made all, clear approaching last, stayed on well
prominent, not fluent 6th, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression on winner before last, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, headway 7th, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on flat, went 3rd towards finish, no impression
held up in rear, pushed along 6th, never on terms, well beaten after 3 out
took keen hold, prominent, mistake 2nd, joined winner 4th until 5th, mistake 6th, lost place before 3 out
mid-division, headway 4th, disputing close 2nd when bad mistake 4 out, unable to recover and well held after
in touch, mistake 4th, lost a few places 6th, not fluent 7th and pushed along, modest 4th before 2 out, weakened last
not fluent in rear, behind 7th
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place and not fluent 4th, closed 4 out, 3rd next, mistake 2 out, no impression on leaders, dropped to 4th towards finish
Top Gamble has already proved himself very versatile and though falling twice last spring reappeared to jump superbly and land a novice chase over this trip at Wetherby. O Maonlai did well when trained in Ireland and was having his first start for Tom George when travelling well for a long way over 2m4f at Huntingdon while Jumps Road reappeared with a good run at Chepstow and didn't get the run of the race at Newbury a few weeks later. SUCH A LEGEND completed a double over hurdles in April but was always more likely to make a chaser and only faded in the closing stages on his comeback at Leicester last month so looks the one to be on. The lightly-raced Arthur's Oak makes his chasing debut having landed a novice hurdle at Exeter on very heavy ground while Dresden is another having his first start over fences and reappearing after falling at the last while in the lead over hurdles at Bangor in May.
Top Gamble (IRE) 85-40fav (11-1) Always prominent, jumped well, led 5 out, quickened clear 2 out, easily, won at Wetherby 2m nov chs (4) sft in Nov beating Yorkist (11-1) by 6l, 7 ran.
Jumps Road 7-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 7th led 7th until next, chased leader, blundered and lost 2nd 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2, 5th of 7, 13l behind Royal Regatta (10-13) at Newbury 2m 1f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov.
My Oh Mount Brown (IRE) 9-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, ridden after next, soon beaten, weakening when mistake 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Volnay De Thaix (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Dresden (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Took keen hold tracking leaders, challenged 2 out, led before last, about 1 length ahead when fell last, in a race won by Chalk It Down (11-8) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in May, 9 ran.
O Maonlai (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, jumped slowly 3 out, lost place before next, no impression and jumped right last, 4th of 8, 14l behind Ned Stark (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov.
Such A Legend 12-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway when not fluent 8th, lost place 4 out, closed 2 out, mistake last, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 9l behind Three Kingdoms (11-0) at Leicester 2m beg chs (3) gs in Nov.
Gone Too Far 14-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 5th, headway 4 out, ridden after 2 out, blundered last, weakened flat, last of 6, 10l behind Three Kingdoms (11-0) at Leicester 2m beg chs (3) gs in Nov.
Hit The Top (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, went 2nd at 5th, driven to challenge before 3 out, fell next, in a race won by Richmond (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 4 ran.
Arthur's Oak 10-11fav (11-8) Led to before 2 out, blundered 2 out, ridden before last, weakened and lost 2nd place run-in, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Virtuel D'oudon (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
