held up towards rear, badly hampered on bend after 3rd, no chance after, eased and pulled up before 2 out, dismounted
close up when brought down on bend after 3rd
keen, chased leaders, under pressure after 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, pushed along before 2 out, soon weakened
led until 3 out, weakened before next
held up, brought down on bend after 3rd
towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, one pace and no impression next
hit 1st, chased leader until 3 out, handy, pushed along before 2 out, kept on well flat, almost snatched 2nd
prominent, chase winner before 2 out, no impression flat, just held on for 2nd
towards rear, badly hampered bend after 3rd, behind after, pulled up and dismounted before 2 out
mid-division, headway to go prominent before 4th, led 3 out, wandered before last, stayed on well flat
mid-division, hampered bend after 3rd, headway on outer before 2 out, one pace flat
towards rear, hampered bend after 3rd, in mid-division when hampered on inside bend well before 2 out, in touch in 6th when fell 2 out
chased leaders, mistake and reminders 2nd, slipped up on bend after 3rd
behind, hit 3rd, hampered bend after 3rd, plugged on one pace from 3 out
in touch, headway to chase leaders, before 2 out, one pace last
Victor Dartnell has his string in good heart so Benetwood has to be considered despite the burden of 11st 12lb but he disappointed last time and looks booked for a place at best now behind the reappearing OPTIMUS MAXIMUS, who is taken to make a winning return with Mous Of Men rated the best of the rest. The selection has not been seen for 448 days but Nicky Henderson's gelding made a pleasing debut over hurdles when landing a novice event at Newbury before losing no caste in defeat behind Emma Lavelle's Amore Mio here in January of last year and he looks well treated for his first start in this grade judged by those runs. Sophies Trophy has won his last two starts in novice events at Plumpton and Fontwell but this is tougher as it is for Tony Carroll's recent Newbury scorer Arctic Wings. Gary Moore's Wade Farm Billy is a consistent performer and should be thereabouts again, while Emma Lavelle has a good line through to the selection for Tritonville Lodge but he has gone up 6lbs for winning his latest start at Stratford. David Pipe's Mous Of Men has slipped to a fair mark and he has to be considered but Nicky Henderson has been patient with Optimus Maximus and that patience can be rewarded.
Benetwood (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Always behind, tailed off 3 out, 12th of 17, well behind Raslan (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Aug.
Indian Groom (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, jumped left 2nd, edged left approaching last where not fluent, stayed on under pressure to press winner flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Majaales (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy.
Sophies Trophy (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Latin America (11-1) by 4l, 9 ran.
Helium (FR) 5-2 (10-7) Tended to jump right, chased winner, blundered 8th, jumped right next, lost 2nd approaching 4 out, 3rd and well beaten when went badly right 2 out and pulled up, in a race won by Mount Oscar (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov, 5 ran.
Tritonville Lodge (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Led, headed briefly after 3 out, stayed on strongly from 2 out, won at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Oct beating Bugsy's Boy (11-8) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Optimus Maximus (IRE) 4-7fav (11-3) Tracked winner throughout, challenged 2 out, not fluent last, no extra, drifted right flat, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Amore Mio (10-9) at Sandown 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) gs in Jan '09.
Akarshan (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Held up in 4th, ridden after 4 out, soon outpaced, lost place and no impression from next, stayed on to regain moderate 4th after last, 4th of 6, 20l behind Sir Tantallus Hawk (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.
Sangfroid 11-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, driven and outpaced 3 out, ridden next, rallied last, went 3rd flat, no impression with leading pair, 3rd of 14, 13l behind Picture This (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd.
Dantari (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 21, 9l behind Dee Ee Williams (11-12) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 13-2 (10-1) Held up, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, 3rd and plenty to do before last, strong run on stands side rail final 110 yards, led on line, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar beating Nearby (10-2) by shd, 9 ran.
Mous Of Men (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, narrow lead approaching 4 out, soon headed, every chance approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 7, 19l behind National Trust (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
Nortonthorpe Lad (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Held up in mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 15th of 21, 41l behind Dee Ee Williams (11-12) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd.
Wade Farm Billy (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, effort approaching 2nd last, soon every chance, hard ridden, soon weakened, 3rd of 13, 17l behind Clerk's Choice (10-4) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Stripe Me Blue 15-8fav (9-10) Made most, narrowly headed 2 out, still chance when not much room approaching last, not quicken flat, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Oscar Bay (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Catch Bob (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Held up, jumped left 1st, headway halfway, chased leaders approaching 2 out, hard ridden last, stayed on under pressure, just held, 2nd of 12, nk behind Waterloo Corner (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Mohanad (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, hampered twice 2 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on well flat, not recover, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Nicky Nutjob (10-12) at Wetherby 2m listed nov hdl (1) gd in Oct.
