held up, towards rear, blundered 4 out, soon weakened
in rear, reminders halfway, headway before 2 out, in 5th and never dangerous
tracked leaders, in 3rd, left in lead 16th, ridden and headed before last, kept on
led, blundered badly and headed 16th, soon lost place, blundered 5 out, soon pulled up
held up, mid-division, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened
in touch, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden to lead before last, soon clear, stayed on strongly
towards rear, headway 19th, went 3rd from 2 out, no extra before last
held up, mid-division, headway after 16th, ridden before last, kept on
tracked leader, weakened before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Royale Knight, fourth in the Scottish National in April, won this last year off a 5lb lower mark. He's a proven stayer and will have benefited from a recent spin over hurdles so has to be respected, especially if the ground eases a little. Jennys Surprise needs it soft but Jac The Legend won over 3m3f over hurdles at this meeting last year and is equally effective over fences, though is still creeping up the weights. His trainer also runs Five In A Row, who is another previous course winner, though he's not certain to stay this far. Shotavodka won over 3m2f at Newbury in March but is still 10lb higher while Ready Token tries a new trip and may struggle to make all again off a new career high. BUACHAILL ALAINN never landed a blow at Chepstow earlier this month but has been eased again in the weights since and is starting to look well treated. He ran well over 3m4f at Haydock around this time last year and could be some value in a decent renewal.
Royale Knight 3-1fav (11-12) Chased leader, challenged before 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 9, 14 1/4l behind Beneficial Joe (11-7) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Shotavodka (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, ridden and one pace before last, 4th of 12, 11 1/4l behind Alzammaar (11-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Five In A Row (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Led, headed before 7th, remained close up, ridden before 2 out, kept on but always well held, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Ballybolley (11-5) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Ready Token (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Jumped well, made all, pushed clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well, driven out, unchallenged, won at Warwick 3m hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Follow The Swallow (10-10) by 5l, 6 ran.
Wiesentraum (GER) 6-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, dropped to rear 13th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Keltus (11-8) at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Buachaill Alainn (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Mid-division, chased leaders after 7th, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 5th of 16, 12 1/2l behind Potters Cross (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Jennys Surprise (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Always behind, struggling when blundered 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Jac The Legend 11-1 (10-9) Soon close up, led from 3rd, headed 6 out, ridden before 4 out, kept on and lost 2nd place close home, 2nd of 13, 3 3/4l behind No Duffer (11-3) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Not A Bother Boy (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 4 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off and pulled up before last, at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
