led, not fluent and headed 6th, driven after 4 out, outpaced next, no impression after
mid-division, took keen hold, headway on outside 5th, switched left before 2 out, challenged last, soon led, headed narrowly flat, stayed on, just held
chased leaders, lost place 6th, struggling when hampered 11th, behind from next
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, well beaten from 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 13th, struggling after 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 6th, headway on outside 10th, soon pressing winner, every chance 2 out, 3rd and beaten from last
held up in mid-division, headway 7th, 4th and one pace before 2 out, racing very awkwardly before last
jumped superbly, always prominent, led 6th, headed soon after last, led again narrowly flat, stayed on
held up towards rear, pushed along 8th, headway 10th, outpaced 4 out, well held when went wrong 3 out and pulled up
held up in rear, not fluent 12th, some late headway but never threatened
prominent, ridden and outpaced by leaders before 2 out, stayed on same pace after
Janika found only one too good at Ascot on his first run for Nicky Henderson and will be backed to go one better over this slightly longer trip. Siruh Du Lac is a superb jumper who is still heading in the right direction but BRELAN D’AS did well to score at Haydock over a trip too short and that should have boosted his confidence. He gets a tentative vote as War Sound needs to bounce back from a poor run here last month. Forest Des Aigles was also below par last time but The Kings Writ pulled clear at Taunton and is worth a try in this higher grade. Ballyhill likes it here and a good run from Kildisart in the previous race would be a boost to the chances of Activial.
Activial (FR) 5-2 (11-7) Led until after 1st, tracked leader until 4th, handy 3rd, pecked 3 out, led on inside next, joined last, soon headed, rallied near finish, just failed, 2nd of 5, shd behind Kildisart (10-10) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) sft in Dec.
Janika (FR) 3-1fav (11-12) Shade keen, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 12th, closed on all out winner after last, always held, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Hell's Kitchen (11-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Sizing Platinum (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 5th, stumbled and unseated rider 5th, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Oldgrangewood 14-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, headway before 5 out, ridden and weakened before last, 4th of 16, 13 1/2l behind Thomas Patrick (10-10) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
War Sound 7-1 (10-8) Not always fluent, held up in rear, well beaten from 13th, 10th of 12, 32 1/2l behind Frodon (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Ballyhill (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Chased leaders on outside, disputing 2nd 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 3rd and held from last, kept on, 3rd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Aso (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Jan.
Brelan D'As (FR) 15-8 (10-12) Led, not fluent 4th, soon headed, pushed along after 4 out, driven flat, led towards finish, stayed on, won at Haydock 2m (3) hvy in Dec beating Whatswrongwithyou (10-12) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Siruh Du Lac (FR) 11-2 (11-4) Prominent, led 5th, hard driven 2 out, kept on well, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Dusky Lark (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Casse Tete (FR) 9-2 (11-9) Often jumped left, raced in last, outpaced and struggling from 9th, went remote 3rd 4 out, tailed off, 3rd of 4, dist behind Mercian Prince (11-10) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Forest Des Aigles (FR) 13-2 (10-13) Held up in rear, headway 10th (bechers), went 2nd 3 out until before elbow and hanging badly left, plugged on, 5th of 11, 10l behind Warriors Tale (11-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
The Kings Writ (IRE) 10-3fav (11-11) Prominent, pecked 2nd, challenged 4 out, led last, stayed on well, clear towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Dec beating Native Robin (11-4) by 5l, 11 ran.
