made most, pushed along when blundered and headed 3 out, chased winner, ridden and held when fell last
pressed leader, pushed along when hit 13th and lost 2nd, soon outpaced and struggling, tailed off 4 out, soon pulled up
tracked leading pair, 2nd soon after 13th, led on bit 3 out, in command approaching 2 out, left alone last
Withdrawn
Frodon has taken advantage of his weight-for-age allowance to win at Newton Abbot and Fontwell but the four-year-old will need to up his game again to better some smart novices. Virgilio made it two out of two over fences at Newton Abbot but a line through runner-up Brother Tedd suggests Dan Skelton's charge has plenty to find with SHANTOU VILLAGE (NAP). The latter had Brother Tedd 10 lengths behind when successful at Cheltenham two weeks ago and was also conceding 5lb. Master Dee defied top weight in an Ascot handicap last week but is held by Virgilio on collateral form.
Shantou Village (IRE) 4-6fav (11-8) Tracked leader, mistake 4 out, led after 3 out, edged right flat, stayed on, clear towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Oct beating Mick Thonic (11-3) by 4l, 4 ran.
Virgilio (FR) 11-10fav (10-8) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led 1st until after next, chased leader, led again after 3 out, clear when shaken up before last, kept on strongly, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) gd in Oct beating Brother Tedd (10-8) by 6l, 4 ran.
Frodon (FR) 4-6fav (10-13) Jumped well and always going well, tracked leading pair, 2nd at 3rd, led after next, clear from 3 out, very easily, won at Fontwell 2m 5f (4) gd in Sep beating Clean Sheet (11-5) by 5l, 4 ran.
Master Dee (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Made all, jumped well, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating San Benedeto (11-6) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
