chased leader until after 3rd, 2nd again approaching 5th until 8th, chased leaders, dropped to 4th and outpaced 4 out, plugged on in modest 3rd before 2 out
led until 3 out, soon weakened quickly, tailed off when blundered 2 out, pulled up
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until approaching 8th, dropped to last when mistake 6th, tailed off 8th, left remote 4th 2 out
chased leaders, closer in 3rd at 5th, 2nd at 8th, led 3 out, pushed along between last 2, kept on well from last, eased towards finish
held up last, closer in 4th at 5th, hit 4 out, headway into 3rd approaching 4 out where mistake, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden between last 2, one pace and no chance with winner
NonRunner
The recent course and distance success of Atlantic Storm came rather out of the blue but he's only a seven-year-old and is going to be dangerous if Rob Summers has found the key to him as he receives weight all round. He is 2lb worse though off with REGULATION for under a length and it would not rate as a shock if the topweight, consistent and reliable, reversed placings. The King charge gets on well with Bryony Frost and seems most likely to run his race. Royal Plaza seems in the grip of the handicapper and Little Pop has been off for nearly 600 days, so Hidden Charmer could emerge as the main danger after a good run here latest and Richard Johnson is booked. King Alfonso returns to fences for the first time since October but shaped well over hurdles at Cartmel last month.
Regulation (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Led, driven after 2 out, headed last, soon ridden, rallied flat, just held near finish, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Atlantic Storm (10-1) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Little Pop 7-1 (11-7) Led, not that fluent, mistake 4th, mistake and headed 5th, hit 7th, lost place next, pulled up before 3 out, at Doncaster 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Hidden Charmer (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Led, soon clear, mistake 4 out, ridden and reduced advantage before last, kept on gamely flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Magic River (11-2) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
King Alfonso 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led before last, headed closing stages, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Beeno (11-10) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Atlantic Storm (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, driven to challenge on inside turning in, led last, ridden out flat, held on near finish, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Jul beating Regulation (10-11) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Royal Plaza 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 7th, mistake next, lost 2nd after 3 out, no extra from next, 3rd of 5, 21 1/2l behind Ink Master (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) gd in Jun.
