mid-division, pushed along before 14th, soon struggling, tailed off, pulled up
behind, tailed off 11th, pulled up
towards rear and not jump well, pulled up before 10th
chased leaders, led after 1st, headed 4th, led again before 10th, headed 14th, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, headway before 7th, mistake 9th, in 3rd from 3 out, chased winner before last, kept on and no impression
behind, mistake 10th, headway before 3 out, in 3rd from last, soon weakened
mid-division, pushed along after 9th, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up
tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, soon outpaced, mistake 3 out, kept on to take 3rd towards finish
mid-division, mistake 2nd, towards rear 6th, tailed off before 10th, pulled up
towards rear, headway before 13th, ridden before 3 out and not fluent, weakened 2 out, unseated rider last
led, headed after 1st, led 4th, headed before 10th, led 14th, kept on strongly from last
behind, headway from 3 out, weakened from next, pulled up
mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up
There may be stamina doubts surrounding Tommy Whittle winner Captain Redbeard and improving Ascot third Walk In The Mill but Hainan won over 3m4f here in the mud last time and should be staying on when others have cried enough. Knockanrawley is also a dour stayer but may not be up to this level nowadays and Forest Des Aigles has plenty to prove in this company. Yala Enki and Carole's Destrier would need a return to their best but Tintern Theatre gained a morale-boosting victory at Kempton last month, though this is a stiff task for a novice and Jamie Bargary has yet to win on the seven-year-old. ROCK THE KASBAH has had a break since winning at Chepstow in October but he goes well fresh. A previous course winner who stays further, he has plenty of winning form on soft going and was second on his only previous run on heavy so heads the short-list.
Ptit Zig (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Well off the pace in last trio, never a factor, tailed off and hampered 3 out, 11th of 14, dist behind Gold Present (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Carole's Destrier 33-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, ridden in mid-division after 17th, no headway after, 8th of 20, dist behind Total Recall (10-8) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Rock The Kasbah (IRE) 2-1fav (10-8) Chased leaders on inside, not fluent 9th, rallied on inside chasing leaders 5 out, led narrowly 2 out, driven out, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Oct beating Petrou (10-0) by 2l, 13 ran.
Yala Enki (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Chased leader, hit 13th and lost 2nd briefly, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 14, 22 3/4l behind Gold Present (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Captain Redbeard (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, close 2nd 10th, challenging when left in lead 12th, clear from last, eased towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Catamaran Du Seuil (10-10) by 6l, 9 ran.
Fine Rightly (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) Soon led, not fluent 4th, headed 6th, remained prominent until no extra after 2 out, eased, tailed off, 12th of 13, dist behind Returntovendor (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
Walk In The Mill (FR) 9-1 (10-9) Chased leaders on inside, hit 11th, left in lead 14th, ridden and headed approaching last, soon lost 2nd, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Gold Present (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Hainan (FR) 13-2 (11-11) Always prominent, led narrowly after 4th, made most after, drew clear after 5 out, unchallenged from next, stayed on well, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov beating Courtown Oscar (11-9) by 12l, 8 ran.
Highland Lodge (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Prominent, led 11th, headed last, edged right and dropped to 3rd before elbow, one pace, 3rd of 15, 14l behind Blaklion (11-6) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Tintern Theatre (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Raced wide tracking leading pair, went 3rd 10th, hit 13th, 2nd next, led 2 out, stayed on strongly, pushed out run-in, won at Kempton 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Pilgrims Bay (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
The Dutchman (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway 7th, went 2nd after 2 out until before last, weakened flat, 6th of 11, 13 1/2l behind Arthur's Gift (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Forest Des Aigles (FR) 5-6fav (11-3) Made all, 3 lengths clear last when blundered, ridden out, won at Bangor 3m hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Wuff (11-8) by 6l, 4 ran.
Knockanrawley (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) In touch, headway chasing leaders 10th, pushed along before 4 out, went 3rd soon after 3 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 5 1/4l behind Daklondike (11-10) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
