f hcp (5) hvy in Apr.