held up in rear, pushed along and no impression after 8th, tailed off
tracked leading pair on outside, left in 2nd place 4th, led bypassing omitted 6th, clear before 9th until before 4 out, headed soon after 2 out, lost at the last, weakened run-in
held up in last quartet, left in 3rd place 4th, went 2nd before 9th, led and went right 2 out and last, hard driven run-in, headed and no extra close home
held up in 6th, pushed along and outpaced after 9th, struggling and no chance after
tracked leaders, left in 3rd place 4th, 2nd before 9th, travelling well 4 out, challenging when blundered badly 2 out, recovered to chase leader last, driven and closed gamely to lead close home
tracked leaders, left in 4th place and slightly hampered 4th, blundered next, chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, soon outpaced, rallied into 3rd towards finish
last pair, headway into modest 4th in closing stages, never nearer
chased leader, led after 3rd, headed bypassing omitted 6th, chased leader until before 9th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened run-in
led until after 3rd, chased leader, fell next
NonRunner
NonRunner
Another competitive handicap chase to end proceedings. Raven's Tower got back to winning ways at Aintree but has a 7lb higher mark to contend with. Grey Gold could go well despite top weight and Ut Majeur Aulmes ended last season in fine form. Imjoeking is a more recent winner but Ulck Du Lin continues to struggle and the ground has turned against Parsnip Pete. FOU ET SAGE won over fences in France and was second at Wetherby on his first start for Harry Whittington. He's only five so still has some scope and could be the value in this with Roman Flight possibly better over further nowadays. Ultragold should be approaching peak fitness and looks best of the rest.
Mr Mole (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) In rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 6th, ridden 10th, mistake next, soon well behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Ulck Du Lin (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Held up, in touch, weakened before 5 out, tailed off, last of 11, dist behind Quite By Chance (11-1) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
Parsnip Pete 7-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, challenged 3 out, soon led, headed after 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 9 1/4l behind Raven's Tower (11-1) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Fou Et Sage (FR) 4-1 (11-3) Led, hit 2nd, headed 4th, tracked winner, effort 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, always held, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Double W's (11-3) at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Ultragold (FR) 10-1 (10-0) Led, headed before 4 out, no extra 2 out, 5th of 8, 15 3/4l behind Sir Valentino (10-8) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Raven's Tower (USA) 9-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, jumped left 3rd, not fluent next, headway 5th, went left and bumped rival 4 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, clear before last, stayed on well, won at Aintree 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Keel Haul (10-13) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Ut Majeur Aulmes (FR) 9-2 (11-1) Held up in last pair, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 9th, led 3 out, clear going well next, driven out, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Ulck Du Lin (11-12) by 2l, 7 ran.
Imjoeking (IRE) 10-3fav (11-11) Made all, clear entering home straight, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Quick Decisson (10-7) by 6l, 8 ran.
Whispering Harry 14-1 (11-3) Raced wide, prominent early, weakened quickly after 5th, behind from next, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Grey Gold (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 7, 33l behind De Faoithesdream (10-3) at Ayr 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Apr.
Roman Flight (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Held up, towards rear, mistake 5th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on well after last, never nearer, 4th of 11, 7 1/2l behind Quite By Chance (11-1) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Oct.
