in touch in 5th, lost place 9th, rallied approaching 3 out, kept on
held up last, good headway chasing leaders 11th, pushed along in 3rd after 4 out until before next, soon weakened
chased leader until 4th, went 2nd again before 8th, lost 2nd briefly next, hit 11th and dropped to 3rd, weakened 4 out
led until approaching 12th, lost 2nd 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
held up in last pair, never on terms
raced keenly, in touch on inside, hit 7th, closer tracking leaders 10th, headway on wide outside travelling well in 3rd before 3 out, went 2nd next, every chance last, outbattled run-in
raced out wide chasing leaders, hit 10th and lost place, rallied 12th, 2nd next, upsides 3 out, led next, driven and pressed between last 2, battled on gamely run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd 4th until before 8th, 2nd briefly next, went 2nd 11th, led next, pushed clear before 3 out, ridden and headed next, plugged on in 3rd, no chance with leading duo
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Several of these have alternative engagements, including last month’s easy Doncaster winner Evander. He would be the selection if taking part but last year’s winner ERICK LE ROUGE is more likely to turn up to defend his title and gets the nod back over his best trip and on his favourite course. Smarty Wild has run well in all three starts over fences so far while Pistol Whipped won first-time up last season. Espoir De Romay won at Huntingdon in November and came up against the promising Royale Pagaille at Haydock so ran well considering he was conceding 5lb. The Bay Birch is well treated on past form but she has lost her way lately but Mahlervous was only beaten a neck by the useful Severano over this trip at Sandown before winning over further at Kelso and still looks well handicapped racing off a mark of 132.
A Toi Phil (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Held up and last, headway on outside 2 out, went 3rd last, kept on pressing for 3rd run-in, never able to challenge, 4th of 6, 10 1/4l behind Native River (11-6) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) gd in Feb.
Theinval (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden approaching last, not pace of leaders, 5th of 7, 11 3/4l behind Theo (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Erick Le Rouge (FR) 40-1 (11-6) Chased leaders out wide, hit 11th, went 2nd before 13th until 16th, chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened quickly, towards rear when fell next, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Princeton Royale (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Led early, joined after 5th, lost position before 4 out where pulled up, at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Ibis Du Rheu (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Soon behind, mistake 7th, lost touch 9th, hampered next, pulled up soon after, at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Pistol Whipped (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, 11th of 20, 36l behind Delire D'Estruval (11-11) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Smarty Wild 8-1 (10-6) Patiently ridden in last pair, steady headway approaching 11th, chasing leaders when pecked 3 out (normal 4 out), kept on in 3rd before last (normal 2 out), closed on 2nd but no chance with winner, 3rd of 12, 6 1/4l behind Bennys King (11-9) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
The Bay Birch (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Led until before 4th, led approaching 6th, headed 2 out, no extra before last, 6th of 8, 14l behind The White Mouse (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Mind's Eye (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, 4th after 7th, progress after 10th, jumped left 4 out, not fluent in 3rd 3 out, soon weakened in 4th, 6th of 14, 26l behind Doctor Duffy (11-3) at Ballinrobe 2m 7f hcp sft in Sep.
Espoir De Romay (FR) 6-5fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, dropped to 4th after 8th, went 2nd 10th, led briefly 12th, led before 3 out, narrowly headed next, ridden between last 2, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Royale Pagaille (11-0) at Haydock 2m 6f (2) hvy in Dec.
Espoir De Teillee (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Mistake 2nd, last when hit 4th, mistake 5th, never in contention, well beaten 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Modus (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Not Another Muddle 20-1 (11-0) Towards rear, mistake 5th, hampered next, pushed along and struggling before 10th, blundered next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out (normal 4 out), at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Evander (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) won at Doncaster 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Captain Blackpearl (11-8) by 14l, 4 ran.
Mahlervous (IRE) 9-4jfav (11-2) Tracked leader, mistake 5th, dropped to mid-division briefly, not fluent 9th, pressed leader 12th, disputed lead 13th, not fluent 4 out, led narrowly 3 out and 2 out, pressed last, all out run-in and kept on gamely to lead on the line, won at Kelso 2m 7f (3) sft in Dec beating Minella Encore (11-2) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
