chased leader, jumped left 2nd, hampered 6th, not much room next, jumped left 9th, led after 4 out, clear from next, jumped left last
towards rear, not fluent 1st, pulled up before 10th
mid-division, not fluent 1st, blundered and lost place 3rd, tailed off 7th, pulled up before 10th
jumped right, led, hit 7th, mistake 4 out, soon headed, no impression on winner next
towards rear, mistake 9th, remote 4th 10th until 11th, no chance, tailed off
held up in rear, pecked 1st, went remote 4th from 11th, no chance
chased leaders who soon went clear, pecked 8th, well behind from 10th, tailed off 4 out
prominent until after 2nd, chased front pair who went well clear 6th, closed on 2nd from 3 out, no impression on winner
towards rear, pecked 1st, not fluent 2nd, mistake 6th, remote 5th before 3 out, tailed off
Romanor sprang a surprise at Stratford 11 days ago and will be fancied to defy a 6lb rise but there are also possibilities about Elkstone, who slips further down the weights. St Lawrence Gap has joined Olly Murphy having proved a consistent sort in Ireland and Court Duty also goes on the shortlist. Mon Palois and Goldencard are still unexposed over the larger obstacles but Jonjo O’Neill Jr rides SHOAL BAY rather than his father’s Aeglos and Colin Tizzard’s charge is capable of defying top weight if fully primed.
Shoal Bay (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Chased leader until awkward 3rd, chased leaders, led after 7th, hit 12th, headed after 4 out, soon pushed along and weakened, mistake next, 7th of 10, dist behind Cap St Vincent (11-6) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Goldencard (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, well behind 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 12, dist behind Isaac Wonder (10-11) at Southwell 2m hcp (3) gd in Jul.
St Lawrence Gap (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, slight mistake 5th and slow 6th, dropped towards rear next, pushed along and no impression when slight mistake 3 out, no extra, 6th of 7, 27 1/2l behind The Red Menace (11-12) at Downpatrick 2m 3f gd in Aug.
Buster Thomas (IRE) 4-7fav (10-9) Tracked leader, ridden before 2 out, led last, kept on towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Nightfly (11-3) by 3 1/4l, 4 ran.
Elkstone 14-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 7, 21 3/4l behind Captain Buck's (11-8) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Jul.
Romanor 28-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, went right and awkward 1st, mistake 10th, headway after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, stayed on, led towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Jul beating Included (11-10) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Aeglos (IRE) 9-2 (12-2) Mid-division, struggling after last (normal 4 out), soon well behind, 7th of 8, dist behind Stonific (11-10) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Mon Palois (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Mid-division, pushed along and outpaced after 6th, towards rear and no chance after, 9th of 14, 20 3/4l behind Flight Deck (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Court Duty (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Mid-division, forced wide before 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, dist behind Clever As A Fox (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
