in rear, headway before 2 out, ridden and weakened before last
held up mid-division, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, hampered on bend before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders and fell 5 out
tracked leaders, mistake 4 out, weakened from 2 out
held up mid-division, ridden before 2 out, one pace and no impression
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish
led, ridden run-in, kept on and headed close home
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, kept on same pace
held up in touch, slipped up on bend before 3 out
held up in rear, hampered 5 out, headway before 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on
held up in touch, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on run-in
tracked leaders, ridden before last, kept on to lead close home
held up towards rear, mistake 2 out, ridden before last, never dangerous
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, every chance towards finish, no extra
Nonrunner
Thomas Crapper won this in 2013 but is 17lb higher and has been chasing. Generous Ransom and Ardkilly Witness will probably be back over the larger obstacles after this pipe-opener while the four-year-old Arabian Revolution tries a new trip. Morello Royale did well last season but has shot up the weights while Perth second Sky Khan has been another climbing the weights. Slim Pickens will probably need this after a lengthy absence and Seaviper also returns from a lay-off but Saffron Wells is interesting having looked short of match practice at Chepstow. DANCING MEADOWS (NAP) only won a maiden at Downpatrick last month but that confirmed her upward curve and stamina won't be an issue here. The handicapper has had little to work with so she could be on a decent mark.
Thomas Crapper 5-6fav (11-0) Tracked winner, mistake 5th, lost 2nd place before 2 out, son ridden and one pace, 3rd of 4, 20 1/4l behind Violet Dancer (11-0) at Towcester 2m (4) gf in Oct.
Generous Ransom (IRE) 7-2fav (11-11) Held up in touch, modest 4th before 3 out, plugged on, no impression, 4th of 10, dist behind Cocktails At Dawn (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Arabian Revolution 7-1fav (11-6) Tracked leaders on outside, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 14th of 22, 31 1/4l behind Qualando (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Morello Royale (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Chased leader, travelling well when led 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Apr beating Taniokey (11-5) by 19l, 8 ran.
Ardkilly Witness (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Chased leading pair, 2nd before 7th until 9th, 2nd again next, led 13th until 4 out, ridden and lost 2nd before next, chased leaders, faded 2 out, 4th of 14, 27 3/4l behind Rocky Creek (11-11) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Saffron Wells (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway after 7th, hit 4 out, soon lost place, 10th of 17, 15 1/4l behind Court Minstrel (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Sky Khan 11-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, 2nd before next, challenged 2 out, soon ridden, 2 lengths down last, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Sealous Scout (10-12) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Mile House (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Led narrowly to 2nd, tracked leaders, lost place before 7th, behind 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, never on terms, 6th of 9, 10 1/2l behind After Eight Sivola (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Seaviper (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Led to 4 out, soon weakened, last of 9, dist behind Avidity (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Slim Pickens (IRE) 1-2fav (11-12) Led, driven 2 out, ridden and headed flat, kept on, held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Collodi (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) gd in Aug.
Baku Bay (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, led 2 out, headed before last, no extra run-in, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Master Malt (11-11) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Dancing Meadows (IRE) 15-8fav (11-5) Settled in mid-division, 5th with a circuit to race, improved into 3rd after 3 out, pushed along to challenge before next and soon disputed, led after last and kept on well under pressure run-in, comfortably, won at Downpatrick 2m 2f mdn gd in Sep beating Rathmuck Native (11-5) by 9l, 9 ran.
Face Value 9-2fav (9-2) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and dropped to 5th approaching straight, no impression on easy winner in 4th over 1f out, 2nd 150 yards out and kept on, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Ceylon (9-4) at Listowel 1m 6f hcp Soft - Heavy in Sep.
Towering (IRE) 2-1fav (11-13) Disputed 2nd, chased easy winner after 3 out, no chance when ridden after next, lost 2nd and weakened flat, 4th of 5, 16 3/4l behind Standing Ovation (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 7f (4) gd in Aug.
Detroit Blues 20-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, closed when not fluent 4 out, 2nd from 3 out, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Kalifourchon (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Here's Herbie 14-1 (11-4) Held up on outside, in touch 3 out, lost place and well held before next, 6th of 8, 12 3/4l behind Satanic Beat (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Desert Recluse (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Chased leader, led 4th until 5th, ridden after 3 out, one pace when squeezed out before 2 out, well held in 4th last, 4th of 8, 12l behind Satanic Beat (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Muhtaris (IRE) 66-1 (9-9) Took keen hold, tracking leaders, weakened approaching final 2f, 10th of 14, 9 1/4l behind Sir Jack Layden (9-9) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (4) pol in Oct.
