held up in rear, bumped 5th, not fluent 8th or 10th, ridden 11th, mistake 5 out, soon well behind, tailed off
tracked leader until 6th, not fluent 10th, went 2nd again next until 4 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led narrowly last, clear flat, idled 150 yards out, joined towards finish, pulled out enough to hold on close home
held up, mistake 9th, jumped slowly and struggling 11th, well held by leaders 4 out
in touch in mid-division, headway 9th, not fluent 5 out, challenged 4 out, led before next, narrowly headed when fell last
held up, headway approaching 5 out, hit 4 out, 3rd and ridden when left 2nd and hampered last, stayed on flat, joined winner towards finish, held close home
led, headed and hampered 3 out, weakened 2 out, hampered last
held up towards rear, bumped 5th, hit 7th, jumped slowly 10th, headway approaching 4 out, outpaced 2 out, left 3rd last, no impression
held up in touch in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, soon pulled up
prominent, not fluent 1st, went 2nd 6th until before 11th, 7th and weakening when mistake 4 out, tailed off
Pasco usually runs well here and made a winning reappearance at Aintree. Bless The Wings was impressive when winning a Listed handicap at Wetherby earlier this month and may be capable of better while Nicky Henderson runs the enigmatic Giorgio Quercus and Prince Of Pirates, who won at Doncaster and Leicester last season and has only had seven career starts. THE KNOXS is a bit more exposed than that but most of his runs have been in smart company. He's unlikely to fail here through lack of fitness and should take all the beating if reproducing the form which saw him win a competitive handicap at Ayr over this trip in the spring. Stablemate Tataniano may have a bit too much weight but Matuhi wouldn't be without a chance if rediscovering his best form.
Tataniano (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Slight lead but pressed, headed 7th, soon ridden and lost place before next, no chance when blundered last, 5th of 7, 40l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Hector's Choice (FR) 9-1 (10-11) In touch main group, close up 9th, outpaced 5 out, weakened 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by For Non Stop (10-11) at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
Bless The Wings (IRE) 11-4fav (11-2) Blundered 1st, held up in mid-division, bumped 11th, headway to 2nd on bit just before 4 out, led narrowly 2 out, stayed on strongly from last, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f listed hcp chs (1) gs beating Gansey (10-8) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Giorgio Quercus (FR) 12-1 (10-8) Mid-division, outpaced 5 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind For Non Stop (10-11) at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
The Knoxs (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, pecked 1st, with leader 8th, led 4 out, kept on well from last, driven out final 100 yards, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr beating De Boitron (11-2) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 16-1 (10-4) In touch main group, close up 9th, chased leading pair when mistake 3 out, lost place next, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 38l behind For Non Stop (10-11) at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Matuhi 16-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, led 4th until 8th, stayed well there until weakened 2 out (normal 3 out), tailed off, 8th of 14, well behind Roberto Goldback (10-10) at Ascot 3m Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs.
Prince Of Pirates (IRE) 4-5fav (11-8) Tracked leader, closed 12th, not fluent 13th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon beaten, no extra last, 2nd of 3, 21l behind Darna (11-8) at Ascot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Apr.
Pasco (SWI) 7-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, led going well 3 out, quickened clear approaching last, stayed on well, eased near finish, comfortably, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating That's The Deal (9-10) by 3l, 6 ran.
Pret A Thou (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, led not fluent 1st or 2nd, headed before bypassing normal 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 10, 15l behind Open Day (11-2) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
