led, blundered and unseated rider 3rd
held up mid-division, weakened from 2 out
held up in touch, weakened before 3 out
held up mid-division, weakened after 4 out
behind, effort 3 out, never dangerous
held up in touch, ridden run-in, kept on to lead towards finish
tracked leaders, left 2nd from 3rd, led 3 out, blundered and headed 2 out, kept on
tracked leader, left in lead 3rd, ridden run-in, kept on
always towards rear, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
towards rear, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, ridden run-in, kept on and headed towards finish
behind, weakened from 6 out, tailed off 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, one pace from 3 out
tracked leaders, blundered 7th, weakened from 9th, tailed off
This is a cracking contest for the time of year with Anquetta bidding to follow up last year's victory off a 4lb higher mark. Now trained by Robert Waley-Cohen, the 11-year-old's stirrup leather snapped when he unseated Charlie Poste at Cheltenham last time in the race won by Anay Turge so he can be forgiven that run. Galway Jack finished fourth in that race but may struggle to reverse the form with the in-form winner on only 3lb better terms. Mountain King was all out to win at Perth two weeks ago and is 7lb higher but Silver Roque should go well having run subsequent winner Cloud Creeper to a neck at Leicester in February. Le Bacardy started favourite for a Listed handicap at Ayr last month but jumped poorly and was soon beaten. BRAVE SPARTACUS ran very well back over fences at Ayr, however, and could be the pick of the weights in this if he doesn't try to take on the front-running grey Australia Day.
Australia Day (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Led, dived at 2nd, headed approaching 7th, dropped to 3rd 7th, lost 3rd 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, 4th of 6, 33l behind Go Odee Go (10-0) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Apr.
Silver Roque (FR) 11-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear on outside, headway 5th, pecked slightly 9th, challenged 2 out, soon led, headed last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Cloud Creeper (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Feb.
Anquetta (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Tracked leader until stirrup leather broke and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Anay Turge (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Mountain King 9-4fav (11-9) Held up, headway 7th, ridden and went 2nd 3 out, led next, hung right flat, driven out, won at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Apr beating Ut Majeur Aulmes (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Crookstown (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Behind, not fluent 2nd, headway after 6th, chased leaders next, blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Un Ace (11-3) at Ascot 2m 1f nov chs (2) gs in Mar, 7 ran.
Anay Turge (FR) 12-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, left 3rd at 4th, tracked leader 4 out, challenged 2 out, led narrowly last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, just held on, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr beating French Opera (11-5) by nk, 11 ran.
Galway Jack (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Led, driven and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression with front trio from last, 4th of 11, 16l behind Anay Turge (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Brave Spartacus (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Led until 13th, chased leader, led again 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, one pace when lost 2nd at the last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Presenting Junior (10-6) at Ayr 2m 4f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
Rum And Butter (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Always behind, lost touch and pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Irish Cavalier (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed nov hcap ch (1) gs in Mar, 20 ran.
Le Bacardy (FR) 3-1fav (10-13) Held up in touch, ridden before in 4th and blundered 4 out, not recover, 4th of 7, 50l behind Duke Of Navan (11-3) at Ayr 2m lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
Bar De Ligne (FR) 25-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden before 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up, in a race won by Rascal (11-0) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-155 (2) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Freckle Face 7-1 (11-4) Held up tracking leaders in 5th, 3rd after 8th, 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, idling when stumbled badly last, headed run-in, not able to recover, 2nd of 7, 4l behind One Term (11-12) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Alderbrook Lad (IRE) 11-2 (10-2) Chased clear lead until 8th, closed 11th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on flat, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 11l behind Witness In Court (11-1) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Apr.
