prominent, ridden and weakened 8th, pulled up before 2 out
always in rear, pulled up before 2 out
held up, ridden 3 out, no extra
held up, headway 5 out, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, with leaders 2 out, ran on well after last
always towards rear, pulled up before 2 out
held up, ridden and headway 3 out, kept on but no threat
prominent, ridden and weakened 7th, pulled up before 8th
prominent, headway to lead 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened after last
midfield, headway 7th, ridden before 2 out, led 2 out, ran on well
midfield, ridden 4 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out
Annual Invictus faces an easier task than at Cheltenham last time while Umbrigado also struggled at the same venue having won at Newton Abbot before that. Eminent Poet has a shout back over the smaller obstacles but preference is for STEAL A MARCH. The latter finished six lengths in front of Barbados Buck's when beaten less than a length at Newbury last month and can confirm superiority in the process of going one better.
Annual Invictus (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Led, hard pressed 2 out (usual 3 out), pushed along when headed approaching the final flight (usual 2 out), briefly led again run in, headed by winner with a furlong to run, lost second near finish, ran on, 3rd of 8, 8 1/4l behind Captain Morgs (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Umbrigado (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 10th of 14, 34 1/2l behind Ga Law (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Fidux (FR) 33-1 (11-11) Mid-division out wide, headway chasing leaders 7th, weakened turning in, tailed off, 11th of 14, dist behind Abuffalosoldier (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Stellar Magic (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Never closer than mid-division, towards rear and struggling before 7th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before the last, at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Eminent Poet 6-4 (11-0) Ran in snatches, led early, slow jump 3rd, soon headed and dropped to last, headway to track leader 10th, pushed along 4 out, ridden before 3 out, headway to challenge leader 2 out, soon led, awkward jump last and headed final 150yds, ran on, 2nd of 3, 1 1/4l behind Ultimate Getaway (11-0) at Ludlow 3m (3) gd in May.
Copperhead 16-1 (11-6) Always behind, never involved, 5th of 11, 20 1/2l behind Dolphin Square (11-13) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Flemcara (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Led, pushed along and headed home turn, lost 2nd before 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off, 12th of 14, dist behind Abuffalosoldier (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Barbados Buck's (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders after 4 out, hung left before 2 out, plugged on in well held 3rd between last two, 3rd of 14, 6 3/4l behind Abuffalosoldier (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Steal A March 12-1 (10-13) Soon chasing leader, jumped slowly 5th, led home turn, went right 2 out, strongly pressed last, headed final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Abuffalosoldier (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Jepeck (IRE) 16-1 (11-13) Led until 3 out, weakened before last, 4th of 5, 16 1/4l behind The Changing Man (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Potters Venture (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Led, slithered badly on landing 3rd and headed, in touch, not fluent 5th, jumped left 9th, mistake and struggling 13th, well beaten next, last of 8, dist behind Kayf Hernando (11-2) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
