not fluent, blundered 1st, tracked leaders, chased winner 6th to 10th, weakened 17th, tailed off 4 out
behind, stayed on steadily from 3 out, never going pace to reach leaders
ran in snatches in rear, not fluent 10th, jumped slow 13th, headway to challenge and blundered 3 out, pecked badly next, stayed on to go 2nd approaching last, no chance with
mistakes, in touch, blundered 12th, weakened and lost touch 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
never going well in rear, mistake and ridden 6th, lost touch 13th, pulled up before 17th
held up, outpaced 4 out, stayed on well run in but never going pace to reach winner
made all and well clear from 3rd, clear when hit last, stayed on strongly, driven out
chased winner to 6th, went 2nd again 10th to 4 out, one pace and no chance with winner when lost 2nd approaching last, kept on run in
The winners of 73 races between them including an Attheraces Gold Cup, Sun Alliance Chase, Midlands Grand National, Cork Grand National winners amongst them, this is a race to savour. Ad Hoc sets the standard having finished last season on a high having taken the former Whitbread Gold Cup from Stormez. Lightly-raced over fences last season he was campaigned with the Grand National in mind, where he went off a well backed third favourite, but he only got as far as the 19th before parting company with Paul Carberry. Allowed to take his chance at Sandown late on that month he gained handsome consolation when running away with the Attheraces Gold Cup. The Handicapper has acted accordingly raising him 9lbs for that and although he will need a career best effort to take this off that mark, he could well prove up to the task. Last year's winner of this Stormez, runner-up to the selection at Sandown is 7lbs better off with his rival here, which hardly seems enough for him to turn the tables. However, he has gone well fresh in the past and with no doubts about ground or trip, he looks sure to have a big say here. Further behind that day was Spendid and although he is better off at the weights with the other pair it is hard to see him turning the tables. Lord Noelie is a grand sort of horse and has found life difficult, albeit in the face of some stiff tasks since defeating Alexander Banquet in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase back in 2000. He runs off his lowest mark for over two years and if retaining some ability must go well. Enrique is tough and consistent, but he has a career high mark to contend with here. He has no chance with Carberry Cross on their running at Aintree last year, where he was 18-lengths behind in receipt of 2lbs. The latter seemed to lose his way after that, but there were better signs at Stratford last month when chasing home Duchamp and if building on that would be a threat to all. Southern Star is something of an underachiever, while the likes of Shardam and Cill Churnain may find this company too hot. Montayral comes here in good form and gets plenty of weight from the principals, but Ad Hoc is a class act, goes well fresh and should confirm the form with Stormez.
