held up in rear, headway on inside 5 out, chased winner 3 out, effort next, jumped right last, kept on well
led, mistake 3rd, headed after 5th, lost place 5 out, tailed off
held up in rear, under pressure 3 out, never dangerous, tailed off
prominent, slow 2nd, progress to track leaders after next, led after 5th, driven 2 out, ran on strongly
tracked leaders, lost place 10th
prominent, jumped slowly throughout, lost place 7th, behind from 10th
held up, mistake 4th, under pressure 10th, slow next, soon beaten
held up, headway 10th, chased leaders 5 out, stayed on into 3rd, never a threat
chased leaders, driven 3 out, weakened before next
NonRunner
God's Own won the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last month for a second time but faces no easy task back over a longer trip under a penalty. Along with the 2016 winner of this, Josses Hill, he was behind Art Mauresque at Kempton at the start of the year. Tea For Two is a Grade 1 winner over fences but hasn’t shown any worthwhile form since his third in last year’s King George. Hammersly Lake beat CHARBEL on worse terms at Perth in September but the latter comprehensively reversed the form in a Grade 2 at Ascot last month and seems to have ironed out his jumping problems. Kim Bailey’s gelding gets the nod, though San Benedeto never seems to run a bad race and is not out of this.
God's Own (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Disputed 2nd to 4th, tracked front pair, effort on inside 3 out, soon challenged, ridden before last, led narrowly flat, held on gamely, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gd in Nov beating Ozzie The Oscar (11-4) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Art Mauresque (FR) 14-1 (11-11) In touch, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, led approaching last, hard driven when headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Traffic Fluide (11-12) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov.
Beggar's Wishes (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) In touch, pushed along and outpaced 3 out (normal 4 out), left poor 4th last, 4th of 6, 31 1/2l behind Aso (11-10) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Charbel (IRE) 5-2 (11-1) Raced wide, held up in close 4th, 3rd 4 out, hit next, went 2nd 2 out, ridden before last, kept on run-in, always held, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Politologue (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
Hammersly Lake (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Chased leader, hit 10th, lost 2nd 12th, chased leaders, weakened on long run before 2 out, last of 6, 23 1/2l behind Politologue (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Nov.
Josses Hill (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place before 3rd, towards rear when jumped right 6th, well behind 4 out, 12th of 17, dist behind Monbeg Theatre (11-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in May.
San Benedeto (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Off the pace in 5th, plugged on in 4th between last 2, 4th of 13, 7l behind Caid Du Lin (10-11) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Tea For Two (10-10) at Auteuil 3m 1f (1) gd in May.
Rene's Girl (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, strongly challenged when blundered and headed last, no extra closing stages, 4th of 5, 12 1/4l behind Mister Whitaker (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f lst (1) gd in Nov.
Militarian 15-8fav (11-9) Led, mistake and headed 4th, led again 8th, not fluent 9th, headed 12th, clear before last, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Nov beating Lex Talionis (11-3) by 8 3/4l, 8 ran.
