towards rear, dropped to rear and struggling 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased winner, pushed along before 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, chased leading pair, well held when weakened approaching the last
held up towards rear, reached mid-division 10th, pushed along and struggling towards rear after 14th, no chance after
chased leaders, mistake 13th, lost place next, struggling after
held up towards rear, mid-division 8th, headway approaching 4 out, 3rd approaching 2 out, soon switched left and went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, driven and kept on run in, always held
chased leaders on outside, ridden and weakened before 16th
mistake 1st, chased leaders, switched left and blundered 2 out, soon driven and hung right, plugged on into 4th approaching the last
always towards rear, tailed off 3 out
raced wide, held up towards rear, struggling 14th, no chance after
chased leading pair, driven after 3 out, dropped to 4th before 2 out, went modest 3rd again before the last
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, mistake 13th, headway approaching 4 out, driven in 7th and no impression before 2 out
not fluent, towards rear, blundered 2nd, stayed on from 2 out, never going pace to get involved
made all, strongly pressed last, stayed on gamely run in
mid-division, driven before 3 out, soon one pace and no impression
chased leaders, weakened before 3 out
Merry King is only a pound higher than when runner-up in this 12 months ago behind Houblon Des Obeaux. The latter's trainer, Venetia Williams, runs Katenko this time but he remains high enough in the weights. Cantlow has never quite fulfilled his potential but What A Warrior comfortably landed a gamble on his first start for Dan Skelton and is interesting near the foot of the weights. Le Bec, Black Thunder and Gevrey Chambertin all make their handicap debut over fences and the latter has bags of scope. He didn't beat much at Bangor but won a Grade 3 over hurdles around this time last year off a 4lb higher mark so his chance is obvious. MIDNIGHT APPEAL finished behind Roalco De Farges at Cheltenham two weeks ago but ran well for a long way before being eased. On 10lb better terms, Alan King's nine-year-old has a chance of reversing the form and could be a bit of value today. Restless Harry staged something of a revival last season and is useful on his day but is probably better in small fields while Pass The Hat is up against strong stayers here.
Katenko (FR) 66-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division in touch, mistake 13th, lost place 17th, weakened 3 out, 11th of 13, 35l behind Lord Windermere (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 2f chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Vino Griego (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden before 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, headed last, rallied run-in, just held close home, 2nd of 17, hd behind Duke Of Lucca (10-7) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
Cantlow (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Mid-division, 15th halfway, ridden in 7th entering straight, no extra approaching last, 8th of 26, 14l behind Shutthefrontdoor (10-13) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs (1) in Apr.
Le Bec (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, headway 15th, in touch when fell 4 out, in a race won by O'Faolains Boy (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar, 15 ran.
Black Thunder (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Mostly with leader, not fluent 1st, lost place and not much room after 10th, hampered 12th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 5, 30l behind Wonderful Charm (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f int chs (2) sft in Oct.
Restless Harry 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake and lost place 4th, headway 13th, outpaced 17th, rallied 3 out, stayed on flat, unable to get on terms with leaders, 4th of 19, 3 1/2l behind Hadrian's Approach (11-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Pass The Hat 5-2 (11-11) Held up, mainly 3rd, 4th 5 out, fell next, in a race won by Burn And Turn (11-10) at Limerick 2m 3f chs gd in Oct, 4 ran.
Roalco De Farges (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat, clear towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct beating Standing Ovation (10-6) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 1-4fav (10-12) Led, headed 3rd, led briefly 5 out, tracked leader, ridden and dropped to 3rd 2 out, looked held, 5 lengths down next, rallied run-in, ran on to lead towards finish, readily, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Oct beating Buck Magic (10-12) by 3/4l, 3 ran.
Merry King (IRE) 16-1 (9-9) Mid-division, headway before 4 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression, 4th of 29, 16l behind Al Co (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Grandads Horse 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, outpaced next, no impression before last, 7th of 17, 17l behind Sybarite (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Midnight Appeal 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division, blundered 1st, headway 11th, mistake 3 out, 5th when mistake 2 out, no extra and not fluent last, weakened flat, 9th of 13, 24l behind Roalco De Farges (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
What A Warrior (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Led to 4th, led again 16th, clear before 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct beating Rockiteer (11-5) by 10l, 10 ran.
Ardkilly Witness (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division, pushed along when not fluent 4 out, mistake and no impression 3 out, stayed on last, unable to get on terms, 4th of 13, 8l behind Ulzana's Raid (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (3) gs in Oct.
Lamboro Lad (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) In touch, not fluent 3rd or 6th, weakened after 7th, pulled up after, in a race won by It's A Gimme (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Jul, 13 ran.
