held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, led approaching last, soon clear, ridden and ran on well flat
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, lost place and not fluent 6th, soon ridden, struggling from next
chased leaders, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat
prominent, led 8th to 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway 8th, ridden 2 out, weakened last
held up and behind, hit 2nd, headway going well approaching 2 out, switched left and weakened approaching last
in rear from 3rd, driven along from 6th, still 10th and well behind 2 out, good headway approaching last, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
mid-division, outpaced 7th, jumped slowly 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, one pace
mistake 7th, always behind, tailed off
tracked leader, led 5th to 7th, weakened 2 out, jumped left last, tailed off
led to 5th, led 7th to 8th, weakened 3 out, eased once beaten, tailed off
held up towards rear, some headway 6th, struggling from 8th, tailed off
held up in touch, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
Nonrunner
Il Duce lost little in defeat in a similarly competitive handicap at the Open meeting here in November but a 7lb rise since then combined with a below par effort at Newbury last time leaves him with more to do so preference is for Lacdoudal, who gets the vote ahead of Attorney General. The last mentioned has gone up 7lbs for his narrow defeat of Fire Dragon here a month ago and has claims on that evidence but is strictly held by the selection on previous form at Chepstow. Blue Business reverts to hurdles after an unproductive time over fences, while Penny Pictures is difficult to recommend with any confidence given the form of the Pipe yard. Tramantano has yet to prove himself over this far, while Nine De Sivola has more to do off a 12lb higher mark than when scoring at Wetherby last time. The vote then goes to the Philip Hobbs-trained Lacdoudal, who was good value for his Chepstow success over hurdles in October and has since shown improved form over further over fences. He can take advantage of a favourable mark back over timber.
Attorney General (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Held up rear, headway approaching 2 out, every chance last, kept on well to lead close home, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gs in Dec beating Fire Dragon (10-3) by 1/2l, 19 ran.
Blue Business 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, reminders 3rd, ridden 8th, weakened 12th, 6th of 8, 40l behind Zabenz (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (E) gd in Nov.
Lacdoudal (FR) 8-1 (11-3) In touch, lost place 12th, rallied 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Sir Oj (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Dec.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Chased leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 12, 22l behind Pretty Star (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec.
Il Duce (IRE) 2-1 (11-7) Keen hold in touch, stumbled well before 3 out, weakened next fell at the last in race won by The Market Man (11-10) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Tramantano 14-1 (11-5) Mistake 1st, held up in mid-division, effort 4th, mistake and weakened 3 out, 11th of 19, 32l behind Verasi (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) hvy in Dec.
Stormez (FR) 66-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, 11th of 19, 26l behind Attorney General (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gs in Dec.
Native Emperor 20-1 (10-0) Soon ridden along in rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by L'aventure (10-4) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Dec, 18 ran.
Garde D'Estruval (FR) (10-6) Headway when blundered 4 out, stayed on under pressure, 3rd of 13, 14l behind Saint Gelies (9-9) at Enghien 2m 1f clm chs in Oct.
Phar From Frosty (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Led to 3rd, prominent, outpaced 4 out, rallied approaching last, one pace last, 6th of 15, 6l behind Valley Ride (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) hvy in Dec.
Supreme Piper (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Prominent, led 3rd, mistake 7th, headed approaching 8th, weakened quickly, 12th of 15, well behind Valley Ride (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) hvy in Dec.
Visibility (FR) 50-1 (11-5) Always behind, 8th of 12, well behind The Gangerman (9-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) hvy in Dec.
Just Beth 9-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden and every chance 2 out, soon hung left, not quicken flat, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Valley Ride (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) hvy in Dec.
Saltango (GER) 33-1 (11-0) In touch, ridden and effort approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure run-in, 3rd of 16, 1l behind Screenplay (11-2) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
Salut Saint Cloud 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway and not fluent 5th, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, 5th of 15, 11l behind Acambo (10-9) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs.
Nine De Sivola (FR) 6-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, led on bit 2 out, clear when hit next, easily, won at Wetherby 2m 7f nov hdl (D) hvy in Dec beating Elvis Returns (10-5) by 7l, 11 ran.
