prominent until 1st, chased leaders, closed 8th, challenged next, led 10th, pecked 3 out, 3 lengths ahead last, driven out
prominent, every chance 2 out, 3 lengths off winner last, held and lost 2nd flat, stayed on
led until 19th, driven after 2 out, went 2nd flat, held by winner, stayed on
not always fluent, prominent when mistake 1st, chased leaders, last 13th, ridden and effort 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened before next
held up in rear, headway on outside 12th, mistake 4 out, weakened before next
NonRunner
OK CORRAL (NAP), half-brother to a winning chaser, finished ahead of subsequent Grade 1 winner Santini, already an impressive winner over fences this season, when second in the Albert Bartlett here in March. If he takes to the larger obstacles as well as his stablemate, Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old should take all the beating receiving weight from all but one of his rivals. Drovers Lane is giving 3lb and upwards to the others and steps out of handicap company but Le Breuil continues to hold his own in decent company and has the beating of the selection’s stablemate Jenkins. The Russian Doyen can only improve on a debut success at Exeter but Dentley De Mee has had his chances and doesn’t look up to this level.
Drovers Lane (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Chased leaders, led travelling well after 4 out, clear pecked 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Soupy Soups (10-12) by 11l, 8 ran.
Jenkins (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) In touch, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, left 4th at last, stayed on to dispute 3rd flat, not quite reach leaders, 4th of 7, 1l behind Count Meribel (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
Le Breuil (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 7th until 10th, in front again 12th, headed approaching 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd next, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 7 3/4l behind Santini (11-2) at Newbury 2m 7f (1) sft in Dec.
The Russian Doyen (IRE) 5-4fav (11-2) Tracked leader, led 7 out, clear before last, kept on well, won at Exeter 2m 3f (3) gd in Nov beating I'm A Game Changer (11-2) by 5l, 6 ran.
Dentley De Mee (FR) 6-4jfav (11-3) Held up, closed 6th, close 3rd when pecked 4 out, not clear run and switched right before next, went 2nd last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Vivas (11-3) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gf in Dec.
Ok Corral (IRE) 7-2 (11-4) Held in touch, driven and hanging left before 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 13, 18 1/4l behind Santini (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
