led, mistake 10th, headed next, not fluent 2 out, headed before last, stayed on towards finish
held up in rear, behind 10th, mistake next
mid-division, headway 8th, no extra 3 out, 6th when pulled up before next
held up in rear, headway and 6th when mistake and unseated rider 4 out
tracked leader, led 11th, headed before 4 out, led again and hung left approaching last, headed flat, no impression towards finish
mid-division, not fluent 1st, ridden 10th, struggling next, fell last
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, behind 11th
held up towards rear, struggling 10th, mistake and unseated rider next
mid-division, blundered 11th, effort 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th and no impression last
tracked leaders, mistake 11th, one pace before 4 out, 5th and well held when not fluent 2 out
tracked leaders, challenged last, led flat, driven and stayed on well flat
Nonrunner
This looks wide-open with plenty arriving in form. This is Coologue's trip and he won easily at Bangor last month. Oliver's Gold has won two of his three chase starts and been second in the other so has to go on the short-list and Katachenko beat a Paul Nicholls' hot-pot at Wetherby last month – the second was just beaten again at Newbury yesterday. JACK STEEL was very well backed at Ayr on his fencing bow and didn't disappoint. The runner-up has franked the form since and Lucinda Russell's charge can extend his unbeaten record over the larger obstacles, though Henry Daly should find a similar race for Lord Grantham this season off his current mark.
Coologue (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Made all, not fluent 1st, edged left and drew clear after 2 out, went left last, comfortably, won at Bangor 2m 4f (4) gd in Oct beating Smooth Stepper (10-12) by 9l, 7 ran.
Oliver's Gold 10-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, led last, held on well towards finish, won at Ayr 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Monbeg River (11-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Special Catch (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Behind, effort 3 out, soon no impression, 14th of 20, dist behind Carole's Destrier (11-6) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Billy Merriott (IRE) 9-2fav (11-3) Behind when brought down 6 out, at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Katachenko (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Led until after 2nd, led 7th, headed before 9th, soon outpaced, rallied from 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Oct beating Mon Successeur (10-9) by 1l, 5 ran.
Mont Royale 7-1 (11-2) Behind, pulled up approaching 8th, at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Jack Steel (IRE) 5-4fav (10-13) Towards rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 10th hampered 3 out, led before 2 out, not fluent last, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Retrieve The Stick (10-3) by 5l, 8 ran.
Favorite Girl (GER) 33-1 (10-0) Led until 2 out, chased leaders, weakened approaching last, 7th of 11, 8l behind Nabucco (10-5) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Elmore Back (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Led until before 2nd, led 4th, clear when jumped left and mistakes 2 out and last, eased towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in May beating Ballinalacken (11-8) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Lord Grantham (IRE) 10-3fav (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, one pace and no impression next, 5th of 8, 10l behind Tangolan (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Jul.
Wings Attract (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, lost place before 7th, mistake next, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 10, dist behind Abbreviate (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f (4) sft in Nov.
Nathans Pride (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Always behind, tailed off 10th, 9th of 11, dist behind Padge (11-6) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
