led until not fluent 3 out, soon led again, headed off last bend and one pace after
held up in 5th, mistake 4th, last from next, well beaten 2 out
tracked leaders, challenged 6th, not fluent next, soon headed, led again off last bend, headed last, not much room and switched left flat, stayed on well, just failed (awarded race)
took keen hold, tracked leader until before 6th, outpaced and beaten before last
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway after 3 out, led last, edged right flat, stayed on, just held on (disqualified and placed 2nd)
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, outpaced after not fluent 2 out, well held 5th last, kept on and went 3rd towards finish
Redford Road stayed on strongly to spring a surprise in a Grade 2 over 3m here last month but the drop back in trip is a worry and he also has a penalty to carry. Improving Warwick winner Welsh Saint looks the pick of Nicky Henderson’s two runners but maiden Protektorat is worth a try over this longer trip as he stayed 2m2f in France and Dan Skelton’s Sandown runner-up is also preferred to Ofalltheginjoints, who appears to have reached the limit of his capabilities. IMPERIAL ALCAZAR has only won an Aintree maiden so far but was unlucky not to follow up in a Class 2 at Newcastle and looks more than capable of stepping up to this grade – the same connections were responsible for last year’s winner.
Redford Road 14-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon pushed along, led before last, soon headed, led again flat, stayed on, edged left towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec beating Champagne Well (11-1) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Grand Mogul (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Slight lead until 3rd, in front again next until after 4 out, lost 2nd next, lost action and pulled up before 2 out, at Newbury 2m 5f (3) gs in Nov.
Imperial Alcazar (IRE) 5-4fav (11-3) Held up mid-division, hit 5th, headway 4 out, chased front pair next, ridden between last 2, rallied to press winner when short of room towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Prince Kayf (10-12) at Newcastle 2m 6f (2) hvy in Nov.
Ofalltheginjoints (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) In touch, ridden and headway 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 13 3/4l behind Enrilo (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) sft in Dec.
Protektorat (FR) 6-1 (10-7) Held up behind, headway before 2 out, ridden between last 2, stayed on to chase winner from last, always held, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Mack The Man (10-1) at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec.
Welsh Saint (FR) 11-10fav (11-0) In touch in mid-division, closed 4th, not fluent 6th, closing in 3rd home bend, led before 2 out, clear when not fluent last, stayed on, won at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Dec beating Some Detail (11-0) by 15l, 15 ran.
