off the pace towards rear, behind and struggling 11th, stayed on run-in, nearest finish
held up off the pace in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders 4th, went 2nd before 11th, led 4 out, stayed on strongly
chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 8th until before 11th, chased leaders, weakened 17th
chased leader until 8th, chased leaders, lost place and off the pace in 5th after 11th, struggling when bad mistake 12th, plugged on run-in
tracked leaders in 5th, closer at 2nd, pecked and lost place slightly 6th, went 2nd 3 out until pushed along before next, plugged on in well held 3rd
held up in 6th, not fluent and lost place 8th, in last trio 10th, rallied 11th, went 2nd before 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
led until 4 out, lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened quickly
chasing leaders until jumped slowly and lost place 2nd, towards rear, tailed off when almost unseated rider 17th
NonRunner
A bigger field than usual for this long-established contest. David Pipe saddles four of the 10 entries with D'Jango, a winner at Lingfield last month, looking the pick of the quartet. Rolling Dylan won this last year but was no match for BROKEN HALO in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup here last month, despite Jody Sole losing his irons on the run-in. Paul Nicholls’ charge can become the latest to complete the military double. Almazhar Garde, receiving 5lb, is the potential fly in the ointment having run his best race for a while at Hereford in January.
Texard (FR) 11-1 (12-10) Off the pace in 4th, went 3rd before 6th until after 8th, tailed off in 4th when pulled up before 16th, at Sandown 3m (3) gd in Feb.
Abaya Du Mathan (FR) 15-2 (10-2) Chased leaders, pushed along 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 4, 19l behind Le Ligerien (12-0) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Broken Halo 5-4fav (12-5) Chased clear leading pair until before 6th, went 3rd again after 8th, much closer at 11th, led next until 14th, in front again and hit 18th, not fluent and ridden 3 out, in command next, not fluent and rider lost iron briefly last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Sandown 3m (3) gd in Feb beating Rolling Dylan (12-5) by 8 1/2l, 6 ran.
Red Happy (FR) 3-1 (12-5) Chased leader and clear of rest, led 9th until 13th and dropped to 3rd, plodded on, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 6, dist behind Broken Halo (12-5) at Sandown 3m (3) gd in Feb.
Rolling Dylan (IRE) 5-1 (12-5) Led and went clear with one rival, headed 9th, led again 14th until 18th, chased winner, held 2 out, soon no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Broken Halo (12-5) at Sandown 3m (3) gd in Feb.
Tallow For Coal (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, dropped to rear next, slow 6th, soon detached, hampered next, tailed off 9th, pulled up before 15th, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Almazhar Garde (FR) 16-1 (11-11) In rear, headway on outside when jumped left and not fluent 4th, hit 13th, challenged 15th, mistake 4 out, beaten from 2 out, 4th of 12, 8 1/2l behind Only The Bold (11-11) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Diable De Sivola (FR) 5-2 (12-3) Made all; r.o wl, won at Alnwick 3m gs in Jan beating Sine Nomine (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Roc D'Apsis (FR) 3-1 (12-0) (cp) 2nd to 6; prsd ldrs 11-13; wknd 3 out; t.o, last of 3, 35l behind Twilight Girl (12-3) at Horseheath 3m gf in Feb.
D'jango (FR) 17-2 (11-0) Led narrowly, headed and tracked leader 4th, pushed along after 5 out and gradually weakened, 4th of 8, 17l behind Gwencily Berbas (11-0) at Exeter 3m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
