led, hit 10th, pushed along and went clear before 3 out, good jumps 2 out and last, stayed on strongly, always doing enough
in rear, in touch, ridden 16th and lost ground, soon well behind, tailed off
chased leaders, shaken up after 8th, reminder 11th, pushed along after 15th, soon ridden, kept on but no impression on front pair
tracked leader close up, not fluent 12th, pushed along after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, held by winner from 2 out, ridden and stayed on one pace
towards rear, in touch, not fluent 11th, mistake 13th, ridden and jumped left 4 out, soon beaten and tailed off
YALA ENKI is impossible to oppose seeking a third straight win in this contest. The top weight was beaten a short-head by Ramses De Teillee over a similar trip at Cheltenham last season but should reverse that form on better terms. Elegant Escape is looking a light of former days and Coup De Pinceau has a mountain to climb at the weights but Full Back kept on well to score at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and boasts a decent strike-rate.
Yala Enki (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Mostly jumped well, made all, hit 2nd, joined 5 out, quickened before 3 out, ridden after 2 out, over 2 lengths ahead last, ridden and stayed on gamely run-in, won at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp (1) gd in Nov beating The Mighty Don (10-6) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Coup De Pinceau (FR) 28-1 (11-10) Never better than midfield, 6th of 17, 19 1/4l behind De Young Warrior (11-0) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Elegant Escape (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) 2 front mid-division, lost place and pushed along before 5 out, pulled up before 4 out, at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Full Back (FR) 9-2jfav (11-2) Always prominent, mistake 13th, left in lead 18th, stayed on gamely flat, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan beating The Wolf (11-3) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Ramses De Teillee (FR) 20-1 (10-6) Led, headed 17th, remained close up, ridden before 5 out, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
