held up behind, effort before 4 out, in 5th before 2 out, never dangerous
mid-division in 4th, took close order 4 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along before 4 out, soon outpaced, went poor 4th from 2 out, never dangerous
with leader on outer, led 5 out, headed before 2 out, soon beaten
led, headed 5 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up towards rear, weakened after 3 out
towards rear, headwy before 3 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, driven out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Royale Knight won a 3m6f chase at Sedgefield last month but was beaten off a 9lb lower mark the last time he competed over hurdles. The likes of Chavoy, Waldorf Salad and course and distance winner Cadeau George all need to improve this season off higher marks but the in-from American Life has only been raised 3lb for winning at Exeter recently. JAUNTY JOURNEY ran well for third behind Parish Business at Aintree last month and Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge may come out best in what looks a slightly easier contest.
Chavoy (FR) 7-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, went 4th 3 out, went 3rd from last, no impression, 3rd of 9, 8l behind Ultra Du Chatelet (11-2) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in May.
Royale Knight 11-4fav (11-1) Towards rear, headway before 7 out, went 3rd before 3 out, led 2 out and clear, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 3m 6f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct beating Lackamon (11-5) by 17l, 12 ran.
Waldorf Salad 9-2 (10-11) Led, ridden and headed 7th, prominent, weakened quickly before 3 out, last of 9, well behind One For Harry (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft.
Lock Towers (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Led, headed after 7th, outpaced next, no chance with front pair from 4 out, tailed off, 3rd of 7, 44l behind Mendip Express (10-12) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Jaunty Journey 16-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, ridden after 4 out, 3rd and no impression on winner when mistake last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 16, 10l behind Parish Business (10-9) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Malibu Rock 16-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd when mistake 2 out, soon lost 2nd and no impression, one pace, 4th of 9, 5l behind Malibu Sun (10-13) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd.
American Life (FR) 7-4fav (10-5) Held up in last pair, pushed along and headway on outside before 3 out, driven along and strong run flat, led close home, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy beating Unowhatimeanharry (11-7) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Westaway (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked winner until before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Brother Brian (11-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gs, 8 ran.
Cadeau George 20-1 (11-7) Led until 8th, weakened after 3 out, 14th of 19, well behind Tinker Time (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
