led until narrowly headed 3rd, led again before 5th (water), headed 4 out, held 2 out, beaten when went left last, weakened to 3rd flat
held up in rear, reminders before and after 6th, headway approaching next, outpaced in 4th from next, no chance with leading trio, tailed off when fell last
last pair, hit 4th, blundeered 6th, lost touch before 8th, tailed off when blundered 11th, pulled up soon after
jumped well, tracked leading trio, went 3rd before 7th, tracked leader 10th, led 4 out, in command 2 out, soon drew clear, very easily
tracked leading pair, went 2nd at 2nd, led narrowly next until approaching 5th (water), lost 2nd approaching 8th, soon outpaced, plodded on, tailed off when left poor 4th last
tracked leader until 2nd, tracked leaders, mistake 6th, went 2nd again approaching 8th, lost 2nd 10th, hit next, ridden in 3rd and outpaced before 4 out, stayed on to 2nd flat, no chance with very easy winner
Shammick Boy was presented with the prize when his only two rivals came to grief here last month. He'll find this a much tougher assignment as Notus De La Tour has already shown himself to be a smart novice in making all at Carlisle and Plumpton. Zaynar became disappointing over hurdles and there are signs that Nick Williams' grey is going the same way over fences, though he was taking on smart opposition at Cheltenham last time. WALKON won a Grade 1 over hurdles at Aintree in 2009 and was lightly-raced last season. As long as his jumping holds up, he could be the value here getting weight from the two previous winners as Ascot third No Secrets may need more time.
Notus De La Tour (FR) 4-9fav (11-9) Made all, clear 10th, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Nov beating Dona (11-2) by 24l, 3 ran.
Shammick Boy (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, mistake 2nd, led after 4th, reminder after next, headed 7th, 3rd and outpaced before 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, 3 lengths down when left alone last, won at Exeter 2m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Nov, 3 ran.
No Secrets (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) Led, hit 1st, jumped left 9th, blundered and headed 11th, soon weakened, left remote 3rd from 3 out, 3rd of 4, well behind Solix (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f beg chs (3) gd in Nov.
Walkon (FR) 16-1 (11-12) In touch, driven and outpaced after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 7th of 22, 17l behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Will Scarlet (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Hdwy 6; led 12-13; ev ch last; one pce, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Timarello (11-7) at Whitfield 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Zaynar (FR) 12-1 (11-2) With leader, led 3rd until 7th, pushed along in 3rd before 4 out, closed 2 out, mistake last, stayed on same pace, well held by winner, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Grands Crus (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gd in Nov.
