chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, ridden and held between last 2, blundered last, weakened and lost 2nd run-in, lost 3rd near finish
chased leaders on outside, lost place before 5th, rallied 10th, weakened before 13th, tailed off and pulled up after 2 out
led until 3rd, chased leader until after 6th, chased leaders, went 2nd again run-in, no chance with winner
in touch, mistake 10th, soon lost place, tailed off 13th, pulled up before 2 out
raced keenly, chased leaders, went 2nd after 6th until 13th, chased leaders, weakened after 3 out
chased leader, led 3rd, made rest, hit 10th, reached for 2 out, clear between last 2, stayed on strongly
towards rear, tailed off when blundered 13th, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, hit 13th, headway chasing leaders 2 out, went modest 3rd near finish, no chance with winner
last pair, tailed off and pulled up before 4th
chased leaders on outer, ridden before 11th, driven after 4 out, weakened after 2 out
held up and always towards rear, tailed off
Garrane has never won over fences but doesn’t lack stamina and was third off this mark on his reappearance at Chepstow. Cuban Pete is 2-6 over the larger obstacles but this trip may stretch his stamina and he’s gone up 5lb since successful at Stratford. Holly James was badly hampered here at the start of the month but is another who could find this too far. Fontwell second Eclair De Guye won over an extended 3m at Southwell in March, however. ELAN DE BALME wasn’t given a hard time when third at Ffos Las last month and David Pipe’s gelding has solid claims in this if reproducing his French form.
Garrane (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Led until 13th, led 16th, headed 5 out, rallied last, stayed on, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Wayfinder (11-3) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Eclair De Guye (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Close up, jumped left 3 out, led 2 out, jumped last well, outpaced and headed final 110 yards, 2nd of 10, nk behind Mine's A Pint (11-11) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Elan De Balme (FR) 10-3 (12-1) Led until 3rd, chased leader, led again briefly 8th, in front again 11th, mistake and headed 3 out, lost 2nd next, weakened in 3rd, 3rd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Vocaliser (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Perform (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Midfield, lost ground 8th, not fluent 10th and pushed along, adrift in rear 4 out, tailed off from 3 out, last of 6, dist behind William Henry (11-4) at Hereford 3m 1f (4) gs in Nov.
Tintern Theatre (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Prominent, lost ground 11th, hit 12th, blundered and unseated rider 5 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Cuban Pete (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, closed after 2 out, led final bend, edged right after omitted last, bumped close home, held on, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Oct beating Jean Genie (11-3) by nk, 7 ran.
Holly James 10-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, behind from 11th, badly hampered 3 out and pulled up, at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Special Acceptance 14-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 5th, slow 9th, led 12th, headed 4 out, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 9, 17 1/2l behind Guy (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Stormy Milan (IRE) 11-4 (11-9) Tracked leader, challenged 4 out, ridden before next, every chance 2 out until after last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Kings Temptation (11-4) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in May.
Stay Out Of Court (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Led, untidy 5th, pressed 3 out, ridden along and headed before 2 out, weakened when untidy last, 5th of 14, 18l behind Strictlyadancer (11-4) at Exeter 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Clondaw Rigger (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Mid-division, took closer order 10th, with leaders 3 out, ridden for effort before 2 out, held when blundered last, lost third flat, 4th of 8, 12 3/4l behind Crossley Tender (11-13) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) hvy in Oct.
