chased leaders, not much room 1st, led 8th, clear when idled flat, ridden out
chased leaders on outside, disputing 2nd 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 3rd and held from last, kept on
led 1st until 2nd, chased leader until before 8th, went 2nd again before 13th until approaching 3 out, weakened before next
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, not fluent and last 5th, struggling 11th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, closed 8th, not fluent 12th, disputing 2nd 3 out, held by winner from last, kept on
jumped left, led until 1st, led next, headed 8th, not fluent 4 out, weakened next
held up in rear, hit 2nd, closed 8th, lost place when not fluent 11th, not fluent 13th, hit 4 out and well beaten after
Withdrawn
Ballyhill is 11lb higher than when landing this 12 months ago but did return to winning ways at Aintree last month, though this is a high-class renewal. Happy Diva was still going well when brought down in the BetVictor Gold Cup here in November while Born Survivor beat a good yardstick when returning from a break at Wetherby. Foxtail Hill is 5lb lower than when winning over 2m here last season and Dustin Des Mottes should appreciate the step up in trip. Aso made all and won easily at Newbury but had the run of the race and is 8lb higher now. Divine Spear and ACTING LASS both go well fresh so are both worth a market check. The latter found 3m too far in the Betdaq Chase at Kempton when last seen and still has the potential to be a smart chaser over this sort of trip.
Aso (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Shade keen early, made all, hit 11th, 4 lengths ahead travelling strongly 2 out (normal 3 out ), unchallenged, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov beating Touch Kick (10-4) by 13l, 6 ran.
Ballyhill (FR) 7-2fav (11-11) Prominent, lost place before 4th, headway 9th, led next, clear last, stayed on well, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Caltex (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Born Survivor (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leader, led 6th until next, soon in front again, made rest, clear from 3 out, kept on strongly, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov beating Guitar Pete (10-12) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.
Divine Spear (IRE) 1-3fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Delegate (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f (4) gs in Feb.
Happy Diva (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway when badly hampered and brought down 4 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Foxtail Hill (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway 13th, never in contention, well beaten from 3 out, 7th of 12, 27 1/2l behind Frodon (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Dustin Des Mottes (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, every chance when went left 2 out, went left again last, kept on run-in, went 2nd close home, not reach winner, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Azzerti (11-8) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Give Me A Copper (IRE) 1-3fav (11-0) Jumped well, led 1st, made rest, shaken up and came readily clear run-in, won at Kempton 3m (3) gd in Nov beating Three Ways (11-0) by 3 1/4l, 2 ran.
Acting Lass (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Held up behind, ridden after 3 out, never near leaders, 9th of 15, 25l behind Master Dee (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
