held up in touch, headway into 4th before 5th, went 3rd 13th, pushed along and no impression on leading duo after 3 out, lost modest 3rd close home
not always fluent, led, not fluent 3rd, headed 5th, chased leader, led again 9th, blundered and headed 12th, chased leader, closed to regain lead approaching 2 out, clear before last, stayed on strongly
chased winner, led 6th until 9th, led again 12th, 2 lengths ahead 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra between last two, kept on for clear 2nd
held up in touch in last trio, mistake 1st, jumped slowly and reminder 8th, mistake 11th, pushed along in 5th after 14th, soon no impression, mistake 3 out, tailed off
held up in last trio, pushed along in rear before 11th, struggling before 15th, tailed off and pulled up after 3 out
raced wide chasing leading pair until 13th, chased leading trio, ridden before 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went modest 3rd towards finish
Nonrunner
Ballyoliver is also engaged at Haydock but would have a chance if turning up here instead. Venetia Williams also has Shangani entered and this is his time of year while Hey Big Spender continues to hold back the years and makes more appeal than fellow veteran Cappa Bleu and Caulfields Venture, who is 5lb out of the handicap. Clondaw Knight won very easily at Wetherby last month but carries another 13lb in this much higher grade. CAROLE'S DESTRIER has been dropped a pound since finishing fourth at Cheltenham last month. He got outpaced up the straight that day and will be a lot happier back over 3m so gets the nod.
Hey Big Spender (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, weakened before 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Samstown (10-5) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan, 12 ran.
Carole's Destrier 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, hit 8th, not fluent 9th or 11th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra final 150 yards, 4th of 12, 7l behind Generous Ransom (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) sft in Jan.
Clondaw Knight (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Held up mid-division, headway before 12th, led before 4 out, clear from 3 out, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Swing Hard (11-0) by 14l, 9 ran.
Shangani (USA) 10-1 (10-8) Towards rear, pushed along 7th, ridden and headway after 5 out, no impression from 4 out, 6th of 12, 36l behind Samstown (10-5) at Haydock 3m 1f hcp chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Cappa Bleu (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leading pair, led after 5th, headed narrowly 3 out, kept on and every chance until no extra and weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Nowurhurlin (11-13) at Kelso 2m 7f hts chs (6) hvy in Jan.
Ballyoliver 20-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway after 15th, lost place 17th, well beaten from 4 out, 6th of 14, 32l behind Hawkes Point (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Jan.
Caulfields Venture (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, mistake 15th, weakened 5 out, behind when refused 2 out, in a race won by Le Reve (11-11) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
