chased leaders, closed 7th, ridden and one pace in 3rd 2 out, no extra flat
held up in rear, struggling 9th, never on terms, disputing modest 5th last, weakened flat
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, struggling 9th, not fluent next, soon well behind, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, led 6th, headed next, led before 3 out, headed flat, one pace
led, jumped left 2nd, headed 6th, led next, headed before 3 out, rallied last, led flat, stayed on gamely
mid-division, headway after 3 out, closed last, every chance flat, held towards finish
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, closed 4th, pecked 8th, lost place from next, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before next
held up in mid-division, headway 4th, lost place 3 out, modest 5th when mistake last, weakened flat
Nonrunner
Cayman Islands has had his problems but could be interesting if John Ferguson has him ready - the booking of Geraghty is a positive. Pearls Legend is zero from 10 over fences but has been knocking on the door lately while Ut Majeur Aulmes is consistent. Tresor De Bontee made a bold bid to follow up his Lingfield win at Wetherby in November but has gone up another 4lb since. ARTHUR'S OAK had actually jumped well until making a hash of the fourth-last at Wincanton last time. He weakened quickly thereafter but dropping back to 2m could be in his favour and an earlier fourth at Warwick has worked out well. Veteran Nozic looks best of the rest.
Tresor De Bontee (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on and held run-in, 2nd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Back To Bracka (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Ut Majeur Aulmes (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Held up behind, headway 4 out, challenged on outside next, ridden and stayed on to dispute 2nd flat, no impression with winner, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Minella Definitely (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Itsuptoyou (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 2nd, ran on approaching last, nearest finish, never near to challenge, 5th of 10, 13l behind Surf And Turf (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Arthur's Oak 3-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, tracked leader, led 4th, not fluent and headed 4 out, no extra 3 out, 4th of 7, 24l behind Somchine (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Pearls Legend 3-1 (11-5) Led, blundered 2nd, headed next, chased winner, ridden before 3 out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Cody Wyoming (11-5) at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Jan.
Paddy The Stout (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, disputing lead after 4 out, led before 3 out, pressed when blundered and headed 2 out, soon lost 2nd, chased leading pair, no impression when lost 3rd run-in, 4th of 9, 6l behind Gores Island (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan.
Nozic (FR) 25-1 (10-1) Held up, closed 2nd, went 2nd after 4 out, mistake 3 out, no impression on winner and soon lost 2nd, no extra last, 4th of 7, 14l behind Grate Fella (11-12) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Noble Friend (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, one pace and no impression before next, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Bobbits Way (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) hvy in Jan.
Sands Cove (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, pushed along and weakened before 4 out, behind and pulled up before next, in a race won by Gores Island (11-12) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Cayman Islands 7-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, lost place 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Stonethrower (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
