chased leader, led going well 4 out, clear last, stayed on well flat
held up, headway 4 out, pushed along and outpaced 3 out, weakened before last
in rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, went 2nd from 2 out, stayed on well from last, never on terms
mid-division, struggling and dropped to rear 5 out, tailed off
mid-division, pushed along and weakened 3 out
led, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up after blundering 2 out
NonRunner
Elixir De Nutz won the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter after a pipe-opener at Chepstow but is effectively 7lb higher here with Freddie Gingell only able to claim 5lb today. Calgary Tiger was beaten off a 12lb lower mark at Wincanton when last seen but Xcitations is only 4lb higher than when scoring at Sandown last month. Real Stone would have preferred softer ground but has won on good going over hurdles and was successful in a hack canter at Haydock last week after a bold round of jumping. If in the same mood, he’ll be fancied to defy an 8lb rise but he has plenty to find with MASTER CHEWY (NAP) on an earlier run at Aintree and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ novice can return to winning ways here. Bollingerandkrug has won his last three but his last nine starts have been at Kelso and The Russian Doyen will probably need this.
Elixir De Nutz (FR) 13-2 (10-7) Close 3rd, went 2nd after 1st, led next, pushed along and narrowly headed 4 out, in front again next, came clear from 2 out, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (1) gs in Nov beating Solo (10-10) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Xcitations 9-2 (11-12) Mid-division, slow 5th, headway 7th. challenged 2 out, led before last, edged left flat, stayed on, ridden out, won at Sandown 1m 7f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Western Zephyr (11-5) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Master Chewy (IRE) 11-10fav (12-1) Chased leaders, pushed along and went close 2nd omitted 2 out, led before omitted last, kept on, ridden and no extra run-in, headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Djelo (11-12) at Aintree 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Bollingerandkrug (IRE) 2-1fav (12-1) Led, headed narrowly 3 out, ridden home turn, rallied when switched to outside last, stayed on strongly flat, led final 100 yards, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Duty Calls (10-7) by nk, 6 ran.
The Russian Doyen (IRE) 13-8jfav (11-5) Led, ridden and headed 4 out, rallied to press leader again 3 out, outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on same pace from last, 2nd of 4, 4 1/4l behind Torpillo (11-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Calgary Tiger Evensfav (11-2) Raced keenly, led and soon clear, bad mistake 2nd, pushed along and reduced lead turning in, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon lost 2nd, no extra in 3rd when mistake last, 3rd of 7, 9 3/4l behind Thelasthighking (11-6) at Wincanton 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Real Stone 15-8fav (10-11) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, went 2nd 4th, switched right and led 6th, clear 9th, very easily, won at Haydock 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Daly Tiger (10-13) by 20l, 5 ran.
