close up, challenged 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on to lead towards finish
led and soon clear, headed before 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 3 out, soon pressed, ridden before last, kept on and headed towards finish
chased leaders, ridden before last, kept on same pace
close up, lost place after 3rd, kept on same from 2 out
in rear, reminders halfway, never dangerous, pulled up
Arctic Ben was well behind Granville Island at Haydock last month but the latter has since finished tailed off after blundering his way around Warwick. He'll have to jump better here as will Pearls Legend, who fell at Ascot last time. Chicklemix is on a hat-trick, however, after victories at Towcester and Wetherby and the mare clearly gets on well with Gina Andrews. She won't be far away off her new mark but KYKATE was possibly unlucky at Wetherby earlier this month and looks to be running into a bit of form. She's back on a reasonable mark and can recapture the winning thread as recent course and distance second Billy Cuckoo is very one-paced and Qoubilai may need this.
Granville Island (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway next, blundered badly and weakened 7th, mistake 8th, tailed off, 7th of 9, 49l behind Dare Me (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Led until 5 out, weakened after next, modest 4th, 4th of 6, 24l behind Granville Island (11-7) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Kykate 5-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders on outside, effort 4 out, 2 lengths down in 3rd and staying on when hampered and brought down next, in a race won by Sharney Sike (10-1) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft, 7 ran.
Pearls Legend 8-1 (11-5) Took keen hold in touch, fell 7th, in a race won by Ballinvarrig (11-9) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy, 7 ran.
Billy Cuckoo (IRE) 2-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, ridden 2 out, not pace to challenge flat, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Alderbrook Lad (10-5) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Qoubilai (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Led, reached for 7th, not fluent 9th, headed approaching 4 out, weakened rapidly, mistake next, eased when went badly right 2 out, tailed off, last of 4, 40l behind Get It On (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in Oct.
Chicklemix 7-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, ridden after 2 out, 11/2 lengths down last, led flat, kept on, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft beating Free World (10-6) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
