mid-division, headway and in touch 12th, led 15th, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra
held up, mistake 2nd, blundered 14th, chased leaders 3 out, weakened from next
mid-division, driven and headway 3 out, ridden next, stayed on under pressure flat, to lead towards finish
mistakes, in rear, lost touch and pulled up after 12th
in touch, hit 8th, dropped rear 12th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led to 3rd, tracked leaders, 3rd when hit and lost place 3 out, weakened next
prominent, not fluent 9th, lost place 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, soon led, edged right flat, ridden and kept on until headed, no extra towards finish
tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 15th, outplaced 3 out, 4th and beaten when blundered next
There should be more to come from ULTIMATE LIMIT who is taken to get the better of Rate Of Knots and Ordre De Bataille amongst others. The selection has been forced to miss one or two opportunities due to the weather but this test should suit him down to the ground. He's 10lbs higher in the handicap than he was at Taunton but he's relatively unexposed after eighteen career starts and looks capable of defying the hike in the weights. Rate Of Knots won well on her first two starts over fences before coming up short in handicap company on the next two outings but she may well prove capable of scoring from her mark in time and merits consideration. Ordre De Bataille and Young Albert need to respond positively to the headgear and Mr Big needs to bounce back from a poor display but is no forlorn hope. Stronger claims are held by I'moncloudnine who has been unfortunate to bump into progressive performers the last twice and he looks capable of winning again once granted the right opportunity but he faces another tough opponent in Ultimate Limit.
Antonius Caesar (FR) 25-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, 2nd briefly 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, 44l behind Wolf Moon (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) sft.
Rate of Knots (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Behind, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened 2 out, 5th of 14, 14l behind Silver By Nature (11-0) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
I'moncloudnine (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Raced wide, held up well in rear, headway approaching 4 out, driven to chase leading pair before 2 out, went 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 10l behind Fortification (10-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
Ordre de Bataille (FR) 15-2 (10-9) Held up mid-division, hampered 5 out when weakening, 5th of 15, 31l behind Watch My Back (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
Pairc Na Gcapall (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Led until headed 7th, behind from 12th, tailed off when left poor 3rd 3 out, 3rd of 9, well behind Buck Mulligan (10-8) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Mr Big (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, pecked 4th, led 19th to next, lost place 25th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
Ice Bucket (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Prominent, chased leader 3rd until lost action approaching 8th, pushed along 14th, weakened next, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Western Whisky (10-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Coach Lane 5-1 (11-9) Chased leader to 6th, ridden after next, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 8, 48l behind Noble Crusader (11-3) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Ultimate Limit 7-2fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, steady headway to chase leaders 8th, left in close 2nd 3 out, led on long run to 2 out, in command 2 out, easily, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec beating More The Merrier (11-12) by 10l, 13 ran.
Young Albert (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 9th, ridden and weakened from 3 out, 5th of 11, 19l behind Bubble Boy (11-4) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
