soon tracking leaders, reminder after 6th, driven in 3rd before 2 out, plugged on into 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
took keen hold early, soon held up in touch in rear, headway on outside chasing leaders 3 out (normal 4 out) 2nd after bypassing 3 out, soon driven along, ridden and held before last, lost 2nd towards finish
ran in snatches, chased leaders, pushed along after 10th, outpaced 13th, plugged on into modest 4th last
soon pressed leader, led 3 out (normal 4 out), ridden clear before last
soon tracking leaders, reminders after 12th, weakened bypassing 3 out, tailed off
soon chasing leaders, bad blunder and unseated rider 13th
led, hit 9th, mistake 11th, blundered and headed 3 out (nomal 4 out), lost 2nd bypassing 3 out, weakened 2 out, ridden when weakened into 5th at the last
Yukon Delta has been on a roll over hurdles but is best watched on his first try over the larger obstacles as he had a miserable record between the flags. Leith Hill Legasi won this last year, beating Burgess Dream 10 lengths, but is 10lb higher and is hard to catch right. Another course and distance winner, Itoldyou, is well treated but showed nothing on his return to action whereas Flugzeug wasn't disgraced on his return to chasing at Fontwell in August. WATER WAGTAIL hasn't won since April 2014 but is now 6lb lower and has been showing enough to suggest he should go close in a race like this.
Itoldyou (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Last pair, behind and struggling 9th, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Minella On Line (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Yukon Delta (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, headway to lead after 3 out, ridden clear between last 2, kept on well, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Nov beating Guiting Power (10-7) by 7l, 9 ran.
Leith Hill Legasi 14-1 (11-12) Prominent, lost place before 14th, weakened next, soon pulled up, at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Water Wagtail 7-2 (11-10) Prominent, ridden and every chance before 2 out, soon no impression on winner, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 11 1/2l behind Yanmare (10-12) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Forrest Blue (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division, hampered 5th and soon lost place, left remote 4th from 4 out, went 3rd before last, never dangerous, 3rd of 9, dist behind Dawnieriver (11-8) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Flugzeug 14-1 (10-11) Held up and off the pace in 6th, steady headway approaching 11th, went 3rd 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Brave Encounter (10-8) at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Burgess Dream (IRE) 5-1 (10-0) Led to after 1st, chased leader, driven and lost place before 2 out, no impression after, 4th of 12, 6 1/2l behind Magic Mustard (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
