chased leader, led 7th until 10th, chased leader until 13th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out
towards rear, headway 11th, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, reminders before 11th, weakened 13th
held up towards rear of mid-division on inside, headway 12th, kept on run-in, went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
mid-division out wide, headway chasing leaders approaching 14th, pushed along and held when stumbled badly 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 13th until ridden 3 out, weakened next
towards rear of mid-division, never on terms, tailed off
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 10th, pushed along before 4 out, went 2nd next until before 2 out, chased leaders, weakened last
in touch on inside, hit 8th, weakened 11th, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 4th, behind and pulled up after next
held up towards rear, never involved
led until 7th, chased leader, led again 10th, pushed along before 4 out, headed 2 out, lost modest 2nd near finish
mid-division, pushed along and losing place when stumbled and unseated rider bend after 7th (water)
held up and behind, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 10th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up and behind, smooth headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders went 2nd and awkward 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, stayed on well
Canelo won over 2m4f at Aintree in first-time cheekpieces. He has 8lb more to carry here but is still preferred to the other three J P McManus-owned runners and is a rarity among those near the head of the handicap in that he doesn’t have something to prove at present. Almazhar Garde won well at Kelso three weeks ago and has a decent strike-rate over fences while Doctor Dex won first-time up at Ascot last season and Mellow Ben has slipped to an attractive mark but the handicapper has also given a chance to THE BAY BIRCH. A flag-bearer for Matt Sheppard, the mare has won seven of her 32 starts over fences and is very reliable. She steps back up in distance today but that shouldn’t be a problem given she’s won over 3m in the past. Orchardstown Cross was a good third at Exeter and Court Master has also been in decent form so warrants a mention.
Rocky's Treasure (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Badly hampered and unseated rider 1st, at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Brelan D'As (FR) 20-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake and lost place 3rd, well beaten 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Nov.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Always in rear, tailed off from 9th, pulled up 3 out, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Canelo (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up rear of mid-division, headway on outside 11th, went 2nd next, 1 length down when left in clear lead 2 out, heavily eased towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Quoi De Neuf (11-6) by 5l, 10 ran.
Kapcorse (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, closed 6th, pushed along after next, outpaced before 3 out, well beaten after, 7th of 11, 27l behind Samburu Shujaa (10-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Champagne Court (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Always in rear, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 13th (water), at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
As You Like (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-12) Held up towards rear, good headway chasing leaders 10th, weakened 14th, tailed off 3 out, 6th of 9, 29 3/4l behind Sir Jack Yeats (10-9) at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Highest Sun (FR) 16-5 (11-11) Held up, not fluent 2nd, awkward 4th, in rear and pushed along 12th, mistake 4 out, ridden before 3 out, no extra from 2 out, 5th of 6, 6 1/4l behind Town Parks (11-2) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Almazhar Garde (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Midfield, took closer order 4th, led with a circuit to run, clear when not fluent 4 out, reduced advantage 2 out, drew clear passing bypassed 2 out, ran on strongly, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (3) gs in Nov beating Get Out The Gate (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Doctor Dex (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Never travelled off the pace in last pair, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
The Bay Birch (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Chased leaders on inside, weakened last, 5th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Morning Vicar (11-7) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Mellow Ben (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Prominent, mistake and unseated rider 3rd, at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Breaking Waves (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) Raced wide, mostly chased leading pair until mistake 9th, soon beaten, last of 4, 34 1/4l behind Colorado Doc (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Orchardstown Cross (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 14th, 8th final bend, stayed on, went 3rd 3 out, disputing 2nd from last, no impression on winner, 3rd of 18, 6 1/2l behind Jersey Bean (11-7) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Court Master (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, stayed on under pressure run-in, not quite pace to challenge, 4th of 11, 1 3/4l behind Morning Vicar (11-7) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Held up and behind, headway chasing leaders on inside 3 out, stayed on well between last 2, kept on in well held 4th between last 2, 4th of 10, 7 1/2l behind Not A Role Model (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
