stumbled badly 1st, pressed leader, lost 2nd 4 out, chased leaders, weakened before next
led, joined 2 out, ridden and headed last, stayed on same pace run-in
held up, fell 1st
held up in 4th place, 3rd at 6th, closer 11th, went 2nd 4 out, led last, stayed on well to go clear run-in
held up in last pair, closer at 6th, pushed along after 4 out, 4th before next, ridden before 2 out, not much room and switched right approaching last, one pace in 4th run-in
chased leading pair until 6th, chased leaders, pushed along before 8th, weakened next, tailed off in 6th when blundered badly last and unseated rider
held up in last pair, headway on inside before 3 out, plugged on in 3rd run-in
held up in 5th, went 4th before 8th, 3rd after 4 out, chance when blundered last weakened run-in
held up in 6th place, dropped to rear 6th, tailed off when blundered 12th
Domaine De L’Isle is likely to be rerouted to Newcastle but that still leaves a competitive line-up. Dashing Perk made all here last month and will be fancied to defy a 6lb rise. Chef D'Equipe just came up short at Newbury last time and is also a course and distance winner. Mystical Clouds travelled strongly for a long way at Leicester and will strip fitter today, a remark that also applies to Clondaw Westie, but Vinnie The Hoddie may be too high in the weights. Mercy Mercy Me has some improving to do but WAIKIKI WAVES continues on an upward curve and has only been beaten once over fences so far. This is his toughest task to date but he is still at the right end of the handicap.
Chef D'Equipe (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Led until 12th, chased leader until before 4 out, rallied strongly run-in, just held, 2nd of 11, hd behind Azzerti (11-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Dashing Perk 8-1 (10-12) Made all, ridden 2 out, ran on, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Paint The Dream (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Vinnie The Hoddie (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Led, went right 7th, headed 3 out, soon lost 2nd, outpaced in 3rd before next, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Knight In Dubai (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gs in Dec.
Mercy Mercy Me 9-2 (11-0) Always 3rd, not fluent 3 out, soon shaken up, unable to get on terms, kept on flat, 3rd of 5, 3 3/4l behind Champagne Court (11-13) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Mystical Clouds (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway from 4 out, not much room before last and soon switched right, no extra run-in, 4th of 7, 3 3/4l behind Pistol Whipped (11-5) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Clondaw Westie (IRE) 40-1 (11-3) Led, hit 6th, narrowly headed 11th, in front again 4 out, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened soon after, 4th of 10, 19 1/2l behind Generous Day (11-3) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 25-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway on outside chasing leaders 9th, plugged on in 4th before 2 out, 4th of 12, 14 3/4l behind Espoir De Guye (10-11) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Waikiki Waves (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 4 out, led after next, clear 2 out, driven out, kept on well, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Reallyradical (12-1) by 9l, 7 ran.
Volt Face (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Fell 1st, at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Domaine De L'Isle (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Held up and behind, not fluent 10th, headway after 11th, led going well after 3 out, shaken up and went clear flat, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Indian Brave (11-2) by 10l, 9 ran.
