chased leader, blundered 14th, challenged 2 out, slight lead when mistake and headed last, last, no extra in 3rd run-in
chased leaders on inside, not fluent 1st, weakened 3 out
held up and wide, headway chasing leaders 10th, starting to lose place when pulled up before 14th
jumped boldly, led, joined 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, chased winner and one pace run-in
chased leaders, effort between horses 2 out, switched left before last, led last, stayed on well run-in
often jumped left, behind, headway and in touch when went badly left 15th and lost place, behind when went left next and 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 9th, ridden before 4 out, no extra in 4th after next
held up in last pair, slight peck 13th, pushed along after next, weakening when blundered 3 out
Bally Longford hasn’t won since 2015 and could only manage a modest fourth at Wincanton on last month’s reappearance while Antony won a Grade 3 chase here last year but was a well beaten fifth in the same race at the start of this month. But MARCILHAC looks capable of scoring off his current mark judged on a recent second at Ludlow and Venetia Williams’ charge gets the vote to go one better. Three of these won their penultimate starts but Brandon Hill hasn’t raced since February while Beggars Cross disappointed at Carlisle last time and Definitly Grey failed to complete at Exeter,
Bally Longford (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Mr Mix (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Marcilhac (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, hit 10th, went 2nd from 3 out, pressing winner flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Monbeg Charmer (11-8) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Kaki De La Pree (FR) 7-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, lost place 4th, ridden before 12th, 3rd next, soon no impression, stumbled and weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 32 3/4l behind Belami Des Pictons (11-6) at Warwick 3m (3) hvy in Feb.
Brandon Hill (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) Led, hit 3rd, headed 3 out, no extra last, just held onto 4th, 4th of 8, 13l behind Blameitalonmyroots (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Walk In The Mill (FR) 8-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 29 1/4l behind Romain De Senam (10-6) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Antony (FR) 4-1fav (10-4) In touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, went 3rd next, never on terms, lost place last, gradually weakened flat, 5th of 16, 14 1/2l behind Go Conquer (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Beggars Cross (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Mid-division on inside, outpaced 5 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 15, dist behind Harry The Viking (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Definitly Grey (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Mid-division in touch, outpaced when not fluent 13th, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
