took keen hold, held up towards rear, some headway on inside before 13th, plugged on but never involved
mid-division, steady headway chasing leaders 6th, went 2nd 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, joined run-in, headed last strides
chased leader until hit 9th, chased leaders, losing place and towards rear when blundered and eventually unseated rider 13th
tended to jump right, led until after 12th, chased leader, challenged from 4 out, lost 2nd next, close 3rd, rallied gamely run-in, led final strides
held up towards rear, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after
towards rear, good headway chasing leaders and going well enough when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 5th, lost place 12th, rallied from 4 out, went modest 4th 2 out
chased leaders on inside, mistake 4th, mistake and lost place next, behind when mistake 8th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, lost place before 5th, tailed off and pulled up after 12th
chased leaders, weakened 4 out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 7th (water), mistake and weakened 2 out
chased leaders on inside, 2nd 9th, led after 12th, narrowly headed 2 out, chased leader, every chance run-in, 3rd and held close home
Bouvreuil ran some fine races in defeat last season and faced a stiff task on his reappearance. He makes more appeal than stablemate Warriors Tale at the weights. On Tour came from a long way back to win at Aintree so the extra yardage shouldn’t be a problem and Mitchell Bastyan’s claim takes care of a 5lb rise. Gold Present won at Doncaster around this time last year and was later second in a competitive handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, though hasn’t raced since falling at Aintree in April. O MAONLAI is also making his reappearance but that proved no problem here 12 months ago when he beat Warriors Tale five lengths. He was also second in the race in 2015 and will have been targeted at the contest again. Potters Cross has won both previous starts here and is starting to look well treated while Crosspark shaped with promise on his comeback run here last month. No Buts is capable on his day but looks held on the form book.
Bouvreuil (FR) 13-2 (10-4) Mid-division, outpaced 5 out, never on terms, 7th of 12, 25 1/2l behind Smad Place (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gs in Oct.
Warriors Tale 11-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway when mistake and unseated rider 9th, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Different Gravey (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Took keen hold in rear, never a factor, tailed off, 6th of 9, dist behind Romain De Senam (10-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Gold Present (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, tracked leaders 5th, in touch when fell 12th (canal turn), at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
O Maonlai (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Soon mid-division on outside, chased leaders 4 out, one pace 2 out, soon ridden, well held after, 5th of 13, 14l behind Warriors Tale (11-2) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
On Tour (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 4 out, headway before 2 out, 2nd last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Master Dee (11-7) by 3l, 12 ran.
Junction Fourteen (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) In touch on outside, driven before 3 out, soon lost place, weakened before next, tailed off, 11th of 16, dist behind Go Conquer (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Crosspark 4-1 (12-1) Mistake 1st, keen, soon chasing leaders, not fluent 6th, took closer order 4 out, ridden to challenge after next, not fluent last, no extra closing stages, 4th of 10, 6l behind Willie Boy (11-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Potters Cross 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 14th, driven and outpaced after 4 out, left disputing lead briefly next, soon ridden, no impression from 2 out, 5th of 16, 16 1/2l behind The Romford Pele (11-9) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
No Buts 4-1 (10-12) Prominent, disputed lead from 3rd, hit 3 out, driven and lost place before 2 out, no impression in 4th before last, 4th of 7, 12 1/2l behind Station Master (10-12) at Warwick 3m 2f (4) gs in Nov.
Little Jon 4-1 (11-1) Led until 4 out, lost place 3 out, mistake and weakened 2 out, 5th of 6, 32 1/2l behind Rolling Dylan (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Gentleman Jon 25-1 (11-2) In touch on inside, fell 10th, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
