soon led, headed approaching 7th, remained prominent, ridden 5 out, weakened next, modest 4th
held up in touch, slow 8th, driven 15th, weakened 4 out, mistake next, tailed off
with leader, lost place 6th, rallied after next, lost place again 11th, under pressure 5 out, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, chased leaders 16th, went 3rd 3 out, led before last, stayed on strongly
held up in rear, slow 5th, took closer order 14th, driven after next, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, led before 7th, headed approaching last, kept on under pressure
chased leaders, slow 12th, effort 3 out, soon one pace
A high-class chaser on his day, Tea For Two switched yards in November having failed to win last year and returns to handicapping for the first time since 2016. He was well beaten in the King George on Boxing Day and PRESENT MAN (NAP) is preferred despite struggling in soft ground in the Becher Chase at Aintree last month as he won a Listed chase on good going at Wincanton before that. Paul Nicholls’ charge gets the vote back on this surface. Royal Vacation is another suited by the return to good ground having gone close in a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham in November and The Last Samuri may improve only his second start for Harry Fry looking to end a long losing run.
Present Man (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Prominent, led 6th, headed after next, 5th 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 18, 37 1/2l behind Walk In The Mill (10-3) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Regal Flow 33-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, headway after 6th, mistake 8th, 5th on last bend, mistake 5 out, weakened after, 10th of 20, dist behind Elegant Escape (11-8) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Thomas Patrick (IRE) 11-2fav (11-3) Chased leader, led 14th, mistake and headed next, lost 2nd approaching 4 out, chased leaders, weakened before next, 8th of 12, 29 1/2l behind Valtor (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) In touch, took closer order approaching 14th, weakened after 5 out, 6th of 8, 32l behind Morney Wing (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Tea For Two 33-1 (11-10) Always in rear, 6th of 10, 33l behind Clan Des Obeaux (11-10) at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec.
The Last Samuri (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Mid-division on outside, dropped to last at 13th, plugged on after 3 out, 5th of 12, 19l behind Valtor (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
Vicente (FR) 13-2 (11-1) Always towards rear, struggling 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gd in Nov.
