held up in last trio, jumped slowly 6th, behind and outpaced 8th, tailed off and pulled up before last
mostly jumped well, tracked leader, led 4th, made rest, hit 2 out, kept on strongly from last
chased leaders, weakened 4 out
held up in last trio, steady headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd next, kept on run-in, always held
tracked leaders, pushed along and outpaced 9th, soon weakened
led until 4th, chased winner until hit 4 out and ridden, chased leaders, modest 3rd when mistake next, dropped to 4th last strides
held up towards rear, mistake and reminder after 7th, headway chasing leaders next, pushed along before 4 out, outpaced 2 out, plugged on into modest 3rd last strides
chased leaders, jumped slowly 6th, went 2nd 4 out until next, weakened 2 out
NonRunner
Vicenzo Mio has threatened to end a long losing run this year but is not one to trust. UT MAJEUR AULMES usually takes on better opposition than this. He hasn’t raced since a beaten favourite at Ludlow in April but has had wind surgery in the interim and should be capable of winning a race like this off his current mark. Sir Egbert was only beaten a neck on his chasing bow at Ffos Las and is the one most likely to take advantage if the top weight comes up short as Utility is tackling fences for the first time. Kilinakin looks best of the rest ahead of New Millennium.
Ut Majeur Aulmes (FR) 3-1jfav (11-12) Held up, headway before 5 out, left in 2nd next, struggling and lost place before 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 6, 16 1/4l behind Valseur Du Granval (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Sir Egbert 2-1fav (11-7) Mid-division, hit 5th, headway chasing leaders 10th, 3rd 4 out, mistake next, went 2nd before the last, driven and kept on run-in, always just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Air Navigator (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Vocaliser (IRE) 11-2 (10-1) Raced keenly, prominent, driven and effort after 3 out, kept on same pace, weakened last, 6th of 10, 19 1/2l behind Secrete Stream (11-7) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Utility (GER) 16-1 (9-6) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, effort over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 5th of 9, 4 1/4l behind Ramsbury (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Dec.
Vicenzo Mio (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, ridden after 2 out, never on terms, weakened flat, 6th of 8, 19 1/2l behind Swift Crusador (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
New Millennium (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Led, clear to 5th, not fluent and rider lost iron briefly next, soon headed, driven and outpaced before 4 out, left 4th next, no danger after, 4th of 8, 19l behind Watcombe Heights (12-0) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Kilinakin (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, under pressure 4 out, rallying when mistake 2 out, left in 3rd at last, 3rd of 6, 6 1/2l behind Lillington (11-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Royal Act 9-4 (11-8) Led, ridden and headed on long run to 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 34 1/2l behind Helium (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (5) sft in Dec.
Red Devil Star (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Chased leaders to 5th, soon behind, not fluent 7th (water), lost touch after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out, at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
