chased leader, joined leader 5 out, hard driven 2 out, hung left and weakened after last
tracked leader, slow 3rd, ridden to challenge 2 out, stayed on well closing stages
behind, headway before 2 out, ran on after last, never nearer
led, joined 5 out, headed after 2 out, soon rallied, kept on well
keen, in mid-division, weakened 4 out
held up, towards rear, mistake 14th, weakened 4 out
mid-division, headway 13th, soon chasing leaders, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, stayed on well closing stages
mid-division, slow 4th, blundered 12th, never dangerous
prominent, slow 2nd, lost place after 13th, behind when pulled up 4 out
mid-division, mistake 6th, not fluent 11th, headway 2 out, chased leaders last, never able to challenge
held up, in rear, headway 5 out, weakened before 2 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 7th, every chance 2 out, led before and jumped left last, ran on strongly
Tea For Two won the Grade 1 Feltham Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day but only ran once after, missing Cheltenham and Aintree. Just out of the novice ranks, he looks to be facing a stiff task under top weight. Saphir Du Rheu has also won a Grade 1 over fences but is a better hurdler than chaser. Hadrian's Approach is thrown in on his best form but hasn't shown that for a while whereas Buckhorn Timothy probably ran his best race so far over fences when second on his reappearance at Chepstow. But A GOOD SKIN wasn't far behind that day and was closing at the finish. On better terms, the latter should come out on top today and deserves to land a nice prize after fine runs last season at Kempton and Cheltenham. Voix D'eau tries 3m for the first time and may come up short in this company.
Tea For Two 7-4 (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th until 6th, 2nd again before 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd and beaten next, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 4, 7l behind Bristol De Mai (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, pushed along and struggling after 4 out, plugged on run-in, never involved, 5th of 7, 13 3/4l behind Menorah (11-10) at Sandown 2m 7f (1) gd in Apr.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 9-2 (10-8) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 10th, went 2nd after 3 out, weakened closing stages, 3rd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Art Mauresque (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Junction Fourteen (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) Prominent, lost place 6th, rallied before 5 out, soon ridden and no impression, 6th of 8, 18 3/4l behind Art Mauresque (10-10) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Un Ace (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, dropped towards rear before 7th, some headway under pressure after 5 out, never near leaders, 8th and beaten when mistake and unseated rider 2 out, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Hadrian's Approach (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, chance 3 out, driven between last two, weakened last, 6th of 20, 8 1/2l behind The Young Master (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
A Good Skin (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Mid-division, tracked leaders after 13th, outpaced 5 out, ridden after 3 out, stayed to chase leading pair after next, one pace flat, 3rd of 16, 2 3/4l behind Potters Cross (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Buckhorn Timothy 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner after 3 out, stayed on to challenge and every chance after last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Potters Cross (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Killala Quay 10-1 (11-1) Prominent until pulled up before 11th, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Fourth Act (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Led until 1st, led again after next, reminders before 10th, went right 12th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner, kept on for clear 2nd, 2nd of 4, 10l behind Aso (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (3) sft in Apr.
Workbench (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 14th, ridden and headway 2 out, no impression from last, 4th of 7, 3 3/4l behind Keltus (11-8) at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Antony (FR) 2-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, jumped left 4th, not fluent 7th, 2nd 3 out, soon led, jumped left and hampered rivals 2 out, driven clear flat, won at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Oct beating Wilton Milan (11-2) by 4 1/2l, 4 ran.
