held up in touch, mistake 9th, weakened 12th
with leader, led 4th until after 3 out, soon ridden, 4th and weakening when fell 2 out
held up in touch, pushed along 4 out, weakened 3 out
held up mid-division, lost place 10th, struggling 12th, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous
held up and behind, headway 12th, weakening when slightly hampered 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway 11th, weakened after 3 out
always behind, mistake 5th, lost touch 4 out, tailed off
led to 4th, chased leader, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
always prominent, led approaching last, ridden out
held up, effort after 3 out, no impression when hampered 2 out
Four of these are having a first run over fences but a couple of the debutants are potentially well treated. Jammy George is particularly interesting as he looks every inch a chaser and was very impressive over timber at Newcastle in March. he’s had wind surgery since and Doctor Dex also goes on the shortlist as he ran a couple of cracking races at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals in the spring. DIABLE DE SIVOLA is having an eighth run over fences but a change of scenery may have benefited the six-year-old, who has been unlucky not to have got his head in front so far and has joined the stable that won this in 2017. Pingshou probably hasn’t quite scaled the heights expected considering he won a Grade 1 over hurdles but he still has solid claims in a race like this and Earlofthecotswolds was rallying when falling at Market Rasen. Cervaro Mix may be best of the rest.
Earlofthecotswolds (FR) 11-8fav (11-2) Chased leaders, effort when mistake 3 out, fell next, at Market Rasen 2m 1f (3) gs in Oct.
Pingshou (IRE) 8-15fav (11-3) Led, blundered 3 out, ridden after 2 out, headed last, soon beaten, 2nd of 3, 7l behind Ennistown (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (3) gf in Jul.
Diable De Sivola (FR) 9-2cfav (11-4) Held up in touch, took closer order on outside after 8th, blundered 12th, lost place 5 out, behind from next, 7th of 8, 19l behind Brave Eagle (11-12) at Haydock 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in May.
Jammy George (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Held up in touch on inside, went 2nd 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Newcastle 2m 6f (4) gs in Mar beating Uptown Harry (11-2) by 8l, 7 ran.
Sully D'Oc Aa (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, some headway on outside 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Darling Maltaix (FR) 13-8 (11-1) Close up in rear, went 3rd before 2 out, soon outpaced and ridden, never able to get on terms with clear pair, well held when fell last, at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar.
Cervaro Mix (FR) 11-8fav (11-12) Led, jumped right throughout, blundered 5 out, mistake when challenged 3 out, soon headed, rallied last, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Master Work (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
On The Slopes 5-1 (11-4) Jumped right, led, ridden after 2 out, headed last, one pace, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Erick Le Rouge (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (3) sft in Oct.
Doctor Dex (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Mid-division, chased leaders when mistake 3 out, switched inside next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never getting to leaders, 6th of 21, 12 1/4l behind Three Musketeers (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Neachells Bridge (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Never fluent, always last, not fluent 5th, hit 4 out, outpaced when mistake next, last of 3, 13 1/4l behind Tommy Rapper (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) gd in Oct.
