tracked leading pair, outpaced and lost place 8th, behind, after 4 out, rallied into 2nd briefly approaching 3 out, chased leading pair until went left and hit 2 out, weakened
made all, went right 3rd, clear from 4 out, went left last, stayed on strongly
held up in 5th, headway tracking leaders 7th, outpaced 4 out, rallied under pressure into 2nd 3 out, went left next and last, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
tracked winner until after 4 out, chased leaders, weakened before next
raced widest, chased leaders, mistake and lost place 7th, rallied under pressure disputing 2nd before next, soon ridden and struggling, went modest 3rd 2 out, tired jump last
Andrew Thornton steered ALDER MAIRI to a wide-margin victory at Wetherby last time, despite a stirrup leather breaking, and Seamus Mullins' charge should go close again off a 10lb higher mark. Winston Churchill has been raised only 3lb for winning at Chepstow recently but Kings Cross won a higher grade chase over track and trip at the start of the month and makes more appeal. Seventh Hussar has won twice over these fences before but his recent fourth here was his first start since 2013 while a couple of mistakes cost Oscar Magic at Uttoxeter last time, though he still finished second.
Oscar Magic (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Chased leaders, blundered 4th, blundered 7th, mistake 9th, poor 3rd from 2 out until went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 17l behind Kylemore Lough (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Alder Mairi (IRE) 4-5fav (11-12) Mostly tracked leader, led 10th, made rest, left iron came loose 4 out, soon clear, kept on well, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Treacy Hotels Boy (11-6) by 17l, 5 ran.
Kings Cross (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Held up, mistake 5th, headway approaching 10th, chased leaders 4 out, led travelling well next, in command 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Saint Raph (11-10) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Winston Churchill (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Made all, challenged from 3 out, stayed on strongly after last, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Nov beating Quite By Chance (11-12), 7 ran.
Seventh Hussar 12-1 (11-5) Held up, headway into 4th and mistake 7th, never on terms with leaders, 4th of 7, 31 1/2l behind Capilla (11-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
