held up towards rear, hit 9th, ridden 14th lost place, weakened 15th, pulled up approaching 4 out
held up in mid-division, good headway on bit approaching 4 out, chased leader approaching 3 out, shaken up and led after last, ran on well
soon behind, pulled up after 5th
held up towards rear, ridden, took close order after 18th, weakened 4 out
chased leader, ridden 4 out, stayed on well from 3 out
prominent, ridden, outpaced after 4 out, kept on from 3 out
led, quickened 15th, hit 16th, ridden 4 out, hard ridden 2 out, headed after last, no extra
prominent, ridden 18th, weakened after 4 out
Whitenzo returns to the fray under topweight but can prove the best of Paul Nicholls trio, with stablemate Le Jaguar and Saffron Sun expected to give him plenty to do. Whitenzo brings a touch of class to this contest, having finished fourth in the Betfred Gold Cup at Sandown in April. Since teaming up with Jamie Snowdon, he has been a revelation, landing a couple of military races and a class D contest at Exeter prior to his sterling effort at the Esher track. He starts the new season on a mark of 135 which is still nine-pounds less than his best rating four years ago, and the decision to sidestep the Hennessey for easier pickings here should be rewarded. Le Jaguar ran a fine race from out of the handicap to finish third in the Desert Orchid Silver Cup here in October and at the age of five has plenty of time on his side, so makes more appeal than the enigmatic Inca Trail who is paying the penalty for one or two good efforts last term. Saffron Sun receives weight all round and lines up in search of a hat-trick after back-to-back successes at Exeter and is another that does not appear too harshly treated despite an eight-pound rise in the weights. The Hobbs pair Koquelicot and Tom Sayers do not appeal on the evidence so far, and if class is any guideline then Whitenzo is the one to be on.
Whitenzo (FR) 9-1 (9-7) Took keen hold, tracked leading trio, led 4 out, joined 2 out, headed last, weakened flat, 4th of 19, 5l behind Jack High (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Apr.
Inca Trail (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Held up, towards rear, ridden 4 out, stayed on one pace, 6th of 12, 20l behind Iris Bleu (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gd.
Fox In The Box 11-4 (11-8) Held up towards rear, hampered bend after 13th, weakened 16th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Bathwick Annie (11-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Zaffamore (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Behind, struggling from 10th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Kock De La Vesvre (10-4) at Perth 3m hcp chs (B) sft in Apr, 9 ran.
Tom Sayers (IRE) 7-2fav (10-0) Prominent, hit 16th, soon ridden, weakened 18th, 5th of 9, 32l behind I Hear Thunder (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Oct.
Le Jaguar (FR) 9-1 (9-7) In touch, headway and chased leaders approaching 4 out, soon ridden, hit 2 out, stayed on well from last, 3rd of 9, 2 1/2l behind I Hear Thunder (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Oct.
Koquelicot (FR) 11-2 (11-8) In touch, ridden after 12th, soon weakened, 7th of 10, 20l behind Ebony Light (10-9) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Oct.
Saffron Sun 15-2 (10-9) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, soon ridden, jumped right next, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs beating The Kew Tour (11-6) by 5l, 11 ran.
