always in rear, tailed off 16th
held up towards rear, slow 12th, driven and struggling after 16th, tailed off
chased leaders, lost place approaching 16th, badly outpaced 6th before 3 out, rallied last, kept on to modest 4th flat
led until 4th, led again and went left 7th, headed 14th, dropped to 3rd next, went 2nd again approaching 4 out, driven after 3 out, no extra in 3rd fom next
pressed leader, led narrowly 4th, headed and bumped 7th, pressed leader, dropped to 3rd approaching 4 out, ridden and weakened before next, well beaten when went right last
chased leaders, challenged 11th, led 14th, went 5 lengths ahead approaching 2 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on strongly flat, eased towards finish
held up towards rear, moderate effort on outside when hit 17th, soon beaten, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 11th, mistake and ridden 13th, plugged on to modest 4th before 3 out, no impression when dropped to 5th flat
held up towards rear and not fluent in early stages, steady headway to chase leaders 15th, went 5 lengths 2nd approaching 2 out, no chance with easy winner
chased leaders, slow 14th, weakened 4 out, soon lost touch, tailed off 3 out, pulled up soon after
chased leaders, slow and lost place 12th, towards rear and no chance after, tailed off
Nonrunner
Alfie Spinner runs here instead of Chepstow and needs a thorough test of stamina which he should get. He's been surprisingly dropped in the weights after falling at the third in the Hennessy and has to be on the short-list. ROYAL CHARM was rated 145 when well beaten in a Grade 3 handicap at Kempton in February and it's a surprise to see him 10lb lower here as he's run really well on his two latest starts at Chepstow. He's handed the vote though Johns Spirit looked a smart prospect when landing a handicap over 2m5f here a month ago and the longer trip shouldn't pose a problem. Across The Bay is likely to run at Chepstow but would be an obvious threat to all if diverting here and though Tartak has fallen from grace since the days when he was scoring at Grade 2 level he's on his lowest mark since his novice season.
Hey Big Spender (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Took keen hold tracking leading trio, went 3rd briefly 9th, outpaced before next, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Wyck Hill (10-0) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec, 6 ran.
Tamarinbleu (FR) 40-1 (11-4) Shared lead until 12th, lost place approaching 16th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by The Package (11-1) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Tartak (FR) 20-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, lost place 5 out, plugged on to take moderate 4th between last 2, no chance with leaders, 4th of 14, 38l behind Unioniste (9-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Dec.
Fruity O'Rooney 33-1 (10-5) In touch, led 2nd, headed 16th, ridden 4 out, soon lost place, no impression after, 7th of 19, 32l behind Bobs Worth (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Alfie Spinner (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) In touch when blundered and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Bobs Worth (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 19 ran.
Katenko (FR) 9-1 (10-1) Pressed leader, led 2nd until 4th, stayed pressing, led again narrowly 8th, ridden and headed after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, no extra from last, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Wyck Hill (10-0) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec.
Triolo D'Alene (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, with leader 15th, kept on from 2 out, 3rd of 4, 19l behind Bold Sir Brian (11-7) at Sandown 3m Listed chs (1) sft in Dec.
Royal Charm (FR) 3-1fav (10-11) Held up in touch on outside, chased leading pair when not fluent 4 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Sona Sasta (9-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, led after last, kept on well, won at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Thanks For Coming (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Railway Dillon (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, reminder to lead narrowly after 10th, mistake and headed 12th, chased leader, led again 2 out, (normal 4 out), headed bypsssing ommited 2 out, weakened soon after, 6th of 8, 21l behind Mortimers Cross (10-10) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Gullible Gordon (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, led 13th (becher's brook), headed before 2 out, no extra flat, 6th of 16, 15l behind Hello Bud (10-0) at Aintree 3m 2f Listed hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec.
Across The Bay (IRE) 15-8 (11-6) Jumped right on occasions, raced lazily and soon pushed along, given reminders at times from 5th, led, clear 8th until before 12th, not fluent 13th, headed before last, stayed on, 2nd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Wayward Prince (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f Listed chs (1) sft in Dec.
