not fluent, always behind, struggling from 16th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
made most to 13th, stayed challenging, led 15th to soon after 4 out, weakened quickly before next, beaten when blundered badly 2 out, pulled up before last
prominent, went 2nd 12th, led 13th, mistake next, headed 15th, not fluent 17th and next, led soon after 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened next
in touch, chased leading pair from 12th, went 2nd soon after 4 out, led narrowly 3 out, mistake and headed next, close up last, carried head high, not quicken run-in
with leader until lost place before 12th, blundered 17th, tailed off when mistake 4 out
chased leaders, outpaced before 4 out, closed on leaders before next, went 2nd 2 out, led last, driven and stayed on well run-in
always behind, mistake 13th, losing touch when mistake 4 out, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
Micky Hammond's Manbow has suffered at the hands of the handicapper for his successes earlier in the season and may be a shade high in the weights on his return from a mid-season break so preference is for Kausse de Thaix, who gets the vote over Menphis Beury. The selection has to defy a 7lb rise for his latest success at Towcester earlier this month but Oliver Sherwood's gelding won with something in hand that day, remains open to further improvement and has the undoubted assistance of Tony McCoy in the saddle. Gray's Eulogy also has a 7lb rise to overcome but it was a weak race that he won at Huntingdon and this looks tougher for David Gandolfo's gelding. Mick Fitzgerald is an interesting jockey booking for Gallik Dawn and he is another worthy of a mention although a bigger threat may come from Henry Daly's Menphis Beury who is only 5lbs higher than when scoring at Doncaster last time. That was only his second start over the larger obstacles so there is probably a good deal more to come from the five-year-old. Kausse de Thaix is a progressive sort though and he looks to be the one they have to beat.
Manbow (IRE) 7-2co-fav Settled 4th, challenged from 13th, effort going well when mistake 2 out, rallied to chase winner flat, always just held, 2nd of 6, nk behind Melford at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs in Dec.
Eggmount (IRE) 10-1 Tracked leaders, made bad mistake 3rd, soon lost place and behind when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Le Passing at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (D) hvy in Dec, 12 ran.
Kausse de Thaix (FR) 11-4jt-fav Held up, headway 5th, went 2nd 7th, outpaced 11th, rallied 4 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft beating Ebony Light by 2l, 10 ran.
Menphis Beury (FR) 6-1 Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching 4 out, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Jan beating Benefit by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Leith Hill Star 8-1 Led, headed 7th, remained close up, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 8th of 12, 29l behind Gray's Eulogy at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Jan.
Gray's Eulogy 25-1 Chased leaders, hung left and led approaching last, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Jan beating Gallik Dawn by 5l, 12 ran.
Gallik Dawn 20-1 Held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, mistake last, kept on flat, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Gray's Eulogy at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Jan.
Kappelhoff (IRE) 66-1 Held up in mid-division, mistake 11th, kept on same pace from 4 out, 3rd of 10, 9l behind Saucy Night at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs.
