mid-division, headway 13th, ridden after 16th, weakened 19th, tailed off and pulled up before last
chased leaders, ridden after 14th, weakened 16th, blundered next, pulled up before 19th
chased leaders, ridden approaching 16th, weakened 19th
held up last, headway 17th, went remote 3rd after 19th, left 2nd 2 out, weakened
held up in last pair, ridden after 16th, went distance 4th 3 out, left 3rd next, took 2nd soon after last, no chance with winner
led, soon clear, 12l ahead and well in command when fell 2 out
held up in last trio, ridden and headway approaching 16th, chased leader 18th, 12l 2nd and held when left clear 2 out
chased clear leader, hit 13th, stumbled 18th, soon weakened
It's easy enough to crab the chances of all the runner's in this line-up; we'll award our vote to The King Of Angels. Things panned out well for Mokum at Leicester and there are stronger stayers in the field, Moshahed tailed off on his one chase start and neither Umbrella Man nor I Hear Thunder have threatened to reproduce their best this term. Neither Arumun nor Yann's are dismissed but neither do they make any great appeal. Oakfield Legend has been running well in lower grades but at least looks fairly likely to run his race and he's respected. The selection was a shade disappointing when dropped back to 3 miles at Ascot in November but it still wasn't too bad a performance and he has time on his side. This stiff track will suit him and The King Of Angels holds as good a chance as any in this contest.
Umbrella Man (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Always behind, struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Yardbird (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
The King of Angels (IRE) 4-1fav (11-11) Led to 4th, prominent, led 13th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, beaten when blundered last, 4th of 12, 13l behind Cruising River (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Held up, badly hampered 11th, behind when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Fundamentalist (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Arumun (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 6th, unlucky when brought down at the 6th in race won by Ballyfoy (10-13) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Yann's (FR) 12-1 (11-5) In touch until lost place 6th, headway 10th, ridden after next, one pace from 4 out, 4th of 12, 23l behind Macmar (11-12) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Oakfield Legend 13-2 (11-12) Raced keenly, prominent, led 2nd, headed after 4 out, eased when beaten approaching last, 2nd of 11, 11l behind Super Lord (11-12) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Mokum (FR) 7-2fav (10-7) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, led next, kept on well, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs beating Lindsay (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Moshahed 7-1 (10-10) Tracked leader until mistake 5 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Ruairi (10-11) at Folkestone 2m 5f mdn chs (4) gs in Jan.
