held up in touch on outside, joined leaders 11th, hit next, led narrowly 13th, driven clear 2 out, kept on
tracked leaders on outside, close up 10th, disputed lead 5 out, kept on and every chance until ridden and no extra after 2 out, well held after
tracked leaders on inside, mistake 10th, outpaced in 4th after 5 out, no chance with leaders
with leader, led 1st, headed 13th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, under pressure 12th, ridden and weakened after 5 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, blunderd 5th, joined leader after 9th, outpaced in 3rd before 4 out, no impression with front pair
led to 1st, with leader, not fluent 5th, reminders from next, lost place after 9th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
After landing novice chases here and at Sedgefield just over a year ago, ROSE OF THE MOON has been competing at a much higher level including in the Becher at Aintree last month. A P McCoy has been booked for the ride and David O'Meara's charge can concede weight all round. Real Milan jumped poorly on his return to action at Doncaster but that should have put him straight for this. Aachen only had three rivals to beat when last seen at Towcester in June 2012 and two of them unseated their riders though he did have the odds-on Kasbadali 25 lengths behind. Green Wizard completed a hat-trick in May and suffered in the weights but has dropped markedly for this and shouldn't be dismissed. The veteran Tartan Snow looks too high in the weights on his comeback while Wicklow Lad has been raised 9lb for landing a moderate handicap at Ayr, though he'll love the conditions.
Rose Of The Moon (IRE) 11-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, modest progress and 8th 4 out, no impression, 10th of 22, 22l behind Chance Du Roy (10-6) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Dec.
Real Milan (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Chased leaders in 4th, went 3rd 10th, went 2nd before 4 out, no chance with winner, weakened flat and lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 9, 10l behind Mart Lane (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Aachen 4-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 8th, challenged 10th, led 12th, drew clear from 3 out, very easily, cantered home, won at Towcester 2m 6f nov chs (4) gs in Jun '12 beating Kasbadali (11-0) by 25l, 4 ran.
Green Wizard (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders in 4th, reminders before 15th, soon weakened, pulled up, in a race won by Sun Cloud (11-0) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy, 9 ran.
Tartan Snow 100-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway before 8th, blundered 10th (Bechers), ridden before 2 out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (2) gd in Apr beating Cool Friend (11-7) by nk, 24 ran.
Wicklow Lad 7-2 (10-11) Tracked leader, led before 7 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy beating And The Man (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Beau Dandy (IRE) 3-1 (10-8) In touch, took keen hold and led 3rd, headed 18th, weakened 2 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Merlin's Wish (11-6) at Hexham 4m hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Nov, 8 ran.
