mid-division, chased leaders after 3 out, 7th and one pace when fell next
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, beaten when hampered next
led, hit 2nd, ridden between last 2, headed narrowly last, rallied and every chance flat, held near finish
always behind, weakened 3 out
mid-division, driven after 3 out, chased leaders under pressure before next, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd flat, no impression with front pair
mid-division, driven to chase leaders before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms
prominent, ridden to chase leading pair 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, lost 3rd flat
towards rear when fell 4th
in touch on outside, ridden to chase front pair before 2 out, soon lost place, weakened last
held up in rear, some headway into mid-division when mistake 2 out, never near leaders
tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms
held up mid-division, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, led narrowly last, ridden flat, stayed on well towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, lost place before 5th, behind from 4 out
chased leader to 4th, soon behind, weakened 3 out, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A far from easy start for punters with a big field partnered by conditionals. Harry Cobden rode a big winner for the Nicholls' yard at Cheltenham on Sunday and is on board the stable's Varom. A long absence is not a worry and the six year old could go well. Murray Mount held off Drumlang at Bangor to get off the mark but the second is 2lb better off here. Mccabe Creek just can't get his head in front but The Big Dipper won at Southwell in September before his third at Aintree and enters calculations along with the returning Space Walker and Bonobo. Sailors Warn has his sights lowered but we'll take PIED DU ROI to handle the softer surface and go one better than when runner up to the revitalised Amuse Me at Carlisle.
Sailors Warn (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened before last, 6th of 11, 13l behind Cooper (10-0) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Drumlang (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Always handy, led narrowly 2 out, driven flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 7, hd behind Murray Mount (11-4) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Space Walker (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 4th before last (usual 2 out), soon weakened, tailed off, 4th of 9, 36 1/4l behind Driftashore (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Apr.
Breaking The Bank 6-1 (11-8) Led, hit 8th and pecked, headed 12th, weakened after next, last of 6, 37 1/2l behind Squire Trelawney (11-1) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Guards Chapel 50-1 (11-1) Always behind, 14th of 16, dist behind Bold Runner (11-4) at Goodwood 2m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Bonobo (IRE) 9-4fav (11-3) Took keen hold, tracked leader until before 1st where not fluent, last from next, mistake 4th, closed 4 out, hampered after next, mistake last, no impression, 4th of 5, 7 1/4l behind Diamond Tammy (10-10) at Ludlow 2m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Mini Muck 14-1 (11-12) Towards rear, blundered 2nd, pulled up after 3rd, at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Dormouse 17-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, ran on flat, never nearer, 7th of 17, 11l behind Crickel Wood (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
The Big Dipper 8-1fav (11-5) Towards rear of mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden after next, chased winner after last, kept on flat, 3rd and held towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Abricot De L'oasis (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
McCabe Creek (IRE) 11-2fav (11-6) Held up in rear, good headway chasing leaders approaching 8th, 2nd next, led approaching last, headed run-in, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Panis Angelicus (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Pied Du Roi (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 2nd after 3 out, every chance next, chased winner between last two, no impression run-in, 2nd of 14, 10l behind Amuse Me (11-0) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Dazinski 7-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, not fluent 6th, challenged before 2 out, led last, stayed on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp (4) gf in Aug beating Bathwick Man (10-13) by hd, 9 ran.
Varom (FR) 2-1fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, every chance 3 out, mistake 2 out, ridden and weakened before last, 5th of 18, 22l behind Pearl Castle (10-7) at Doncaster 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Murray Mount (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Held up, stumbled on bend after 5th, not fluent 7th, headway next, led after 3 out, headed when not fluent 2 out, mistake last, stayed on to lead again towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Drumlang (11-12) by hd, 7 ran.
Powderonthebonnet (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Prominent, not fluent 2nd, lost place 5th, well beaten after 3 out, 14th of 17, 37 1/4l behind Crickel Wood (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Franciscan 10-1 (11-7) In rear, lost place from 3 out, last of 5, 22 1/4l behind Serenity Now (10-10) at Towcester 2m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Sonofagun (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Tracked leader until 7th, went 2nd again when not fluent 8th, pushed along 10th, one pace in 3rd from 3 out, 3rd of 4, 8 1/2l behind River Purple (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.