tracked leaders, weakened 4 out
held up in touch, headway approaching 12th, tracked leaders 5 out, weakened before 3 out
pulled hard in midfield, mistake 5 out, under pressure when fell 2 out
prominent, led after 2nd, headed 6th, under pressure 13th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place approaching 12th, rallied after 3 out, weakening when blundered last
led 1st, soon headed and chased leaders, progress to lead 4 out, headed before 2 out, kept on same pace
midfield, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, soon no impression
led approaching 2nd, headed soon after, led again 6th, headed 4 out, rallied next, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, never able to challenge
behind, slow 2nd, blundered and unseated rider 11th
always behind
midfield, headway 12th, chased leaders next, led before 2 out, ran on strongly
held up towards rear, mistake 9th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly closing stages, nearest finish
chased leaders, under pressure from 4 out, stayed on same pace
took keen hold in touch, not fluent 10th, weakened 3 out
Nonrunner
Philip Hobbs has saddled the winner of this on four occasions and his Champagne West has been well supported in the ante-post market, though he doesn't look as well handicapped as some. Opening Batsman won this in 2013 and Rocky Creek was successful 12 months ago when beating Le Reve, who is only pound better off. Tenor Nivernais was only sixth last year and is worse off at the weights with the pair who finished ahead of him. Virak deserves a change of luck but is getting no respite from the handicapper whereas Theatre Guide can race off the same mark as when runner-up to Smad Place in the Hennessy in November so should be thereabouts. Ziga Boy has come right back to form and had Le Reve behind when winning the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster but has gone up another 8lb since. THOMAS BROWN has taken to fences like a duck to water. He proved his stamina over this trip last time and a mark of 140 on his handicap debut over the larger obstacles looks lenient so he gets the nod. Tom George saddled Nacarat to win this twice and course winner Roc D'apsis has Richard Johnson doing the steering so could reward each-way support.
Virak (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, left 2nd from 5 out, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 15l behind Cloudy Too (10-4) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Rocky Creek (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Chased leaders, driven and headway approaching 5 out, soon under pressure, weakened after 2 out, lost remote 3rd towards finish, 4th of 7, dist behind Houblon Des Obeaux (11-0) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Feb.
Champagne West (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Tracked leaders until blundered and sprawled on landing 8th, not recover, soon behind, pulled up after 4 out (usual 5 out), at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Tenor Nivernais (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Led, ridden after 2 out (usual 3 out), headed last (usual 2 out), soon ridden, rallied final 100 yards, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Annacotty (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Fox Appeal (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, mistake 11th, no chance when blundered badly 2 out, 11th of 13, 32 1/2l behind Wakanda (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Le Reve (IRE) 4-1fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway 9th, went 2nd 3 out, challenging when slightly awkward 2 out, soon led narrowly, in command flat, driven out, won at Sandown 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb beating Pete The Feat (10-4) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Hadrian's Approach (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Well off the pace towards rear, never involved, tailed off and pulled up before 17th, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Ziga Boy (FR) 8-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, led 5 out, clear before 4 out, ridden before last, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan beating Coologue (10-6) by 3 1/4l, 15 ran.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Behind, mistake 8th, struggling next, tailed off 10th, soon pulled up, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Thomas Brown 7-4fav (11-6) Tracked leader, pushed along before and mistake 4 out, led before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Doncaster 3m (4) gs in Jan beating Vintage Vinnie (11-6) by 10l, 5 ran.
Ruben Cotter (IRE) 8-1cfav (11-1) In touch, outpaced in 5th after 3 out, ridden and stayed on same pace from next, never on terms, 5th of 30, 26 1/2l behind Rajdhani Express (11-11) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Theatre Guide (IRE) 33-1 (11-6) Held up behind in touch, some headway 3 out (usual 4 out), stayed on to take modest 3rd before last (usual 2 out), no chance with front pair, 3rd of 8, 36l behind Smad Place (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (1) hvy in Jan.
Roc D'Apsis (FR) 14-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead between last 2, stayed on well, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Galway Jack (11-4) by 2l, 9 ran.
Ballykan 9-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, hit 10th, lost place 12th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before next, at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Viva Steve (IRE) 15-2 (10-5) Chased leaders to before 3 out (usual 4 out), no danger after, 6th of 12, dist behind King's Odyssey (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Astracad (FR) 9-1 (10-10) Prominent, lost place 6th, not fluent 4th, well beaten 3 out, plugged on flat, 7th of 13, 23 1/4l behind Pearls Legend (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec.
