held up in rear, plugged on from 3 out, never on terms
chased leader, blundered badly and lost place 7th, trying to rally when blundered 14th, soon weakened and behind, tailed off
hampered 1st, held up towards rear, steady headway approaching 12th, pushed along to behind leaders 14th, ridden in 7th 4 out, staying on same pace when switched left approaching 2 out, no further impression
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 10th, went 3rd 4 out, led next, driven and joined last, headed soon after, stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, pushed along and still pressing leaders next, weakened before 2 out
always towards rear, reminders after 9th, struggling 12th, blundered next, tailed off
slightly hampered 1st, chased leaders, led 5th, narrowly headed 3 out, lost 2nd next, no impression on leading duo, no extra in 4th flat
chased leaders, slightly hampered 1st, mistake 10th, pushed along before 12th, weakened approaching next, blundered 2 out, eased
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased leaders 2 out, stayed on to 3rd flat, no chance with leading duo
raced on inside, held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 9th, went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, led soon after last, stayed on well
led until 5th, chased leaders, mistakes 13th and 15th, ridden and chased leaders approaching 3 out, steadily weakened
with leaders, fell 1st
raced wide towards rear, never on terms
Philip Hobbs has farmed this valuable handicap in recent years but 2011 winner Quinz has failed to complete in three runs since that victory and Duke Of Lucca may find this an insufficient test of stamina. Paul Nicholls has saddled the favourite in the last five years and Rolling Aces will be popular with punters here. Progressive, he's on a hat-trick and should confirm latest Wincanton running with Opening Batsman while last year's winner Nacarat has been targeted at the race again and should be thereabouts. He can confirm 2012 form with Hector's Choice. This is an easy track so Quantitativeeasing has a chance of getting home and is feasibly weighted if doing so but it must be significant that McCoy prefers J P McManus' other runner WYCK HILL. David Bridgwater has no qualms about going to war with the big boys if he thinks he has the ammunition and his nine-year-old looks a blot on the handicap on his defeat of Gold Cup hopeful Katenko at Ascot in December when Roberto Goldback was a remote third. Summery Justice is a couple of pounds out of the handicap but ran a nice race on his reappearance and could run into a place.
What A Friend 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, blundered 15th, outpaced 4 out, never able to challenge, 7th of 11, 17l behind Follow The Plan (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Apr.
Nacarat (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Prominent on outside, hit 12th (canal turn), jumped right and struggling from next (valentines), remote in 4th from 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 9, well behind Little Josh (10-9) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec.
Roberto Goldback (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Behind, slow 9th, weakened 15th, soon beaten, 5th of 7, 42l behind On Trend (9-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy.
Rolling Aces (IRE) 4-7fav (11-6) In touch, headway 7th, led 10th, ridden 3 out, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) hvy in Dec beating Opening Batsman (11-3) by 11l, 7 ran.
Hector's Choice (FR) 66-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 11th of 14, well behind Medinas (10-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f ltd hcp hdl (2) hvy.
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up, always behind, 10th of 16, 44l behind Katenko (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Jan.
Quinz (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leader until 11th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Golan Way (11-5) at Sandown 3m Listed chs (1) gs in Dec '11, 5 ran.
Wyck Hill (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Led until 2nd, pressed leader, led again 4th until 8th, stayed pressing, led agin after 3 out, stayed on strongly from last, won at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) hvy in Dec beating Katenko (10-1) by 4l, 6 ran.
Duke Of Lucca (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Mid-division on outside, outpaced 5 out, weakened next, 11th of 19, well behind Bobs Worth (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Made all, ridden approaching 3 out, edged right before last, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m 5f Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (3) sft in Jan beating Howard's Legacy (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Same Difference (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Led, joined 10th, narrowly headed 2 out, chased winner, one pace in 3rd and and held when slightly hampered at elbow final 110 yards, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Unioniste (11-4) at Newbury 3m nov chs (3) sft.
Mister Hyde (IRE) 9-2 (10-7) Led until 10th, led again 12th, headed approaching 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, 44l behind On Trend (9-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy.
Summery Justice (IRE) 13-2 (10-4) In touch, under pressure 15th, chased leaders 3 out, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 7, 9l behind On Trend (9-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) hvy.
