towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, mistake 2 out, never on terms
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, travelling well before next, left in 2nd at the last, stayed on under pressure run-in to lead towards finish
always towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 3 out, plugged on late, never a threat
held up towards rear, headway on heels of leaders when brought down last
held up towards rear, hit 3rd, headway on outside before 2 out, weakened 2 out
always behind, tailed off when awkward 3 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, hung left approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, no threat after
mid-division, closer on inside before 3 out, weakened next
held up, pulled up quickly after 1st
always front rank, every chance run-in, kept on gamely
towards rear, outpaced 3 out, plugging on but no chance when hampered last, never threatened
held up towards rear, headway between last 2, kept on run-in
raced wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, weakened before the last
raced wide and prominent, led approaching 2 out, joined when fell last
chased leaders, left in lead last, hard ridden run-in, headed towards finish
chased leaders until blundered 4th, towards rear when mistake 4 out, tailed off
mid-division on inside, weakened before 2 out
led until pushed along and headed approaching 2 out, losing place when hampered last, weakened run-in
held up, headway chasing leaders when hit 3 out, slightly hampered last, stayed on run-in
chased leaders and wide, outpaced 4 out, no chance when badly hampered last
held up in rear, never figured, hampered last
held up, struggling in last pair 4 out, never a factor, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 3 out, still well enough there when brought down last
held up towards rear, headway on inside after 3 out, kept on run-in
An excellent renewal in which NEVER ADAPT is the choice on the understanding he's not looked the most straightforward to date. However, he's only had four starts over timber and will hopefully settle better with experience. The suspicion is he will either love or hate the hurly-burly of this large field but there's no denying his talent and he could prove far better than his current mark. Evan Williams has a strong hand courtesy of Mack The Man, the choice of Adam Wedge, and Quoi De Neuf for whom Brian Hughes is an interesting booking. Both are well thought of and should go well. Willie Mullins raids with Ciel De Neige, but the likes of Not So Sleepy, lively outsider Nelson River and Lightly Squeeze all rate as viable options too. Plenty of others can be put forward but one worth a mention is the novice, Thebannerkingrebel. He has plenty of ability but needs to sharpen his hurdling technique in such a high-class affair. He could go close if doing so.
Gumball (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 3 out, outpaced before last, no impression after, 6th of 8, 5 1/4l behind Call Me Lord (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Pic D'Orhy (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Held up, progress approaching 7th, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Thomas Darby (11-12) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Stolen Silver (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, driven and ran on to lead close home, won at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan beating Edwardstone (11-4) by nk, 4 ran.
Harambe 16-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway on long run before 2 out, driven to chase leaders turning in, ridden after last, stayed on strongly flat, led narrowly final strides, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Nov beating Gumball (11-10) by nk, 14 ran.
Not So Sleepy 9-2jfav (10-3) Raced keenly, made all, clear 2nd, looked to run out 4th, went clear again before 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec beating Monsieur Lecoq (11-12) by 9l, 13 ran.
Mill Green 14-1 (11-1) Held up off the pace in mid-division, good headway on outside chasing leader before 2 out, led before the last, narrowly headed last, rallied to lead again towards finish, won at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan beating Eldorado Allen (11-12) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Nelson River 7-4 (9-10) Held up, pushed along and headway 3f out, ridden and kept on one pace from over 1f out, 4th of 11, 5 1/4l behind Mouriyani (9-5) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Thebannerkingrebel (IRE) Evensfav (11-9) Tracked leader, hit and led 3rd, ridden and headed last, short of room and hampered run in, kept on, 3rd of 4, 2l behind Stolen Silver (11-4) at Haydock 2m (1) hvy in Jan.
Never Adapt (FR) 5-4fav (11-8) Steadied start, pulled hard in last pair, 7th and plenty to do when hit 3 out, travelling well in 4th before 2 out, led on outside at the last, quickened clear run-in, won at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Golden Taipan (11-8) by 3 1/4l, 9 ran.
Remiluc (FR) 40-1 (11-11) Always behind, never on terms, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Mill Green (11-1) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Oakley (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, effort turning, upsides last, ridden to lead flat, kept on when headed closing stages, 2nd of 13, nk behind Repetitio (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Zanza (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up, fell 4th, at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Ecco 4-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, hit 3 out, led 2 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, readily outpaced run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Fred (11-0) at Kempton 2m (2) sft in Dec.
Lightly Squeeze 8-11fav (12-3) Chased leaders, led 3 out, soon clear, stayed on strongly, won at Plumpton 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Karakoram (11-11) by 14l, 11 ran.
Ciel De Neige (FR) 1-4fav (11-2) Soon chased leaders, 6th from 4th, closed up on inner travelling smoothly straight and impeded approaching 2 out where not fluent, 2nd from last, stayed on well run-in, just failed, 2nd of 17, hd behind Argumental (11-2) at Limerick 2m mdn hvy in Dec.
Whoshotthesheriff (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Raced wide in mid-division, steady headway chasing leaders after 3 out, weakened between last 2, 5th of 13, 14 1/2l behind Not So Sleepy (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Quoi De Neuf (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, brought down 4th, at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Highly Prized 9-2 (10-9) Tracked leader, led soon after 5th, ridden 2 out, clear next, ran on, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Sofia's Rock (11-12) by 8l, 13 ran.
Sir Valentine (GER) 14-1 (10-6) Close up on inside when hampered on bend after 2nd and lost place, jumped slowly 4th, rallied approaching 2 out, kept on into 3rd run-in, no chance with very easy winner, 3rd of 13, 13 1/2l behind Not So Sleepy (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
Flegmatik (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Held up and behind, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Fransham (11-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Magic Dancer 7-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, mistake and led last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Tea Clipper (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Neff (GER) 1-3fav (11-5) Made all, pressed before 2 out, soon left clear, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) hvy in Dec beating Cogital (10-12) by 15l, 9 ran.
Mack The Man (IRE) 6-1 (10-1) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, challenged 2 out, led approaching last, ridden out flat, kept on well, won at Sandown 2m hcp lst (1) hvy in Dec beating Protektorat (10-7) by 1 3/4l, 13 ran.
Tamaroc Du Mathan (FR) 7-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 13, dist behind Not So Sleepy (10-3) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) hvy in Dec.
