tracked leaders, led 6th, headed 8th, led again narrowly 4 out, left clear, kept on well
always behind
held up in rear, never on terms
towards rear, led 8th, headed narrowly when fell 4 out
towards rear, headway 9th, stayed on from last, never dangerous
led, headed 6th, weakened 8th
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, outpaced 9th, kept on from 2 out
tracked leaders, left 2nd 9th, no extra flat
held up in touch, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, headway approaching 5 out, no impression
mid-division, weakened 5 out
in touch, lost place approaching 5th, pulled up before 4 out
in touch, blundered 2nd, weakening when hampered 9th
Roman Ark is more than capable of landing this contest but Malcolm Jefferson's gelding would probably prefer a softer surface and preference is for Some Touch, who gets the vote over Launde. The last mentioned lost no caste in defeat behind a back to form Big Rob at Huntingdon last time and he has to be respected on that evidence. Armaguedon has not been seen for almost a year and may be best watched on his return, while Almaydan is capable but has seemingly lost his way. With Venetia Williams back among the winners again, Stan has to be respected but preference is for Some Touch. Howard Johnson's gelding looked a decent recruit to the chasing ranks last term from limited opportunities and, with more to come, he looks worth chancing on his return.
Roman Ark 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, improved into 2nd halfway, led 6 out, headed next, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 8th of 16, 22l behind Royal County Star (9-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 gd in Apr.
Gold Heart (FR) 28-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 1st, never dangerous, 9th of 16, 44l behind Kilmackilloge (10-6) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Maurice (FR) 16-1 (11-1) With leader, ridden after 12th, weakened after 3 out, 13th of 19, 48l behind Knowhere (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Armaguedon (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Calatagan (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Almaydan 15-2 (11-10) In touch, weakened approaching 4 out, mistake 2 out, 4th of 7, 24l behind Green Finger (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in May.
Launde (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Big Rob (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf.
Stan (NZ) 16-1 (11-2) fell in race won by Kilmackilloge (10-6) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct, 16 ran.
Some Touch (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Led, headed and hit 2 out, rallied to lead again last 50 yards, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan beating Eborarry (10-7) by 2l, 4 ran.
Kit Carson (IRE) 40-1 (11-11) Held up, driven along 4 out, never dangerous, 10th of 14, 34l behind Rayshan (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Edmo Yewkay (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, blundered 7th, weakened 5 out, 9th of 14, 24l behind Rayshan (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Glengarra (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Led, headed 4 out, ridden and weakened 3 out, left poor 2nd 2 out, 2nd of 3, 25l behind O'Toole (11-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf.
Brave Villa (FR) 9-1 (10-7) Held up, headway 5th, weakened on flat, 5th of 16, 17l behind Kilmackilloge (10-6) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Oso Magic 13-2 (9-13) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed next, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 19l behind Traprain (11-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
