chased leaders until badly hampered and unseated rider 2nd
mid-division on inside, mistake 15th, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, pushed along before next, went 3rd before 2 out, stumbled last, went 2nd run-in, stayed on
raced keenly, always rear-division, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, jumped slowly 12th, never on terms
chased leaders, pushed along and plugged on from 2 out
led until before 2nd, chased leader, led again 18th, made rest, stayed on gamely
raced keenly, soon chasing leaders out wide, went 2nd when fell 2nd
towards rear, mistake 18th, no chance after, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, closer in mid-division when badly hampered on inside bend before 3 out, chased leaders before 2 out, ridden and weakened before last
held up and behind, hampered 12th, never really on terms after, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out until ridden run-in, kept on same pace in 3rd
chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 9th, mid-division and never on terms after, no chance when went badly right 2 out
chased leader, led before 2nd, headed 18th, chased leader until 3 out, weakening when hampered next and blundered badly, soon pulled up
towards rear, closer in mid-division approaching 11th, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 12th, reminder and lost place after 14th, never on terms after
chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
An impossible-looking renewal of this veterans’ chase complicated further by the fact that Late Romantic, who will be near the head of the market, is also engaged at Ayr. Crosspark finished ahead of Regal Flow over 3m5f here last month and should confirm the form but is still edging up the weights despite not winning. Potters Legend looks a threat to all as he beat a number of these in the qualifier at Warwick but couldn’t get past Storm Control next time at Cheltenham. Minellacelebration fell heavily in the Becher Chase last month and is better going left-handed whereas VALTOR has done all of his winning in this country on right-handed courses. Daryl Jacob’s mount hasn’t pulled up any trees in his two runs this term but this has probably been the long-term target and he was placing in Listed company off a 5lb higher mark less than 12 months ago. Last year’s gambled-on winner Jepeck is another who should be at peak fitness now while Burtons Well, capable when in the mood, is tried in blinkers. Sir Ivan was second back over fences at Leicester but will have his stamina tested and Sametegal, on a long losing run, has never won beyond 2m4f.
Minellacelebration (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Chasing leaders when unseated rider bend after 7th (water), at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Crosspark 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, in third when slight mistake 3 out (usual 4 out) but went 2nd soon after, led 2 out but headed before last, ran on but just held, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Doing Fine (10-11) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Gold Present (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Disputed lead until 1st, tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th until 12th, lost place 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression and lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 7, 7l behind Potters Legend (10-8) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Valtor (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Hung right, held up in rear, headway 13th, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 7, 21l behind Potters Legend (10-8) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Sametegal (FR) 17-2 (11-2) Raced wide, headway chasing leaders 6th, hit 2 out, weakened before elbow, 6th of 18, 20l behind Beau Bay (10-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Seeyouatmidnight 4-1 (11-2) Led until after 10th and dropped to 3rd, blundered and weakened 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Burtons Well (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake and behind 3rd, tailed off and pulled up before 9th, at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Theatre Guide (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Held up in rear on outside, headway before 12th, led after 3 out, headed after last, edged right, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Potters Legend (10-8) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Potters Legend 7-1 (10-1) Held up, pecked 2nd, jumped left and bumped next, nit fluent 4th, closed 5th, mistake 18th, hung left after 2 out, left 2nd last, stayed on to close on idling winner flat, looked threatening towards finish until winner quickly found more when pressed, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Storm Control (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Soon chasing leaders, weakened 5 out, 4th of 7, 23 1/4l behind Late Romantic (10-8) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Sir Ivan 5-1 (11-2) In touch, slight mistake 3rd, still going well 3 out, jumped into lead 2 out, headed last, rallied run-in but held close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Theo (11-6) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Jepeck (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, weakened quickly after the 11th, pulled up before 4 out (usually 5 out), at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Strong Pursuit (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Led until before 2nd where bumped, led 4th, headed after 3 out, beaten from 2 out, lost 3rd last, regained 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 5 3/4l behind Potters Legend (10-8) at Warwick 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Ballydine (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Towards rear, not fluent at stages, detached before 13th, pulled up before 14th, at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Regal Flow 11-1 (10-6) Disputed lead, chased leader 16th, pushed along after 3 out (usual 4 out), jumped last in fourth but ran on to take third close home, 3rd of 7, 11 3/4l behind Doing Fine (10-11) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Late Romantic (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Soon chasing leaders, went 2nd 5 out, ridden between last 2, 3 lengths down last, closed on idling/tiring leader to lead near finish, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating The Dutchman (11-2) by hd, 7 ran.
One Style (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Led narrowly, headed 13th, eased and pulled up before 5 out, at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
