led, fell 6th
prominent, left close up 6th, led 4 out, pulled clear travelling strongly before 2 out, pushed out from last, cosily
midfield, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 4 out, hit 3 out, progress to chase leaders last, kept on flat
chased leaders, almost upsides 4 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out, no extra flat
tracked leader, mistake 1st, jumped right 4th, left in lead 6th, headed when mistake 4 out, recovering when jumped right last, kept on flat
held up, slow jump 1st, ridden after 7th, still in touch when mistake 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no extra flat
midfield, not fluent 1st, headway to chase leaders 5th, hampered by faller 6th, pulled up quickly before 7th
in rear, mistake 1st, hit 2nd, awkward 3rd and 4th, steady headway when not fluent 4 out, mistake 3 out and ridden, lost ground before 2 out, no extra from last
held up towards rear, progress into midfield 8th, ridden and lost ground before 4 out, rallied into midfield 2 out, ran on from last
NonRunner
Goa Lil would surely have made a winning start over fences at Ludlow had he not come down at the last. If that hasn’t left a mark, the four-year-old could gain compensation here. Golden Taipan had come to grief at the previous fence but looked held at the time. Prudhomme has always looked a chasing type but was racing over further last season. Scardura appears to have jumping issues but Editeur Du Gite has claims on his second at Ascot while Shut The Box reappeared with a fair second over timber at Fontwell. TAMAROC DU MATAHAN goes well fresh and will have had plenty of schooling. Though he’s yet to win for Paul Nicholls, this looks a good opportunity as he’s proved he is not short of ability.
Scardura (IRE) 9-2 (10-0) Held up in midfield, unseated rider 8th, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Tamaroc Du Mathan (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, headway before 3 out, one pace, 7th of 20, 11 1/4l behind Our Power (11-3) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Golden Taipan (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, switched right to challenge 3 out, every chance when fell 2 out, at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Getaway Fred (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, struggling 5 out and ridden along, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Gumball (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m (3) sft in Oct.
Goa Lil (FR) 2-1 (10-9) Pulled hard, jumped right on occasions, led after 1st, not fluent 6th, ridden for effort after 2 out, in control when bad mistake and fell last, at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Sweet Adare (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Jumped right, towards rear, went never dangerous 5th from 2 out, 5th of 8, 20 1/4l behind Eldorado Allen (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gs in Oct.
Jaboticaba (FR) 10-1 (10-13) In touch, headway to join leaders 2 out, kept on one pace run in, 4th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Locker Room Talk (11-12) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Prudhomme (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Shut The Box (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, went 2nd from last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 15l behind Vorashann (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Editeur Du Gite (FR) 12-1 (10-3) Led, jumped left at times, not fluent 4 out or when pressed 2 out, headed when landed awkwardly last, held flat, 2nd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Sully D'Oc Aa (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
