led, headed and remained prominent 2nd, shaken up after 12th and gradually faded, beaten 3 out and pulled up before next
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, not fluent 4 out and pushed along, soon well held
chased leaders, went 2nd after 12th, pressed leader home turn, pushed along before 2 out and no impression, ridden after last and stayed on well to lead closing stages
handy, led 2nd, pushed along after 3 out, soon faced challenge, kept on, ridden run-in and headed final strides
NonRunner
Though a Grade 1 winner over hurdles in the past, Messire Des Obeaux hasn’t won for two years and doesn’t stand much racing nowadays. Knight In Dubai needs the mud and ran a shocker last time while Stolen Silver has gone up 4lb for finishing second at Cheltenham and is 11lb higher than for his last success. MACKENBERG got taken off his feet over 2m at Doncaster last time but that was his first defeat in six starts over fences and Theo Gillard takes off 3lb today. Galahad Quest is pretty consistent but is just 1-13 over the larger obstacles and a pound out of the handicap today.
Stolen Silver (FR) 11-1 (11-9) Led until 5th, led 7th, headed 8th, led 10th, headed 11th, led after 13th, headed and hanging left before 2 out, rallied flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Midnight River (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Mackenberg (GER) 12-1 (11-13) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and kept on strongly after final fence, not pace to challenge, 5th of 11, 6 1/2l behind Malystic (12-0) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Messire Des Obeaux (FR) 11-2 (11-11) Held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, nudged along before 4 out, went third 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, lost place 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up before next, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Knight In Dubai (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, never a factor, 10th of 13, 24 1/4l behind Brave Seasca (12-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Galahad Quest (FR) 10-3 (11-0) Prominent, outpaced and lost place briefly before 3 out, rallied to go second approaching 2 out, kept on one pace from last, no match for winner, 2nd of 6, 8 1/2l behind Elixir De Nutz (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.