led, headed 15th, led after next, clear 18th, driven and reduced lead flat but never looked liked being caught
tracked winner, driven to challenge 14th, led next, headed after 16th, lost 2nd and not fluent 3 out, 3rd and held after, stayed on flat
in touch, lost place before 3rd, mistake 5th, outpaced 14th, plugged on from 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd 3 out, closed on winner from last, stayed on, unable to get on terms
held up in last, pushed along after 12th, pulled up before next
in touch in mid-division, outpaced after 16th, well beaten from 4 out
not fluent, tracked leaders, mistake 9th, jumped left 11th, mistake and outpaced 17th, blundered and weakened 4 out
soon towards rear, mistake 10th, shaken up 12th, outpaced and no impression from 15th
mid-division on outside, closed 3rd, lost place before 7th, outpaced 15th, behind 17th
Withdrawn
Question marks hang over many of these, some of which are more commonly seen in veterans’ chases nowadays but Nicky Henderson would have been delighted by Beware The Bear’s comeback run in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury and he’ll strip fitter today. Robinsfirth beat today’s rival Shanroe Santos over course and distance at the end of 2017 but hasn’t been seen since, though is 6lb better off. The Druids Nephew has an even longer absence to overcome but Rolling Dylan has only been raised 2lb since a splendid effort over track and trip at the last meeting here. SOME CHAOS (NAP) had his winning run brought to an end by Reikers Island at Wincanton but the first two pulled well clear and the winner may well have landed the Mandarin at Newbury on Saturday had he not tried to take the last by the roots. Michael Scudamore’s charge is the least exposed of those and still on an upward curve.
Beware The Bear (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Towards rear, reminders and struggling after 10th, plugging on past beaten horses when mistake 2 out, 4th of 12, 32l behind Sizing Tennessee (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, reminders after 4th and again after 7th, never travelled well after, lost place 10th, weakened from 2 out (usual 3 out), 6th of 8, 29 1/4l behind Cultram Abbey (10-5) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Rolling Dylan (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 15th, mistake 4 out, driven after 2 out, challenged 2 out, every chance flat, 3rd and held close home, 3rd of 9, 1/4l behind Cogry (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Shanroe Santos (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders halfway, 2nd after 4 out, every chance next, weakened approaching last, 4th of 8, 14l behind Morney Wing (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
The Druids Nephew (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Towards rear, headway into mid-division 12th, chased leaders 3 out, ridden after next, one pace when not much room flat, no extra, 8th of 13, 2 1/4l behind Henllan Harri (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Sir Mangan (IRE) 10-11fav (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd before 5 out, mistake 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and always well held, 2nd of 3, 1 1/2l behind Lough Derg Jewel (11-8) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Some Chaos (IRE) 9-4fav (11-10) In touch, chased leaders, 13th, effort 2 out, no extra approaching last, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Reikers Island (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Alvarado (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, slow 4 out, stayed on into 3rd, never a threat, 3rd of 8, 16 3/4l behind Red Infantry (11-9) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Thomas Crapper 9-1 (11-8) Raced keenly, made most from 2nd, tended to jump right, hard pressed 2 out, ridden and headed soon after last, kept on same apce, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Mendip Express (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Robinsfirth (IRE) 7-4 (11-6) Tracked leader, mistake 4 out, led 2 out, 4 lengths clear flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec beating Shanroe Santos (10-5) by 2l, 5 ran.
