raced on inside, held up in last pair, hit 7th, headway tracking leaders 12th, went 2nd 5 out until next, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
raced wide, tracked leader until blundered 4th, went 2nd again 7th until 5 out, chased leaders, switched left before 2 out, plugged on in well held 3rd, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
held up in 5th, headway out wide chasing leaders 7th (water), weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th until after 7th, went 2nd again 4 out, well held when bad blunder last, weakened into 3rd towards finish
jumped soundly made all, came clear between last two, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 2nd, well held in 4th when hit 2 out
in rear, went left 12th, never a factor, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
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Nothin To Ask goes for the hat-trick and defends an unbeaten record over fences. Malinello beat race-fit rivals at Newcastle and Unanswered Prayers made a winning start over the larger obstacles at Cheltenham. Bold Endeavour made a winning start for new connections at Leicester but that form hasn’t been franked and stablemate Surrey Quest may have more scope. DOCTOR KEN overcame inexperience to score at Aintree and didn’t do a lot wrong when second to a useful Irish novice at Ayr later with the first two pulling well clear. Any further improvement would put him in the firing-line here. Tea For Free bids for the four-timer so can’t be left out of calculations.
Nothin To Ask (IRE) Evensfav (12-0) Made all, jumped well, 1 length ahead and going well when left clear 3 out, shaken up and stayed on well, not extended, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Universal Folly (11-5) by 3 1/4l, 4 ran.
Halo Des Obeaux (FR) 11-4jfav (11-5) Chased leader, led after 4th until pushed along and headed before 2 out, weakened soon after, beaten in 4th when mistake and rider lost iron at the last, 4th of 11, 11 1/4l behind Dolphin Square (11-13) at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Unanswered Prayers (IRE) 9-4fav (10-13) Mostly jumped well, made all, clever at 3rd, stayed on strongly unchallenged, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Railway Hurricane (11-3) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Malinello 11-4 (11-10) Prominent, led 11th, briefly headed before 4 out, ridden to lead 3 out, not fluent last, held on close home, won at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Lord Roco (11-0) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Tea For Free (IRE) Evensfav (12-0) Held up in mid division, headway to dispute 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, hung left but ran on well run in, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Bells Of Peterboro (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Surrey Quest (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, lost place 4th, not fluent 9th, ridden after 11th, not fluent and stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 8 3/4l behind Fern Hill (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Eyeofthescorpion (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Held up in touch in rear, switched outside and headway 2 out, chased winner last, no impression, 2nd of 5, 4 1/4l behind The Changing Man (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Bold Endeavour 5-4fav (12-0) Made all, asserting when jumped right last, clear flat, eased towards finish, won at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Dec beating Ashington (11-6) by 10l, 7 ran.
Doctor Ken (FR) 6-5fav (11-7) Always prominent, not fluent 2nd, challenged after 12th, shaken up before 3 out, soon ridden, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Gold Cup Bailly (11-10) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Rakhine State (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Held up, headway under pressure from off pace home turn, jumped right 2 out, plugged on in distant 3rd, 3rd of 11, 20 1/2l behind Gemirande (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
