held up towards rear, under pressure halfway, never a factor
held up in touch, headway halfway, under pressure after 3 out, effort next, weakened last
tracked leader, led 2 out, clear last, ran on strongly
held up in rear, struggling halfway, never dangerous
tracked leader, hard ridden 3 out, soon lost place
tracked leader, lost place 3rd, rallied to chase leaders after 6th, never a threat
chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, stayed on same pace
led, hit 3 out, headed next, no extra closing stages
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Some smart performers have won this Grade 2 in the past but it has lost a little of its gloss in recent years. Perhaps the four-year-old ADRIEN DU PONT can put it back on the map as, though he's entered in the Triumph Hurdle, Paul Nicholls considers him to be more of a staying type so this trip should suit. Lil Rockerfeller is as tough as old boots and has only finished out of the frame once in 11 starts over timber. He won’t be far away but it's three years since Cesarewitch winner Grumeti scored over hurdles. Age appears to have caught up with Melodic Rendezvous but Cheltenian ran well under a big weight in the betfair Hurdle. San Benedeto's connections have had their hand forced as their charge has shot up the weights so his opportunities have become limited.
Medinas (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, ridden and well beaten before 2 out, pulled up approaching last, at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Cheltenian (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Midfield, headway approaching 3 out, kept on same pace approaching last, never on terms, 7th of 22, 16 1/2l behind Agrapart (10-10) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) hvy in Feb.
Lil Rockerfeller (USA) 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, kept on well under pressure after last, 3rd of 17, 3 1/2l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Disputed (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, some headway 5th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Taweyla (11-7) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Grumeti 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, challenged 2 out, ridden and went 2nd just before the last, every chance when blundered and slithered on landing last, no chance to recover, 5th of 6, 12 1/4l behind Rock On Ruby (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gs in Nov.
Melodic Rendezvous 6-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, outpaced 3 out, rallied next, went 2nd flat, no impression final 100 yards, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Rayvin Black (11-2) at Wincanton 1m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
San Benedeto (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 6th, went 3rd after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Baoulet Delaroque (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Ubak (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, mistake 7th, not fluent 13th or 14th, outpaced before 3 out, well beaten next, last of 4, 26l behind Bristol De Mai (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f (1) gs in Feb.
Anteros (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, hit 4th, not fluent 6th, headway 8th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, pulled up approaching last, at Sandown 2m 7f hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Adrien Du Pont (FR) 11-8fav (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, hit 3 out, closed after 2 out, ridden to lead last, soon edged left, stayed on, won at Chepstow 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating Chic Name (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Cannon Fodder 5-1 (11-12) Prominent, blundered 4th, led after 7th, headed approaching 2 out, rallied last, stayed on under pressure, 3rd of 8, 5 3/4l behind Billy No Name (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
