held up in rear, made a place 4th, ridden and outpaced after 8th, rallied from 2 out, went modest 3rd before the last
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, soon challenging, slight lead when pecked 2 out, ridden and good jump last, soon asserted and hung left run-in, stayed on
led 2nd, ridden headed and weakened before 4 out, blundered last
took keen hold early, tracked leaders until dropped to last at 4th, struggling 6th, lost touch 8th, plugged on from the last
led until 2nd, chased leader until before 5th, chased leaders, pushed along before jumped right 4 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out, lost modest 3rd before the last
held up in last pair, headway into 3rd place before 5th, 2nd before 7th, led before 4 out, soon joined, narrowly headed 2 out, still every chance until held last, switched right and kept on same pace run-in
Alpine Secret was well supported to lose his maiden tag at Bangor but fluffed his lines. Un Prophete completed a double at a lower level in January but appears to have lost confidence since stepping up in grade. Turban was well beaten when runner-up at Wincanton while Keep Moving can't get his head in front and has had plenty of attempts. Crafty Roberto has had 19 tries over the bigger obstacles and has yet to win so a process of elimination leads us to UBALTIQUE, who ran well in a better race at Ayr last time though wouldn't want the ground to dry out.
Ubaltique (FR) 11-1 (10-12) In rear, blundered 5th, mistake 5 out, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, one pace, 5th of 8, 8l behind Archive (11-1) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
Un Prophete (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Held up and behind, jumped slowly 4th, headway chasing leaders before 8th, staying on disputing 3rd when fell last, at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Turban (FR) 25-1 (11-1) Always prominent, led 4th, headed 8th, rallying when mistake 3 out, kept on same pace after next, 2nd of 10, 10l behind Play The Ace (12-0) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Native Robin (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, lost place 11th, soon behind, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Jarlath (11-11) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Crafty Roberto 4-1 (11-11) Led, ridden before 2 out, kept on and headed close home, 2nd of 6, hd behind Saffron Prince (11-11) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Keep Moving (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, outpaced 6 out, rallied 4 out, effort 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 9, 15 1/2l behind Truckers Highway (11-8) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Alpine Secret (IRE) 13-8fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, steadied when bumped 2nd, closed 8th, led and looked to be going well before 2 out, ridden and headed before last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Diamond Rock (11-7) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
