held up in 5th, hit 5th and rider lost iron briefly, not fluent 7th, last 12th, weakened after next
2nd or 3rd, ridden after 12th, weakened after next
held up in rear, closed on inside 12th, weakened before 3 out, lost 4th before mistake last
held up towards rear, headway after 13t, close 3rd 2 out, no extra from last
chased leaders, challenged after 13th, led flat, stayed on
led, slow and headed 11th, soon ridden, weakened before 3 out
2nd or 3rd, led 10th, pressed from after 13th, headed flat, no impression towards finish
NonRunner
Dell' Arca will be 12 in a few months’ time and has only won once over fences, more than five years ago. He also seems best on good ground nowadays. Virginia Chick would benefit from some help from the handicapper but Holdbacktheriver won at Chepstow on heavy going on his final start last season and should enjoy conditions. Though NOT A ROLE MODEL still has stamina to prove over this trip, he does have a decent strike-rate over fences and was second over an extended 2m6f on soft going at Stratford in March. Financial Outcome is a stronger stayer than the likes of Lord Bryan and Lithic.
Virginia Chick (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Held up and behind, mistake 9th, progress approaching 4 out, weakening when rider lost whip 3 out, 4th of 10, 34 1/4l behind Sam's Adventure (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Dell' Arca (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Ridden handy, mistake 3 out, ridden and outpaced before 2 out, kept on after last, 3rd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Doing Fine (11-10) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Not A Role Model (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, chased winner approaching last, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Kapgarry (11-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Lithic (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, slow 4th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 8, dist behind Admiral's Secret (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Kings Monarch 6-1 (10-13) Mid-division, closer at 7th, blundered 10th, pushed along and struggling after 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out (normal 5 out), at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Lord Bryan (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Led 2nd, pushed along and headed before 3 out, soon outpaced and driven, rallied into 2nd run-in and closed on winner near finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Follow The Swallow (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Financial Outcome (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Held up in touch on outside, weakening when mistake 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 4m 2f hcp lst (1) hvy in Mar.
Holdbacktheriver (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led before 10th, headed 4 out, ridden after 3 out, rallied 2 out, sustained challenge on long run-in, led near finish, all out (last fence in home straight and old water jump in back straight omitted), won at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp (4) hvy in Jan beating Top And Drop (11-12) by nk, 8 ran.
