held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, pushed along 4 out, headway after 3 out, no impression on leader when left with every chance before 2 out, led before last, headed flat, no impression towards finish
held up towards rear, headway on outside before 8th, disputing 5th when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
chased leader from 2nd, led 3 out, soon clear, about 7 lengths ahead when went wrong and pulled up before 2 out
raced freely, led 1st until 3 out, weakened last
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, mistake 12th, not fluent 4 out, left 6th when hit 2 out, closed when mistake last, no impression, one pace flat
chased leaders, dropped to mid-division from 2nd, not fluent 8th or 13th, outpaced after 4 out, closed but no impression on leader when left 5th and a little chance before 2 out, stayed on same pace last
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, no impression on leader when left in lead before 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
led until after 1st, chased leaders, pushed along 12th, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, hit 11th, well beaten from 3 out
prominent on outside until 2nd, chased leaders on inside after, lost a little bit of ground 8th, closed 12th, not fluent 3 out, no impression on leader when left closer before 2 out, went 2nd last, led flat, stayed on
NonRunner
Having saddled four of the last eight winners, anything that Paul Nicholls runs in this warrants a second look. The Ditcheat handler has three entered this year with last month’s Haydock winner Clan Des Obeaux likely to head the market. Le Prezien was among a posse of these who chased home Splash of Ginge in the BetVictor Gold Cup here last month on the Old Course. Starchitect, Ballyalton and Romain De Senam also finished close up in that event and they are closely matched again but Foxtail Hill probably has a bit to find. KING’S ODYSSEY was tracking the leaders and still going well when falling in this last year. He is 7lb lower now and has won on the track before. A run at Carlisle over a trip too short will have cleared the airwaves and Evan Williams’ charge is a potential blot on the handicap but Deauville Dancer will need a career-best effort to figure in a race like this.
Clan Des Obeaux (FR) 3-1jfav (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, challenged 4 out, led 2 out, clear last, ridden out flat, won at Haydock 2m 6f (2) hvy in Nov beating Vintage Clouds (11-1) by 7l, 6 ran.
Le Prezien (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Mid-division on outer, headway under pressure 3 out, chased front pair next, ridden and kept on same pace flat, held closing stages, 3rd of 17, 2 3/4l behind Splash of Ginge (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Starchitect (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Always prominent, challenged 3 out, every chance next, soon ridden, one pace last, kept on towards finish, just held, 2nd of 17, nk behind Splash of Ginge (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Foxtail Hill (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Led to 9th, led again next, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened last, 8th of 17, 25l behind Splash of Ginge (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Romain De Senam (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Towards rear, hit 8th, headway next, chased leaders 3 out, outpaced before next, soon ridden, no impression after, 5th of 17, 12 1/2l behind Splash of Ginge (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Ballyalton (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace in 4th from last, no impression, 4th of 17, 6 1/2l behind Splash of Ginge (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
King's Odyssey (IRE) 3-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd place, went 2nd before 4th, challenged 4 out, lost 2nd before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 2l behind Nuts Well (10-12) at Carlisle 2m (2) sft in Nov.
Splash of Ginge 25-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon led, ridden after last, kept on under pressure flat, held on near finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Starchitect (11-2) by nk, 17 ran.
Deauville Dancer (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Tracked leader from 1st, led 4 out, clear from next, easily, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Derintoher Yank (11-8) by 13l, 3 ran.
Guitar Pete (IRE) 11-1 (10-6) Badly hampered 1st, always in rear, 9th of 17, 25 1/4l behind Splash of Ginge (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Long House Hall (IRE) 6-1jfav (10-12) Held up, mistake 7th, headway 4 out, led 2 out, ridden clear after last, ran on strongly, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Jul beating Ballynagour (11-12) by 8l, 16 ran.
