held up towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, weakened before last
behind, headway 3 out, soon no impression
led until after 2nd, slow 4th, weakened after 3 out
always behind
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next
in touch, hard driven 3 out, weakened after next
in touch, jumped left 2nd, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before next
prominent, led after 2nd, headed before 2 out, soon lost place
chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, hung left under pressure after last, all out (1 hurdle omitted)
mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on same pace approaching last
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge 2 out, mistake last, no extra closing stages
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Last year's winner Thundering Home is badly out of sorts while course specialist Jumps Road, along with Exitas, was a long way behind Mr Fitzroy at Kempton, though should get closer on much better terms. All Set To Go was outclassed in a Grade 2 at Ascot last month but this will be only his fourth start over hurdles and his first in a handicap so better is expected. Serenity Now has been alternating between hurdles and the all-weather to good effect and Needless Shouting should improve on his comeback second at Fontwell but FLORESCO looks better treated. He will have to prove he handles the surface but ran well on his handicap debut at Taunton and is only a pound higher.
Baby King (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, every chance 2 out, weakened after last, 4th of 7, 12 3/4l behind Montdragon (11-10) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Exitas (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5th, effort 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 10, 13 3/4l behind Mr Fitzroy (10-1) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
All Set To Go (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up tracking leaders, closer 3 out, driven along and readily outpaced before next, 4th of 5, 16 1/4l behind Yanworth (11-7) at Ascot 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Jumps Road 9-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 34 3/4l behind Mr Fitzroy (10-1) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Kalifourchon (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Led from 2nd, clear from 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened run-in, 7th of 11, 12 3/4l behind Red Devil Boys (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Global Thrill 14-1 (11-4) Held up in last pair in touch, tracked leaders when not fluent 3 out, soon driven and one pace, 5th and held when fell next, at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Leviathan 16-1 (10-1) Mid-division, ridden and well beaten before 2 out, 7th of 11, 28 1/4l behind Rayvin Black (10-13) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Thundering Home 8-1 (11-9) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 6, dist behind Pull The Chord (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Needless Shouting (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led before 4 out, headed before 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 9, 17l behind Prouts Pub (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Floresco (GER) 7-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders in 5th, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, driven and stayed on before the last, went well held 2nd final strides, 2nd of 17, 9l behind Proofreader (11-7) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Eddiemaurice (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, stayed on from 3 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 12l behind Tara Flow (11-1) at Leicester 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Rafafie 7-2jfav (11-9) Mid-division on inside, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, 7th of 14, 24 1/4l behind Flying Light (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Mr Fitzroy (IRE) 11-2 (10-1) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, led 3 out, driven clear after next, comfortably, won at Kempton 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Hollywood All Star (10-3) by 6l, 10 ran.
Serenity Now (IRE) 5-2 (8-10) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never dangerous, 5th of 8, 11 1/2l behind Gabrial The Hero (9-10) at Southwell 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Dec.
