held up towards rear, headway 9th, pushed along in 5th before 2 out, no progress
tracked leaders, in lead after 2nd, pushed along before 2 out, narrowly headed when fell last
held up in 6th place, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, plugged on and left in 2nd modest place at the last
tracked leading pair, in 4th place after 2nd, weakened 2 out, left modest 4th last
led until after 2nd, tracked leader until before 9th, soon pushed along, chased leaders, weakened before next
held up in last pair, struggling in rear before 9th
held up towards rear, 3rd travelling well after 3 out, 2nd between last two, slight lead and travelling well when left clear last
held up in 5th place, pushed along before 9th, soon outpaced, struggling in 10th place after 3 out, plugging on but no chance when left modest 3rd last
tracked clear leading pair, closer in 2nd before 9th, every chance when not fluent 2 out, ridden and lost 2nd between last two, 3rd and held when mistake and unseated rider last
held up towards rear, good headway disputing 4th approaching 9th, pushed along and weakening in 7th place after next
behind, last and struggling after 8th, tailed off
Unowhatimeanharry’s upward trajectory showed no sign of easing when he routed his rivals in the Long Distance Hurdle. It’s hard to see either Ballyoptic or Reve De Sivola reversing that form, though the latter has won this three times and was second to Thistlecrack last year so a better effort is expected. Lil Rockerfeller is as game as a pebble but 3m on soft ground may be too far. Un Temps Pour Tout is probably better over fences nowadays while Zarkandar has become disappointing. ALEX DE LARREDYA has his first run outside of France but is a top-class stayer who comfortably reversed earlier running with Ptit Zig on bottomless ground at Auteuil last month. He’ll relish conditions and can emulate the great Baracouda by taking this prize back across the Channel.
Alex De Larredya (FR) (10-10) won at Auteuil 3m gd in Nov beating Solway (10-5) by 7l, 13 ran.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, chased winner run-in, no impression, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-4) at Newbury 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Lil Rockerfeller (USA) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leading pair, pushed along going out on final circuit, ridden into 2nd after 3 out, led under pressure approaching 2 out, ridden before last, kept on gamely when strongly pressed run-in, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Yanworth (11-4) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gs in Nov.
Ptit Zig (FR) (10-10) 3rd of 13, 9l behind Alex De Larredya (10-10) at Auteuil 3m gd in Nov.
Reve De Sivola (FR) 16-1 (11-8) Close up, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 29 1/4l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-4) at Newbury 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Shelford (IRE) (11-0) 5th of 12, 6 1/4l behind Miss De Champdoux (10-7) at Enghien 2m 3f hvy in Nov.
Unowhatimeanharry 7-2 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 6th, led 2 out, kept on strongly, eased towards finish, won at Newbury 3m (1) sft in Nov beating Ballyoptic (11-4) by 6l, 9 ran.
Un Temps Pour Tout (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Chased leaders on outside, weakening when mistake 4 out, 10th of 19, 19 1/4l behind Native River (11-1) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
West Approach 5-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, closed from 8th, in touch in rear when unsighted and bad error 2 out, lost momentum and plenty to do after, tried to close before last but unable to recover, lost 4th post, 5th of 6, 7 3/4l behind Wholestone (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Zarkandar (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked leader until after 3 out, chased leading pair until before next, weakened soon after, last of 5, 15l behind Yanworth (11-4) at Ascot 2m 3f (1) gs in Nov.
Surtee Du Berlais (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up in touch in last pair, ran in snatches, 4th before 3 out, driven along and plenty to do before stayed on into 3rd approaching 2 out where not fluent, 2nd between last 2, challenged last, soon led, kept on strongly, won at Kempton 3m lst (1) sft in Nov beating Rons Dream (11-2) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
