tracked leaders, not fluent 9th, mistake 4 out, soon lost place, weakened before next
held up towards rear, blundered 1st, headway 9th, every chance approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace final 150 yards
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway on outside 5th, lost place 10th, well beaten when hampered 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 8th, chasing leaders 4 out, outpaced after next, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, fell 6th (water)
mid-division, hampered 6th (water), mistake 10th, soon ridden, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on flat, no impression
led, mistake 4 out, headed after next, weakening when mistake last
in touch, hampered 6th (water), ridden and chasing leaders 2 out, pressing for 2nd last, no impression on winner flat, kept on
took keen hold, held up, blundered and unseated rider 1st
held up in rear, pecked 4 out, not better than mid-division but yet to be asked for effort when fell 3 out
pressed leader, every chance after 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, hampered 6th (water), headway after 3 out, ridden and no impression before last
tracked leaders, not fluent 10th, challenged 4 out, led after next, headed approaching last, no extra towards finish
not always fluent in rear, well behind 4 out, pulled up after next
held up, hampered 6th (water), soon behind
held up towards rear, well beaten when pecked 4 out
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, hit 8th, led going best approaching last, edged right flat, stayed on well, drawing away towards finish
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, not clear briefly on bend after 3 out, ridden and chasing leaders next, hung left and no impression before last
held up towards rear, headway approaching 9th, just about in touch on outside and still going ok when blundered badly 4 out, well beaten after, behind when fell 2 out
held up in rear, behind from 6th, blundered badly 9th, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, never threatened
tracked leaders, hit 9th, every chance before 2 out, unable to quicken last, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, mistake 4 out, headway after next, effort when blundered 2 out, no impression, weakened flat
mid-division, blundered badly 1st, headway after 3 out, went 2nd and edged left flat, stayed on, no impression on winner towards finish
Punters are in trouble if they are still chasing losses by the time this finale gets underway. This has not been a race for those near the head of the handicap with 22 of the last 23 winners having had a rating lower than 145. That suggests the in-form Arthur's Oak and Rock The World are up against it. Older chasers also tend to struggle and though Eastlake is 2lb lower than when runner-up to Next Sensation last year he has shown little since. Next Sensation is only a pound higher but has also been out of form this season but Dandridge could go well from the foot of the weights and Velvet Maker is still unexposed. There is a chance that The Saint James is well handicapped, though he is still trying to sort out his jumping. Pearls Legend is tough but probably just in the handicapper's grip at present. Despite having had a rough passage, CHRIS PEA GREEN was closing on the leaders when falling four out in this last year. It was too soon to know if he would have been involved in the finish but he's now 4lb lower and has been lightly campaigned this year. If he's back to his best, Gary Moore's seven-year-old could go close at decent odds.
Arthur's Oak 11-4 (11-7) Made all, clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb beating Grey Gold (11-12) by 5l, 5 ran.
Savello (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, under pressure before 6 out, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, at Ascot 2m 5f (1) sft in Feb.
Bright New Dawn (IRE) 1-2fav (11-4) Settled 3rd, 2nd 5 out, improved to challenge entering straight, narrow lead 2 out, ridden to assert run-in and kept on well, won at Clonmel 2m 4f hvy in Feb beating Rubi Light (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 3 ran.
Dunraven Storm (IRE) 15-8 (11-7) Led, driven when headed approaching 4 out, rallied after 2nd last, kept on well towards finish, 2nd of 4, 2 1/2l behind Kylemore Lough (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f (2) hvy in Dec.
Croco Bay (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Led, ridden and headed before last, soon weakened, last of 4, dist behind Top Notch (11-4) at Kelso 2m 2f (2) hvy in Feb.
Dresden (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in touch in rear, pushed along briefly 2nd, mistake next, ridden before 5 out, outpaced next, well held from 3 out, mistake 2 out, 4th of 5, 21l behind Arthur's Oak (11-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Velvet Maker (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Held up early, soon disputed 2nd, 2nd after 3rd, pecked 5th, slight mistake 7th, mistake and ridden last, no chance with winner and kept on one pace, 2nd of 3, 15l behind Douvan (11-12) at Leopardstown 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Rock The World (IRE) Evensfav (11-10) Made all, joined from 2 out, pulled out more and in command flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct beating Dormello Mo (11-10) by 2l, 3 ran.
Sizing Codelco (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Led, joined 5 out, ridden entering straight, left in lead again briefly 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace in 2nd run-in, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Shaneshill (11-8) at Naas 2m hvy in Jan.
Bold Henry 9-4 (10-13) Held up in touch, closed 4th, not fluent 9th, ridden after 3 out, soon beaten, weakened into 4th 2 out, last of 4, dist behind Arthur's Oak (10-13) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Next Sensation (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Led, not fluent 1st, clear when not fluent 3rd, reduced lead 5th, headed before 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 13, 34 3/4l behind Pearls Legend (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Eastlake (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place when blundered 9th, well beaten after 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon pulled up, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Red Spinner (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led 7 out, mistake next, headed before 2 out, no extra run-in, 4th of 10, 11 1/4l behind Dandridge (10-2) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan.
The Saint James (FR) 5-2jfav (10-12) Held up in touch, not fluent 6th and 8th, took closer order 5 out, left in 3rd 4 out, about to challenge when fell next, at Kempton 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.
Surf And Turf (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, never involved, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Germany Calling (IRE) 13-8fav (11-12) Led until 2nd, stayed prominent, 3rd and beaten when mistake 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 33 1/4l behind Dresden (11-7) at Aintree 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Solar Impulse (FR) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, pushed along 5th, soon under pressure, weakened before 5 out, behind when pulled next, at Exeter 2m 1f (2) hvy in Dec.
Workbench (FR) 25-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, went 3rd last, stayed on, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Pearls Legend (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Gardefort (FR) 5-2 (11-10) In rear, not fluent 2nd, closed 6th, 3rd before 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, well held from next, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Ultragold (10-3) at Wincanton 2m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Chris Pea Green 11-4 (10-11) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, last 4th, outpaced before 3 out, went 3rd next, stayed on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 4, 10l behind Arthur's Oak (10-13) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Lough Kent 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before the last, at Newbury 2m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Pearls Legend 11-4fav (11-10) Led, not fluent 4 out, headed 3 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Upsilon Bleu (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Raven's Tower (USA) 20-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, hampered 4th, headway 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, ridden clear flat, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Notnowsam (10-3) by 11l, 9 ran.
Dandridge 8-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway before 7 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, won at Doncaster 2m hcp (2) gd in Jan beating Just Cameron (11-11) by 5l, 10 ran.
