held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 10th, weakened 3 out
in touch, lost place after 4 out
prominent, led 6th, headed before 2 out, weakened last
held up towards rear, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, stayed on same pace approaching last
tracked leaders, led before 2 out, soon strongly challenged, headed just after last, rallied and stayed on strongly to lead again last strides
led until 6th, hard ridden to challenge 3 out, weakened before last
mid-division, lost place 6th, rallied 3 out, never able to challenge
chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened before last
mid-division, headway to chase leaders halfway, weakened 11th
towards rear, headway halfway, chased leaders 4 out, every chance from 2 out, led just after last, headed and no extra close home
held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on well after last, nearest finish
NonRunner
Nicky Henderson has won both previous renewals, including with Cup Final last year. Cup Final has won again since but is 14lb higher this time round. Wotzizname won both starts over hurdles last year before well beaten on his chasing bow in November. But EL BANDIT (NAP) is preferred in this given it was testing ground when beaten at Newbury last time having won his five previous starts over hurdles on faster going. Clondaw Kaempfer beat Arthurs Secret a length when scoring over 3m here last month while Oscar Rock took advantage of a lower mark over hurdles to win at Market Rasen in November. Alzammaar was second in a lower grade last time but Aubusson hasn’t won over hurdles since 2014.
Cup Final (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Towards rear, progress into 10th approaching straight, closed to chase leader last where not fluent, stayed on well run-in, led at line, won at Punchestown 3m hcp Yielding in Apr beating Jury Duty (10-3) by shd, 24 ran.
Call The Cops (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Always behind, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 10, dist behind Milborough (10-3) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Aubusson (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up, towards rear, some headway 18th, mistake 4 out, no impression when pecked next, soon well beaten, 8th of 16, 37 1/2l behind Tour Des Champs (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Wotzizname (IRE) 15-8 (11-0) Not always fluent, tracked leaders, left in lead 2 out (normal 5 out), ridden in home straight, headed and no impression after omitted last, 2nd of 3, 10l behind Arpege D'alene (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f (3) gs in Nov.
El Bandit (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no impression, 7th of 10, 7 3/4l behind Solomn Grundy (10-10) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Alzammaar (USA) 33-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on outside, lost place after 3rd, not fluent next, headway after 3 out, went 2nd before next, closed last, every chance flat, held close home, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Nietzsche (10-0) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Morito Du Berlais (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Raced wide, held up, reminders after 7th, behind 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 14th, at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Clondaw Kaempfer (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, led run-in, kept on, won at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Arthurs Secret (11-2) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Nautical Nitwit (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) In rear, headway before 2 out, chased winner before last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 1l behind One For Harry (11-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Arthurs Secret 6-1 (11-2) With leader, led before 3 out, soon clear, headed run-in, no extra, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Clondaw Kaempfer (11-11) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Stoneham 16-1 (11-10) In rear, pushed along 3 out, never dangerous, 8th of 12, 21 1/4l behind Dominada (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Oscar Rock (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Shade keen, held up, in touch, smooth headway tracking leader approaching 2 out, challenging when hit last and stumbled, rallied gamely to lead towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Nov beating Duke Street (11-5) by 1l, 7 ran.
