chasing leaders when fell 1st
led 2nd until 5th, led again next, headed 8th, lost 2nd 10th, chased leaders, 2nd again 11th, mistake 13th (Bechers), weakened before 2 out
behind until fell 9th
led until blundered and lost place 2nd, rallied to lead again 5th until next, led again 8th, hit 10th, lost 2nd 11th, chased leaders, pecked badly 13th (Bechers), weakened next (Canal Turn)
chased leaders, went 2nd at 13th (Bechers) lost 2nd approaching 2 out, 2nd again at the last, no chance with winner
chasing leaders when unseated rider bend after 7th (water)
in mid-division when fell 6th (The Chair)
held up early, closer in mid-division at 5th, chased leaders after 7th (water), unseated rider 10th
mid-division, lost place 11th, towards rear when jumped slowly 14th (Canal Turn) rallied into modest 5th 2 out
always prominent, led 4th until next, chased leaders, 2nd again 10th, led next, hit 15th (Canal Turn), headed 2 out, lost 2nd at the last, stayed on same pace in 3rd
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders 11th, led 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly
chased leaders on inside, mistake 2nd, mid-division when slightly hampered 13th (Bechers), no chance when hit last
chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 6th (Chair)
held up towards rear, hampered 6th, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, 4th when blundered 2 out, plugged on
NonRunner
Vieux Lion Rouge won this in 2016 but is in the veteran stage now. He was behind Minellacelebration on the Mildmay course here six weeks ago when Joe Farrell was pulled up. Ramses De Teillee edged out Yala Enki at Cheltenham last month but there is nothing between the pair on today’s terms. Le Breuil, a former National Chase winner, is struggling for form and was last of four finishers at Kelso, though wasn’t beaten far. Give Me A Copper lacks a recent run and Kimberlite Candy hasn’t raced since winning a Grade 3 at Warwick in January but was second in this last year behind course specialist WALK IN THE MILL (NAP). However, Robert Walford’s stayer is now 8lb better off and bidding for a hat-trick in this contest having overcome trouble in-running 12 months ago. His comeback run at Ascot will have blown away any cobwebs and he looks the one to beat. Aso is a bold jumper who could take to these fences but he may find the tank emptying in the closing stages while Smooth Stepper needs even further.
Yala Enki (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Led, headed before 7th, led after 10th, headed just after 2 out, stayed on gamely, every chance final 75 yards, just held, 2nd of 6, shd behind Ramses De Teillee (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Jett (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Disputed lead, led from 6th, headed and ridden 4 out, led again after 3 out, joined entering straight, headed 2 out and soon weakened, 7th of 8, dist behind The Storyteller (11-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Aso (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, hampered 4 out, soon lost place and well beaten, kept on flat, 7th of 16, 15 1/4l behind Coole Cody (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Ramses De Teillee (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, mistake 4 out then went 2nd, challenging when not fluent 2 out, soon led, hard pressed final 75 yards, held on gamely, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Yala Enki (11-12) by shd, 6 ran.
Kimberlite Candy (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Chased leader until after 2nd, in touch, went 2nd again 16th, led last, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan beating Captain Chaos (10-12) by 10l, 13 ran.
Minellacelebration (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, closed 8th, went 2nd after 15th, challenged 3 out, soon led, clear before last, easily, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct beating Pobbles Bay (10-7) by 14l, 12 ran.
Walk In The Mill (FR) 50-1 (11-1) Mid-division, driven 15th, effort 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 14, 28 3/4l behind Regal Encore (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Calett Mad (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway when not fluent 16th, led 2 out, headed from last, held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 3 1/4l behind Impulsive Star (10-1) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Jan.
Smooth Stepper 50-1 (11-8) Towards rear, mistake 11h, not fluent 13th, niggled 4 out, pushed along 3 out, kept on gamely when held approaching last, weakened run-in, 5th of 10, 9 3/4l behind Step Back (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Le Breuil (FR) 15-2 (10-11) Hampered 1st, 2nd until next, 2nd again 5th, led 7th, headed 3 out, 4th and held from next, kept on flat, 4th of 8, 5l behind Some Chaos (10-8) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Led 2nd until 5th, led after 7th, headed 11th, led before next, soon headed, weakened 2 out, 5th of 12, 22 1/2l behind Minellacelebration (11-3) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Joe Farrell (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, lost place before 9th, closed and ridden 12th, weakened 15th, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Coo Star Sivola (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Led, headed 2nd, tracked leaders, weakened 2 out, 5th of 13, 29l behind Notachance (10-9) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Calipso Collonges (FR) 14-1 (10-8) Held up, headway 6 out, went 2nd after next, kept on under pressure, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 13l behind Lord Du Mesnil (10-8) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Give Me A Copper (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Raced keenly, chased leaders, not fluent 7th, weakened 3 out, stumbled next, 7th of 10, 20 3/4l behind Regal Encore (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
