mid-division, headway after 6th, went 3rd after 3 out, stayed on same pace
led, not fluent and headed 2 out, soon driven, stayed on, no impression on winner towards finish
held up towards rear, headway after 7th, 4th when mistake 2 out, one pace and no impression on leaders after
held up in mid-division, keen early stages, not fluent 3rd or 6th, headway 7th, not fluent 3 out, well held 5th 2 out, stumbled and unseated rider last
tracked leaders, pushed along and lost place after 5th, weakened after 7th, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led next, driven approaching last, stayed on well
chased leaders until 7th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, shaken up in modest 8th 3 out, no impression
in rear, blundered 2nd, behind 7th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, some headway and pushed along after 7th, no impression, weakened after 3 out
prominent, mistake 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
chased leader until 3 out, soon weakened, mistake 2 out
held up in mid-division, pushed along and lost place 6th, not fluent next, soon behind
Jockey bookings would suggest that Champagne Express is preferred to returning stablemate One For The Guv'nr today. Paul Nicholls is also double-handed and Baoulet Delaroque must have every chance of completing his hat-trick, despite a penalty. Top weight San Benedeto may find a couple too good under his welter burden, however. Big things were expected of Value At Risk this season but he flopped twice over fences and didn't show much sparkle back over hurdles at Ascot. This may be too competitive for After Eight Sivola and Theatre Flame but TOTALIZE should give backers a run for their money. Brian Ellison's charge was second over 2m on the Flat last May so should stay this longer trip and he has a decent strike rate over hurdles. He also ran well in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham in November.
San Benedeto (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, soon poised to challenge, upsides next, ridden before last, kept on same pace, held final 110 yards, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind One Track Mind (11-12) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Value At Risk 8-1 (11-3) Pulled hard in touch, joined leader after 4th, hard driven 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 17, 23 1/2l behind Rock The Kasbah (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Totalize 10-1 (10-4) In touch, headway 2 out, soon challenged, led briefly before last, 4th and one pace after last, lost place flat, 5th of 17, 7 3/4l behind Old Guard (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
One For The Guv'nr (IRE) 4-1fav (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, one pace, 11th of 21, 8 1/2l behind Astre De La Cour (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Champagne Express 4-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway 3 out, stayed on same pace last, no impression on leaders, 4th of 11, 13 1/4l behind Leave At Dawn (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Baoulet Delaroque (FR) 13-8fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, led before 2 out, clear before and not fluent last, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Sir Ivan (11-5) by 8l, 8 ran.
Cusheen Bridge (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Mid-division, lost place after 5th, well beaten 2 out, plugged on flat, 7th of 9, 11 1/4l behind Template (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Maestro Royal 10-1 (10-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders until saddle slipped and pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Lightentertainment (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, headway 6th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next, at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
After Eight Sivola (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and some headway after 3 out, never on terms and no impression from next, went 5th flat, 5th of 13, 16 1/2l behind Zulu Oscar (11-4) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Gallic Destiny (IRE) 18-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 4th, led 7th, headed 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 27 3/4l behind Milord (11-4) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Theatre Flame (IRE) 7-4 (11-5) Led, not fluent 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon headed, no extra last, 4th of 12, 16l behind Father Edward (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) gf in Jul.
Blue Bear (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Held up in last pair, headway on outside approaching 6th, 3rd before 4 out, ridden and no impression after next, went left last, finished tired, 3rd of 6, 27l behind Sirop De Menthe (11-1) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
