in touch, ridden from 12th, soon weakened
in touch, weakened 10th, in rear when unseated rider 3 out
in touch, ridden to chase leaders 5 out, fading approaching last
led, hit 9th, headed after 12th, soon weakened
mid-division, jumped slowly 4th and 8th, behind when pulled up before 12th
held up towards rear, headway on inside after 12th, ridden to chase leaders soon after, narrow leader last, kept on well
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out
mid-division, hit 9th, steady headway next, ridden 4 out, weakening when mistake 3 out
tracked leader, ridden and weakened 12th, pulled up before last
in rear, ridden along when fell 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 12th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, led 2 out, narrowly headed last, no extra close home
always behind, pulled up after 11th
in touch, ridden to lead 4 out, weakening when headed soon after 2 out
mid-division, lost place 11th, mistake 4 out and soon weakened
mid-division, lost place 11th, ridden and stayed on under strong pressure to take 3rd close home, but no chance with front pair
in rear, some progress after 12th, weakened 2 out
Nonrunner
Plenty of these have claims in a competitive contest including Black de Bessy, Bold Bishop and Claymore, to name but three, but the vote goes to Supreme Prince. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding was good value for his hard-fought success over another of today's rivals Horus over course and distance last season and looked as though he would come on for the run when a creditable third behind Impek on his return at Aintree last month. The handicapper has dropped him 1lb since then and the eight-year-old is now only 3lbs higher than when scoring here last term so gets the nod. Le Passing has to be respected representing the yard of Paul Nicholls but needs to step up on the form of his reappearance behind St Matthew, while a market move for Nicky Henderson's Chauvinist would be of interest. The Richard Phillips-trained Dark'n Sharp sprung a surprise when scoring at Huntingdon time but has more to do off his new mark, while First Gold is clearly not the force of old but is slipping to a fair mark. Recent Wincanton winner Black de Bessy remains on a fair mark and probably makes more appeal than Cheltenham scorer Bold Bishop, who has claims on form but comes from a stable that is struggling for winners at present. Claymore reverts to chasing on a fair mark and is another to consider but Supreme Prince holds solid claims and is taken to defy top weight.
Supreme Prince (IRE) 10-3 (10-13) Prominent, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last, 3rd of 9, 14l behind Impek (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct.
First Gold (FR) 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, struggling and lost place 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Innox (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs, 16 ran.
Le Passing (FR) 11-2 (11-12) In touch, mistake 9th, headway next, challenged 3 out, ridden and every chance, one pace flat, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind St Matthew (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) sft in Oct.
Chauvinist (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leader from 3rd, mistake 5th and 11th, lost place 14th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Like-A-Butterfly (11-2) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr, 10 ran.
Dark'n Sharp (GER) 14-1 (11-12) In touch, went 3rd at 10th, left in lead 3 out, jumped left last, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs beating Marked Man (11-4) by 3l, 10 ran.
Bold Bishop (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Patiently ridden, outpaced and driven along 4 out, closed strongly on leaders between last 2, led flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (B) gs beating Tiger Cry (10-2) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Mixsterthetrixster (USA) 13-2 (12-2) Held up in touch and took keen hold, mistake 11th, every chance 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Gatorade (10-5) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Apr.
Claymore (IRE) 66-1 (11-6) Mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, no danger after, 11th of 25, 10l behind Essex (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Feb.
Jakari (FR) 10-1 (11-1) Led to 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 9th of 16, 48l behind Tango Royal (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f lst hcp chs (A) gd in Jul.
Kalca Mome (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, weakening and no chance when blundered last, last of 7, well behind Schuh Shine (10-10) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs.
Europa 25-1 (10-4) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Impek (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct, 9 ran.
Tana River (IRE) 15-8fav (11-9) Held up, took closer order 6th, led briefly when blundered badly 13th, not recover and pulled up 4 out in race won by Whitford Don (11-13) at Exeter 2m 7f nov chs (C) hvy in Mar, 6 ran.
Kelrev (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Took keen hold, effort 12th, ridden 3 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 4, 20l behind Uncle Wallace (10-1) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) sft in Feb.
Spring Grove (IRE) 3-1fav (11-8) Chased leaders until weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, 20l behind Schuh Shine (10-10) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs.
Black de Bessy (FR) 7-2fav (11-5) Always going well in touch, headway 4 out, ridden to lead 3 out, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd beating Ruby Gale (11-12) by 2l, 13 ran.
Va Vavoom (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division, weakened 7th, 7th of 10, 44l behind Accordion Etoile (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs.
Horus (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Mid-division, mistake 12th, weakened next, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Sleeping Night (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (B) gd in Apr.
Tango Royal (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Always in rear, 7th of 11, well behind I Hear Thunder (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Oct.
Full House (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Hit 2nd, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Our Vic (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs, 18 ran.
