held up mid-division, pushed along before 6th, weakened before next, pulled up (last hurdle omitted)
chased leaders, led 5 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and held towards finish (last hurdle omitted)
led to 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out (last hurdle omitted)
held up towards rear, reminders after 4th, weakened before 6th, pulled up (last hurdle omitted)
always behind, weakened before 7th (last hurdle omitted)
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders before 5 out, went 2nd before 3 out, weakened last (last hurdle omitted)
close up, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, held on towards finish (last hurdle omitted)
close up, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up (last hurdle omitted)
prominent, went 3rd before last, one pace (last hurdle omitted)
Nonrunner
Airpur Desbois has been thereabouts recently without troubling the winner and Theatre Goer has claims on last month's placed efforts. But both of the above have something to prove in the likely testing ground and ABSOLUTELY BYGONES is preferred. The latter was beaten less than a length here in heavy going on last year's reappearance before going on to win this race and looks sure to be in the mix again. Strawberry Hill should have come on for a recent pipe opener and is preferred to the returning pair Tara Tavey and Ugly Bug.
Tara Tavey (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Behind, jumping slowly and never going, tailed off 3rd, pulled up before 6th, at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in May.
Ugly Bug 12-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 4 out, headed next, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 9, 33 1/4l behind Ashbrittle (11-11) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in May.
Absolutely Bygones (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Led until 2nd, chased winner until before 2 out, kept on same pace and no impression in 3rd, 3rd of 11, 14 1/2l behind Maller Tree (11-1) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Come To The Party (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Led, headed before 4 out, soon lost place and behind, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Captain Canada 80-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway on outside 9th, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 14, dist behind Monbeg Gold (11-11) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Airpur Desbois (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Towards rear, headway tracking leaders 5th, ridden and weakened between last 2, 4th of 10, 13l behind Tobefair (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Knight Ofthe Realm 16-1 (11-9) Chased leading pair, 2nd after 5th until 3 out, weakened under pressure before 2 out, 8th of 11, 30 1/4l behind Panis Angelicus (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Strawberry Hill (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, not fluent 5th or 6th, outpaced 13th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Aloomomo (11-10) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Theatre Goer 7-1 (10-5) In touch, headway approaching 2 out, kept on run-in into modest 3rd post, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Max Forte (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct.
Dardanella 100-1 (10-11) Prominent, led after 3rd, headed 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind Lily Waugh (12-4) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
