held up, headway from 10th, challenged 4 out, led next, driven out
led until 2nd, led next, hit 5th and headed, not fluent and reminder 8th, hit next, last 10th, soon behind, pulled up before last
prominent, pecked slightly 2nd, led 7th, ridden when jumped right 4 out, headed next, held towards finish
with leader, led 2nd until mistake next, prominent, not much room and switched right before 4 out, no impression 2 out, stayed on flat
tracked leaders, led 5th until 7th, ridden after 9th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
Phoenix Des Mottes may struggle to reverse Huntingdon running in December with The Laodicean racing from 6lb out of the handicap but none of the others can be ruled out in this finale. Mac Halen came right back to form at Taunton last week and should make a bold bid to defy his penalty if in the same mood, while all of Phar Again's wins have come at this track though he didn't show much over C&D last time. CESIUM was only third in this race two years ago but is now 11lb lower and back over his best trip after failing to last home over 3m here last time - he gets the nod.
The Laodicean 8-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, 26l behind Amaury De Lusignan (11-9) at Folkestone 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Phar Again (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, weakened after 11th, 4th of 7, 26l behind Tavalu (9-7) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jan.
Cesium (FR) 6-1 (11-11) Prominent, jumped right, not fluent 1st, led 11th, headed last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Kilvergan Boy (11-8) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Mac Halen (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Chased leader, took narrow lead 9th, came 5 lengths clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs beating Kap West (10-3) by 9l, 14 ran.
Phoenix Des Mottes (FR) 6-1 (9-10) Tracked leader until 3rd, lost place after 5th, never back on terms, one pace last, 6th of 7, 11l behind Star Galaxy (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Jan.
