held up, bad mistake 1st, headway into second after 2 out, outpaced on home turn, kept on at same pace but no match for winner
led early, headed after 5th where jumped right, pressed leader, lost position after 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden on home turn, no extra on run-in
always in rear, never dangerous
tracked leaders, jumped low 4 out, lost place 3 out, weakened before last (usual 2 out)
in rear, never dangerous
led, soon prominent, narrowly regained lead after 5th, pushed along before last (usual 2 out) where one length clear, five lengths clear on home turn, extended advantage on run-in, eased down
midfield, headway into third before 3 out, lost place 2 out (usual 3 out), rallied on home turn to regain modest third
NonRunner
Bathiva won easily at Huntingdon last week and will be fancied to complete his hat-trick under a 7lb penalty but the experienced Romanor is back on the same mark as when successful over a longer trip here in the summer and a recent second at Taunton signalled an imminent return to form. PRINCE LLYWELYN didn’t win over hurdles but could be thrown in on his fencing debut if wind surgery has had the desired effect. Pull Green will have learned plenty from his run at Bangor in the summer and Glockenspiel and Enzo D'airy are others with scope over the larger obstacles.
Bathiva (FR) 11-8fav (11-12) Held up in last pair, smooth headway tracking leaders travelling well before 3 out, 2nd before next, slightly hampered and led approaching last, soon clear, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Lots Of Luck (11-9) by 11l, 10 ran.
Statuario 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders when fell 6th, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Alaskan Boy (FR) (9-10) 9th of 16, 26 1/4l behind Amour Du Mathan (10-1) at Auteuil 2m 2f hcp gd in Mar.
Glockenspiel (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Slight lead until after 1st, chased leader, pecked 4th, hit next, lost 2nd approaching 6th, chased leaders, ridden on long run between last 2, weakened quickly soon after, blundered last, 8th of 10, 36 1/4l behind Eddiemaurice (11-12) at Newbury 2m hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Romanor 4-1 (11-6) In rear, pushed after 4 out and went 3rd, left 2nd 3 out where mistake, stayed on behind comfortable winner, 2nd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Court Royale (11-11) at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (4) gf in Oct.
Enzo D'Airy (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Led until 3rd, not fluent 5th, led next, not fluent 3 out, headed and switched right before 2 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 7, 19l behind Cristal Spirit (11-4) at Lingfield 2m 3f mdn (4) hvy in Jan.
Prince Llywelyn 11-4 (11-2) Led and disputed until blundered 4 out, lost 2nd next, weakened soon after, mistake 2 out, 4th of 8, 36l behind Dagueneau (11-2) at Huntingdon 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar.
Pull Green (IRE) 9-1 (12-0) Held up towards rear, no impression from 4 out, well beaten 5th when mistake last, 5th of 9, 27 1/4l behind Global Tour (11-9) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
