tracked leader, closed after 4th, led 4 out, jumped right next, drew well clear approaching last, easily
always behind, no chance when hit 2 out
led, headed 4 out, jumped right 3 out, soon weakened
took keen hold, held up, struggling 4 out, no chance when hit 2 out
took keen hold, held up in 6th, pushed along approaching 4 out, stayed on after 2 out, took 3rd flat
raced wide, held up in 5th, steady headway after 4th, chased leading pair approaching 2 out, mistake last, took 2nd flat, no chance with winner
disputing close 3rd when stumbled and unseated rider 2nd
raced in 4th, pushed along after 4th, effort to chase winner and mistake 3 out, weakened when mistake last
held up last, stayed on steadily after 3 out, 5th when pulled up soon after last, finished lame
Marcel goes from strength to strength and can land his seventh straight success, with his main dangers given as Pole Star, Gold Again and Millenaire. The Martin Pipe-trained selection has just kept on progressing this year, showing a likeable attitude towards his work in the process, and notched a notable win when scoring at Cheltenham last time in a Grade 2 hurdle at Cheltenham. Even though he has to concede weight to all bar Atahuelpa, he is still rated the one to beat. Atahuelpa is himself decent but was nine lengths behind the selection at Kempton in October and is four pounds worse off at today's weights. Ballyalbany was a very good third to good subsequent scorer Over The Creek at Cheltenham last time and clearly has ability, while Gold Again rates an interesting prospect having shown very good form in bumpers. The Charlie Mann-trained Lawood has won on the Flat, being rated in the 70s, while Jonjo O'Neill's Millenaire won a Haydock bumper before finishing unplaced in the bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. He too is interesting, though, as is Pole Star who, trained by James Fanshawe, is rated in the 100s on the Flat and was good enough to finish placed in Group staying races in that sphere, including this year Ascot Gold Cup. Of the others, Theatre is a Flat winner at up to two miles and was rated in the 70s in that sphere but he, like all of the others, will be doing well to beat Marcel if he anywhere near his best.
