in rear, headway before 5 out, went 3rd after 4 out, chased winner before 3 out, no impression
chased winner until before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
made all, blundered 4 out, clear before next, eased run-in
held up towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, mistake 3 out, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, quickly weakened before 4 out, soon pulled up
held up mid-division, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace
always towards rear
Vado Forte showed a big improvement when fourth at Chepstow last month and the form has worked out well with the winner scoring again subsequently and the third also winning. But he finished practically upsides KATPOLI on that occasion when the latter, having his first outing since March, faded badly close home. Richard Newland’s charge will be sharper for this and is taken to reverse running. Monsieur D'Arque represents last year’s winning yard and makes his chasing bow on his second outing after wind surgery having faced a tough task in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on his reappearance but Belargus may need more time to get act together over fences judged on a modest chasing debut at Warwick.
Vado Forte (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up behind, headway after 7th, chased front pair 3 out, ridden after next, left 2nd briefly last, kept on, no impression, 4th of 12, 6 1/2l behind Simply The Betts (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Monsieur D'Arque (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Mid-division on outside, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Harambe (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Katpoli (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Mid-division, tracked leaders 3rd, outpaced after 4 out, ridden and no chance with winner when left 2nd at last, no extra and lost place closing stages, 5th of 12, 6 3/4l behind Simply The Betts (11-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Belargus (FR) 25-1 (10-7) Held up in 4th, jumped right, slow 1st and 2nd, outpaced when mistake 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 28l behind Maire Banrigh (10-13) at Warwick 2m (3) gs in Nov.
Shady Oaks (IRE) 9-1 (10-7) Prominent on inside, lost place 6th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Massini Man 12-1 (11-8) Behind and outpaced, 7th of 13, 35l behind Paint The Dream (11-12) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Fort De L'Ocean (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, beaten 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Jembug Drummer (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (4) sft in Oct.