with leader, fell 1st
mid-division, several slow jumps early, headway chasing leaders 9th, mistake 13th, jumped slowly and weakened 15th
chasing leaders when badly hampered and lost place 1st, last pair, rear from 11th, tailed off next, pulled up soon after
hampered 1st, mid-division, headway chasing leaders 9th, outpaced 4 out, plugged on
hampered 1st, mid-division on outside, headway chasing leaders 9th, pushed along before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
led, left in clear 1st, headed 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied and went 3rd and hit last, kept on same pace run-in
chasing leaders when jinked left to avoid faller and unseated rider 1st
mid-division, headway chasing leaders soon after 1st, 2nd between last 2, every chance last, stayed on run-in
held up in rear, good headway chasing leaders before 3 out, 6th when mistake next, went modest 4th run-in
held up in m id-division, headway chasing leaders before 2nd, tracked leader and hit 17th, chased new leader 3 out, led between last 2, joined last, stayed on under pressure run-in
always towards rear, mistake 12th, tailed off 18th, pulled up soon after
chased leaders, left in 2nd place 1st, lost 2nd 17th, hit 18th and 4 out, led 3 out, headed between last 2, weakened last
Final Nudge was just beaten in a Listed race at Wincanton in November and was then third in the Welsh National. He looks an improved stayer this season and goes on the short-list here. Yala Enki is starting to slip down the weights but COGRY is more than capable if the fences don’t get in the way and the holding ground should play to his strengths. He gets a tentative vote, though Loose Chips goes well here and Shanroe Santos is another previous course winner – the latter’s trainer won this with Le Reve in 2015 and 2016. Holly Bush Henry has got his act together but, like another recent winner Wicked Willy, needs to take another step forward. Sametegal possibly has the best recent form on offer with a third in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham, when Quite By Chance was fifth, but there are stamina concerns over this longer distance.
Yala Enki (FR) 5-1fav (11-4) Chased leaders, led after 1st, headed 4th, led again before 10th, headed 14th, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 16l behind The Dutchman (10-6) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Bishops Road (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division, mistake 7th, hampered 12th, headway next, mistake 14th, 5th and weakening 4 out, pulled up before next, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Quite By Chance 14-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway before 3rd, not much room 8th, lost place 12th, well beaten 3 out, 5th of 9, 16 1/4l behind Ballyhill (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Final Nudge (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, close 4th 4 out, 3rd from 2 out, no impression on leading pair, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 20, 15l behind Raz De Maree (11-1) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Sametegal (FR) 5-1 (11-2) Prominent, lost place 5th headway approaching 10th, chasing leaders 2 out, disputing one pace 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 7 3/4l behind Ballyhill (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Loose Chips 16-1 (10-10) Led, clear 4th, pushed along going out on last circuit, reduced lead 15th, headed after 3 out, soon lost 2nd, weakened into 5th when pecked last, 5th of 14, 9 1/2l behind Buywise (10-8) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Cogry 14-1 (11-11) Prominent, ridden 17th, went 2nd before 2 out, no impression on winner last, 2nd of 13, 11l behind Milansbar (11-7) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Holly Bush Henry (IRE) 5-2fav (12-3) Close up, pressed leader 2 out, led approaching last, ridden out, won at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Morney Wing (10-13) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Wicked Willy (IRE) 7-2fav (11-0) Jumped left at times, towards rear, not fluent 11th, headway next, stayed on flat, went 2nd towards finish, led last strides, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Rolling Dylan (11-9) by ns, 10 ran.
Ballydine (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) Chased leader, led approaching 3rd until next, chased winner, every chance briefly 4 out, ridden and one pace when lost 2nd between last 2, 3rd of 4, 7 1/4l behind Acting Lass (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Shanroe Santos (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Held up, headway into mid-division 7th, hit 13th, chased leaders before next, 2nd and blundered 3 out, plugged on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Vinnie Lewis (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Vino Griego (FR) 14-1 (10-0) Held up, blundered and unseated rider 1st, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
