held up, outpaced 9th, well beaten after 12th
chased leader until 5th, 2nd again before 4 out, no impression on winner 3 out, lost 2nd flat
chased leaders, 2nd from 5th, led 12th, clear 3 out, not fluent next, easily
held up, headway on inside 7th, lost place before next, no impression when blundered 4 out, weakened and pulled up after
chased leaders, lost place after 3rd, pushed along next, closed 9th, struggling 12th, weakened 4 out
led until 12th, 3rd when mistake 4 out, mistake 3 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
not jump well, soon chasing leaders, outpaced 4 out, no impression next
Caraline won this last year but runner-up Special Catch, beaten nine lengths, is 22lb better off and made a satisfactory reappearance over a shorter trip here last month when Oak Vintage and Saturday’s Haydock fourth Vendor were behind. Willie Boy was second over track and trip in October and then took his chance in the BetVictor at Cheltenham where he was in touch when falling on the final circuit. GET ON THE YAGER won the Rowland Meyrick on this card 12 months ago. That’s been the highlight of his career so far but he has had wind surgery since pulled up in the Scottish National in April and he has the speed to handle this drop in distance so gets the nod. Pain Au Chocolat has also had a wind operation but may be a shade high in the weights.
Get On The Yager 28-1 (10-11) Mid-division, towards rear when pulled up before 21st, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, awkward next, jumped slowly 8th, behind when not fluent next and 10th, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Catamaran Du Seuil (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Willie Boy (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Prominent, disputed 2nd when fell 4 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Special Catch (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Held up, headway 5 out, chased leaders 2 out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 9, 14l behind Theflyingportrait (11-12) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Caraline (FR) 10-1 (12-2) With leaders to 3rd, tracked leaders, lost place 9th, weakened 3 out, pulled up approaching last, at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Oak Vintage (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leader until 4th, tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, ridden and kept on same pace, 4th of 9, 16l behind Theflyingportrait (11-12) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Vendor (FR) 28-1 (10-12) In rear, slow 1st, closed 3 out, 4th next, no impression last, stayed on final 100 yards, 4th of 9, 7 1/4l behind Kauto Riko (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
