held up in mid-division, headway tracking leaders 7th (water), led travelling well 13th until narrowly headed approaching next, in front again 3 out until approaching next, weakened quickly
tracked leader 2nd, led before 4 out until next, chased leaders, 4th and no impression from 2 out
held up in rear, headway chasing leaders approaching 4 out, outpaced 2 out, plugged on again run-in
mid-division, hit 11th and next, pushed along chasing leaders before 4 out, outpaced before next, kept on again run-in
held up towards rear, steady headway before 4 out went 2nd 2 out, 4 lengths down last, no chance with winner
led until 7th (water), in front again 1 12th until next, chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, tailed off and refused 2 out
chased leaders, led 7th (water), mistake 9th, hit next, headed 12th, chased leader until before next where mistake and ridden, weakened quickly, tailed off and puled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, steady headway on outside approaching 13th, close 3rd next, led 2 out, 4 lengths ahead last, came easily clear run-in
chased leaders, weakening when mistake 11th, tailed off next, pulled up before 2 out
chased leader until 2nd, chased leaders, outpaced when reminders after 11th, tailed off when blundered 4 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, steady headway on inside approaching 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, kept on run-in, no chance with winner
Paul Nicholls runs three in this but top weight ADRIEN DU PONT looks the stable selection, ahead of Hereford second Brelan D'As, as he should appreciate the slight drop in distance having failed to last home when fourth over 3m at Ascot. Rocklander won over track and trip last season but it’s a worry that he’s failed to complete in three starts since a third off this mark at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Valhalla has been racing over shorter trips over the last 12 months but won over 2m7f over hurdles and was placed over even further – he’s potentially well treated if anywhere near his best. The mare The Bay Birch will appreciate a return to chasing and Kayf Adventure, Behind Time, Kapcorse and Minella On Line are others with each-way claims.
Adrien Du Pont (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Behind, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace approaching last, 4th of 9, 6 1/4l behind Traffic Fluide (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Rocklander (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Led to after 2nd, tracked leaders, driven and outpaced after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off, last of 5, dist behind Beggar's Wishes (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Oct.
On Tour (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 5 out, plugged on in 4th until weakened into 5th run-in, 5th of 13, 15 1/2l behind Kings Lad (10-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Kayf Adventure 15-8fav (11-0) Held up in touch, headway chasing leaders when not fluent and lost place 6th (water), rallied next, went 3rd 11th, led 4 out, jumped left after, headed last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Tiquer (10-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Brelan D'As (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, went 4th 6th, closed 4 out, 2nd from 2 out, every chance last, carried left flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Amoola Gold (10-9) at Hereford 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Full Irish (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Never going in rear, pulled up 4 out, at Bangor 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Minella On Line (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, blundered 6th and 9th, mistake and unseated rider 11th (foinavon), at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Kapcorse (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) Never fluent, always towards rear, no chance when mistake 12th, 7th of 13, 36 1/2l behind Siruh Du Lac (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Valhalla (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Prominent on inside, not fluent 2nd or 5th, outpaced in 4th 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Copain De Classe (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Behind Time (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place before slow and reminders 1st, headway 10th, not fluent and ridden 13th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next, at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Apr.
The Bay Birch (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Towards rear, outpaced 2 out, ridden and weakened next, 11th of 16, dist behind Ready And Able (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
