mid-division, dropped towards rear 6th, headway 11th, went 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with leading pair
mid-division, outpaced 11th, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out, never near leaders
tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened next
led to 5th, tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next
behind, mistake 2nd, headway into mid-division 5th, chased leaders 4 out, kept on same approaching 2 out, no impression
soon behind, never dangerous
mid-division on inside, lost place 4 out, weakened next
tracked leader, led 5th, driven after 3 out, headed next, soon ridden, kept on same pace approaching last, no chance with winner flat
in rear, stumbled 6th, lost touch 8th, tailed off when pulled up next
tracked leaders, mistake and dropped towards mid-division 4th, chased leaders under pressure when not fluent 3 out, weakened next
towards rear of mid-division, driven 11th, no headway, weakened before 2 out
always towards rear, beaten when jumped left 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
in touch, headway 5 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well flat
tracked leaders, driven and outpaced after 3 out, soon no impression, weakened from next
behind, headway into mid-division 8th, outpaced 4 out, weakened next
CARRICKBOY still had every chance when unseating his rider at Cheltenham last Friday. It's significant that Venetia Williams turns the six-year-old out again quickly here and Aidan Coleman, who rode him into second place at Exeter previously, is back on board here. Midnight Haze scored at Ludlow on his reappearance and may still be improving. But he faces a stiffer task here off an 8lb higher mark and just as interesting is Roi De Rose, who will have been almost impossible for the handicapper to accurately assess having won three races in minor company in Switzerland in 2009. Victorias Groom is capable on his day but may always be better when allowed to dominate, a luxury that seems unlikely in this big field.
Chance Du Roy (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Towards rear, hampered 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 7th of 23, 29l behind Aegean Dawn (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Theatre Dance (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, driven in 5th and one pace when hit 2 out, no impression and weakened before last, 8th of 12, 13l behind Kauto The Roc (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Victorias Groom (GER) 9-1 (11-5) Raced wide, mistakes 1st and next, soon behind, lost touch and pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Frankie Figg (11-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Midnight Haze 9-4fav (11-12) Made all, jumped right 3 out, not fluent next, ridden approaching last, kept on well, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Nov beating Key Cutter (11-10) by 5l, 9 ran.
The Rainbow Hunter 13-2 (11-4) Chased leader, led approaching 3 out, jumped right last 2, easily, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov beating Regal Approach (11-12) by 6l, 6 ran.
Buck The Legend (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, pushed along before 9th, mistake 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 14, 29l behind Putney Bridge (10-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun.
Pocket Aces (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, pecked 7th, blundered 9th, weakened before 5 out, in 9th and well held when blundered badly 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mount Oscar (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
Regal Heights (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Mid-division on outside, reminder after 7th, under pressure when hampered 10th, beaten when blundered 5 out, soon weakened and pulled up, in a race won by Buffalo Bob (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Smack That (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Held up in rear, some headway 5 out, no impression from next, left moderate 3rd last, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 8, 27l behind Stagecoach Pearl (11-7) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Carrickboy (IRE) 6-1fav (11-3) Soon chased leader until 10th, stayed in 3rd, going well enough when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Fine Parchment (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cond hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gd, 17 ran.
Doctor Pat (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, some headway after 12th, not fluent and bumped next, soon no impression, tailed off, 7th of 12, well behind Royal Kicks (9-9) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Peplum (FR) 66-1 (10-5) Held up in last trio, badly hampered and unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Aigle D'or (11-3) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Only Vintage (USA) 50-1 (10-7) Raced wide, close up, chased clear leader from 8th until approaching 2 out, no extra soon after, 8th of 11, 7l behind Stow (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Roi De Rose (FR) (10-1) won at Aarau(SWI) 2m 5f lst chs gd in Sep '09 deadheating with Quelca De Thaix (10-1), 11 ran.
Restezen D'armor (FR) 15-8fav (11-3) Took keen hold, held up last, mistake 11th, smooth headway approaching 4 out, close 3rd and travelling well when fell 3 out, in a race won by Diamond Brook (11-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
