always in rear, jumped slowly throughout, never a factor
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, led before last, stayed on strongly
tracked leader, lost place 4th, soon pushed along in mid-division, rallied 3 out, no impression
led, hard driven 3 out, soon strongly challenged, headed approaching last, faded
mid-division, headway to chase leaders when mistake 5th, blundered 3 out, ridden to challenge approaching last, one pace
mid-division, pushed along 7th, soon beaten
tracked leader, ridden 5 out, weakened next
held up in rear, slow 4th, weakened 5 out, blundered 3 out, soon pulled up
in touch, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out, weakened before last
Kateal is one from one over fences having justified favouritism at Newbury in January. She should go well if fully wound-up but Midnight Sail is usually worth opposing and Requin and Sir Du Bearn have a bit to prove at present. Ray Diamond arrives on a hat-trick bid after wins at Fontwell and over 2m4f here in July but he's risen 8lb since his latest success. ULCK DU LIN won over fences at Vichy as a three-year-old and was biding his time over the smaller obstacles in the spring, though didn't run badly at either Chepstow or Sandown. Paul Nicholls obviously believes he can beat these handicappers getting weight and he's handed a confident vote.
See U Bob (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, 6th 4 out, ridden and no impression next, 5th of 7, 46l behind Raptor (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 2f chs gd in May.
Sir Du Bearn (FR) 10-11fav (11-7) Jumped left and never fluent, led, reminders before 12th, headed before 4 out, soon beaten in 3rd, pulled up before next, in a race won by Midnight Sail (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (4) gs in Apr, 6 ran.
Requin (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, outpaced 8th, weakened 3 out, 11th of 17, 45l behind Golden Call (11-4) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Kateal 6-4fav (10-12) Took keen hold, chased leaders, led 6th (water), kept narrow advantage, hit 11th, went right next, in control when went right last 2, won at Newbury 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) gs in Jan beating Araucaria (10-12) by 8l, 7 ran.
Midnight Sail 7-4 (11-5) Tracked leader, with leader from 5th, led from 11th, ridden before 2 out, headed last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Phare Isle (10-5) at Towcester 2m 6f nov chs (4) gf in May.
Kilcrea Asla (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, went 3rd 12th, ridden in 4th before 4 out, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, 40l behind Cootehill (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr.
Ray Diamond 8-1 (10-6) With leader, went 2nd before 2 out, ridden to lead last, kept on gamely, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jul beating Rockiteer (11-5) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Forget It 6-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway 11th, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Coup Royale (10-10) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb '11.
Ulck Du Lin (FR) 9-2fav (10-4) Held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on to 3rd flat, never a threat, 3rd of 13, 10l behind Lexi's Boy (11-1) at Sandown 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) sft in Apr.
