held up towards rear of mid-division, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 9th, jumped slowly and lost place 13th, never on terms after
led until 3rd, chased leader until approaching 8th, chased leaders, ridden bypassing omitted 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, closer at 9th, weakened 12th, tailed off 18th, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway tracking leaders 15th, close 3rd bypassing omitted 3 out, went 3rd final 100 yards, stayed on well towards finish
always behind, never a factor
mid-division on inside, pushed along and outpaced 16th, plugged on
chased leaders on outside, weakened before bypassing omitted 3 out
mistake 6th, always rear-division, never on terms
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 8th, led before 2 out, ridden clear when hampered by loose horse before last, hung right and strongly pressed run-in, stayed on gamely, all out
held up in rear, headway chasing leaders when hampered 16th, plugged on in 3rd, no extra in 4th final 100 yards
chased leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed before 2 out, chased winner and every chance run-in, just failed
mid-division, headway chasing leaders when badly hampered 16th, outpaced on long run after 18th, plugged on
chased leaders until blundered and unseated rider 16th
Burtons Well would be a poignant winner of this race dedicated to the memory of former stablemate and last year’s winner Houblon Des Obeaux. He beat Theatre Guide and On Tour at Aintree but was soon beaten subsequently at Haydock. King's Odyssey ended a long losing run at Warwick when beating Smooth Stepper but the runner-up is better off at the weights here and the top weight could struggle to get home on this stiff track. Jepeck has won twice over hurdles this season but was beaten off a lower mark when last seen over fences. VIEUX LION ROUGE has been highly tried since making a winning return to action at Chepstow. He still appears to retain plenty of ability and could be the answer to a competitive renewal, though Shanroe Santos goes well here and is also entitled to be thereabouts.
King's Odyssey (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Held up in touch in rear, not fluent 8th, headway approaching 12th, challenged 3 out, led last, driven out, won at Warwick 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Smooth Stepper (11-5) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Prominent, led after 3rd until not fluent 4th, led 7th, headed 10th, pecked 13th (becher\'s), weakened before elbow, 9th of 18, 28 1/2l behind Walk In The Mill (10-8) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Carole's Destrier 20-1 (10-9) Mid-division, badly hampered 7th, some headway on outside after 5 out, blundered next, not recover and pulled up before 2 out, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Burtons Well (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Held up behind, blundered 5 out, soon outpaced, never a threat, 7th of 10, 36l behind Crievehill (11-12) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Theatre Guide (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up in touch in rear on outside, closed after 11th, outpaced 13th, well beaten from 3 out, 5th of 6, 20 1/4l behind King's Odyssey (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Abolitionist (IRE) 22-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost place 11th, mistake 16th (valentines), tailed off 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Smooth Stepper 8-1 (11-5) Held up in touch in rear on inside, headway before 12th, challenged 3 out, 3rd and looking held 2 out, stayed on and went 2nd flat, held by winner towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind King's Odyssey (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Wild West Wind (IRE) 17-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led after last, ridden run-in, weakened and headed towards finish, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Claud And Goldie (11-1) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Shanroe Santos (IRE) 7-4 (12-3) Held up in touch on outside, went 2nd approaching 14th, almost upsides from 4 out, ridden between last 2, kept on and every chance towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 4, shd behind Teddy Tee (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Jepeck (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Made all, ridden clear approaching last, driven out flat, won at Chepstow 3m (4) sft in Dec beating Blackjack Kentucky (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
On Tour (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) On and off the bridle in rear, pecked 15th, never on terms, 5th of 7, 18l behind Burtons Well (11-1) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Regal Flow 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, closed from 3rd, ridden after 15th, hampered 4 out, mistake and no extra next, 5th of 9, 17 1/2l behind Roll Again (11-2) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Dark Flame (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway approaching omitted 3 out, kept on under pressure, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Houblon Des Obeaux (11-10) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Horatio Hornblower (IRE) 13-8jfav (11-12) Tracked leading pair, 2nd before 13th, led, 2 out, ridden and hit last, idled and joined run-in, shaken up to assert towards finish, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Chase The Wind (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
