always towards rear, never involved
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, pushed along before next, ridden and no impression between last two, weakened approaching last
held up towards rear, good headway on inside tracking leaders travelling well approaching 2 out, 3rd hanging left between last two, kept on same pace
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3rd, pushed along and weakened before 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, went 3rd briefly 2 out, soon ridden in 4th, weakened last
mid-division until lost place and towards rear 4th, never on terms after
held up in last trio, some late moderate headway, never threatened
pressed leader, led 4th, hit 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, chased winner until approaching 2 out, weakened and hung left soon after
always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off
held up in mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders 4 out, 3rd travelling well before next, 2nd approaching 2 out, driven and stayed on same pace run-in, not pace to challenge
chased leaders, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out
slight lead until 4th, chased leader, not fluent 4 out, lost 2nd well before next, weakened quickly, tailed off
tracked leading pair, went 2nd well before 3 out, led after 3 out, hit 2 out, ridden between last two, driven and kept on gamely run-in
well in rear, pushed along and struggling after 3rd, tailed off 6th, pulled up 4 out
It’s interesting that Sam Twiston-Davies partners the returning Lac Fontana rather than Nexius. Theligny rattled up a three-timer before finding one too good in a Listed handicap here last month. Geordie Des Champs is unbeaten over timber but steps out of novice company for the first time. Boite has more on his plate than at Wetherby but ran well when second here in March. Born Survivor could only finish fourth over course and distance last time, however, and Irish raider Kings Bandit doesn’t look particularly well treated. JOHN CONSTABLE tries 2m4f for the first time but is handicapped to go close if he lasts home having been dropped a further 3lb since a decent run in the Greatwood at Cheltenham last month.
Court Minstrel (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up in rear on outside, closed after 3 out, outpaced after next, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 36 1/2l behind The New One (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Boite (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, ridden to lead last, kept on strongly, won at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating William Of Orange (10-5) by 5l, 9 ran.
Born Survivor (IRE) 2-1fav (11-11) Chased leaders, 2nd before 3 out, every chance when hung left 2 out, chased winner, held when lost 2nd before the last, hung left and no extra run-in, 4th of 11, 10 1/4l behind Onefitzall (11-3) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Lac Fontana (FR) 11-1 (11-10) Towards rear, pushed along before 6 out, weakened before 3 out, 12th of 21, dist behind Taglietelle (11-6) at Aintree 3m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Kings Bandit (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Mid-division, 6th at 4th, tight for room between horses and prominent when fell 3 out, at Navan 2m 4f hcp Soft - Heavy in Dec.
John Constable (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, shaken up 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 16, 18 1/4l behind North Hill Harvey (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Willow's Saviour 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakened quickly soon after 3 out, tailed off, last of 19, dist behind Brain Power (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Royal Guardsman (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden 7th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Nexius (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Held up, in rear, under pressure 4 out, never dangerous, 6th of 7, 24 3/4l behind Younevercall (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Geordie Des Champs (IRE) Evensfav (11-10) Tracked leaders, driven to chase front pair after 4 out, went 2nd and effort next, upsides last, ridden to lead flat, kept on, won at Chepstow 2m 3f (4) gd in Dec beating Wylde Magic (10-12) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Floresco (GER) 40-1 (11-8) Mid-division, mistake 5th, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace last, 4th of 13, 8 3/4l behind Kapstadt (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Barizan (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place 8th, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Theligny (FR) 17-2 (10-11) Chased clear leader until after 4 out, outpaced approaching next, stayed on again into well held 3rd last, went 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Who Dares Wins (11-10) at Newbury 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Muhtaris (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway on outside before 2 out, one pace and no impression before last, 11th of 16, 7 1/4l behind Matorico (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
