chased leaders on outside, pecked slightly 2nd, lost place before 7th, struggling from 12th, well behind 4 out
jumped left, held up in rear, closed 7th, not fluent next, chasing leaders 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakening when fell 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along 4 out, 4th and beaten 2 out, no extra
led until after 12th, led 3 out, driven flat, just held on
chased leaders, shaken up after 4 out, not fluent when close 3rd 2 out, driven before last, held flat, stayed on
chased leader, not fluent 5th, led after 12th, headed 3 out, rallied flat, just held
towards rear wide, behind and struggling 10th, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, 6th and outpaced after 12th, well beaten 4 out
Ecume Atlantique is best watched after a lengthy absence and Tico Times may struggle again but most of the others have some sort of chance. ZALVADOS has only managed one win over fences so far but that came last season off a pound higher mark and he should be ready to do himself justice again now. Game Of War has plummeted down the weights since a third behind Palmers Hill here in November while Destin D'ajonc justified market support at Chepstow in January but Dr Sanderson failed in his hat-trick bid off this mark at Sedgefield in the same month. Katpoli rarely runs over this far and Frimeur De Lancray looks better treated but played up at the start here last time.
Dr Sanderson (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Tracked leading pair, closer at 12th, ridden between last two, soon 2nd, hung left before the last, no chance with winner, weakened into 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 5l behind The King Of May (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Katpoli (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, closer in 4th approaching 6th, went left 8th stayed on run-in, switched left before went left again 2 out, 3rd and went left again at the last, stayed on same pace run-in, lost 3rd final 100 yards, 4th of 6, 8l behind Doukarov (11-6) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Destin D'Ajonc (FR) 9-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader, challenged 10th, going well and led last, clear flat, reduced lead but just shaken up towards finish, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Broken Quest (12-1) by 3l, 8 ran.
Ecume Atlantique (FR) (11-0) at Pau 2m 4f hvy in Dec.
Zalvados (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Chasing leaders on inside after 2nd, not fluent 5th, ridden and switched left after 4 out, driven after 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on final 100 yards, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Yggdrasil (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Frimeur De Lancray (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Unseated rider at start, at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Mar.
Game Of War (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, headway on outside 4 out, not fluent 3 out and weakened thereafter, 5th of 6, 25 3/4l behind First Figaro (10-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Tico Times (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Jumped right, always in rear, last of 9, dist behind Dawn Raider (10-3) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
