led after 1st, driven and headed before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
held up behind, headway 4 out, challenged on outside next, ridden and stayed on to dispute 2nd flat, no impression with winner
in touch on outside, outpaced on wide outside 9th, behind 4 out, weakening when fell next
held up in touch, steady headway before 4 out, led approaching next, headed 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on when strongly pressed for 2nd flat, no impression with winner
held up in touch, driven and lost place after 9th, behind when hit 4 out, weakened from next
led to after 1st, chased leaders, lost place and behind 5th, headway under pressure 9th, ridden to lead 2 out, carried head high before last, kept on flat
tracked leader, reminders before 8th, led briefly before 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, kept on same pace, no impression in modest 4th from next
Malibu Sun got no further than the first at Ascot when bidding for a hat-trick and still has to prove he can cope with an 11lb rise for an earlier victory at Leicester. Un Anjou has been raised only 4lb after landing a recent double but steps up in class, along with course and distance winner Chance Encounter. Quick Decisson and Upepito are not out of this either so only a speculative vote goes to UT MAJEUR AULMES, third at Newbury last time and dropping down a grade for this.
Malibu Sun 4-1fav (11-0) Blundered ansd unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Ballygarvey (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs, 6 ran.
Ut Majeur Aulmes (FR) 8-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 9th, switched left before 3 out, went 4th and blundered 2 out, hung left under pressure and went modest 3rd before the last where went left, just held on for that placing, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Monetaire (10-9) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Kandari (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway approaching 3 out, no impression next, weakened last, 8th of 10, 16l behind Malanos (10-0) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Upepito (FR) 11-4fav (11-7) Tracked leader, led 3rd, joined 4 out, soon headed, no impression 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 5, 16l behind Headly's Bridge (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Nov.
Un Anjou (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, not fluent 4th, challenged 5 out, led next, mistake 3 out, soon ridden and hard pressed, narrow advantage when left in command last, stayed on, won at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft beating Money For Nothing (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Minella Definitely (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Led, not fluent 4th, headed 3 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 4th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Powerful Action (10-12) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Quick Decisson (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) In touch, jumped slowly and lost place 7th, struggling in last pair 10th, rallied into 2nd before 4 out, close 2nd and every chance when blundered 2 out, not recover, 2nd of 8, 13l behind Wilton Milan (11-4) at Newbury 2m 2f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov.
Chance Encounter (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leader after 1st, led 8th, in command from 3 out, well clear flat, easily, won at Wincanton 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gd beating Moonlight Maggie (10-2) by 9l, 9 ran.
