chased leaders, closed 3 out, led before 2 out, driven out flat
a bit reluctant to jump off and slowly away, held up in rear, stayed on from 2 out, never nearer
chased leaders, lost place 2nd, not going that well after and some slow jumps, well beaten 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders on outside, every chance when not fluent 3 out, one pace from 2 out
always behind, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before last
led until slow 4 out, weakened before next
held up towards rear, some headway approaching 3 out, no impression, soon weakened
prominent, lost place when not much room before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 2 out, 2nd before last, no impression on winner, stayed on
prominent, slightly hampered 3rd, led 4 out, not fluent next, headed before 2 out, weakened flat
mid-division, forced wide before 3 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, headway on outside before 4 out, 3rd last, kept on
This looks a stiff task for the four-year-olds Catch The Cuban, Whiskey And Water and Building Bridges, though the latter pair have had a run on the Flat. Bannixtown Glory was a consistent sort last season but Court Duty was running over fences and may be having a pipe-opener. Bold Record would have claims on his best form and Black Buble is also worth a second look, along with Castle North and Jac Brown, but DEMON D’AUNOU appeals as the type to go well fresh and the handicapper has taken a chance dropping him a further 3lb.
Clever As A Fox (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, jumped right and not fluent 7th, headway before 3 out, no impression, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 9, 19 1/2l behind Win My Wings (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f (4) sft in Sep.
Black Buble (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on flat, never nearer, 5th of 10, 6l behind Haafapiece (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Bold Record (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Mistake 1st, raced wide, chased leaders, jumped slowly 7th, ridden and weakened between last 2, 5th of 14, 18 1/4l behind Fontley House (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Building Bridges 25-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden over 4f out, weakened from over 3f out, 11th of 12, 31 3/4l behind Shifting Gold (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Jun.
Castle North (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) In touch in rear, no impression from 4 out, never a factor, last of 7, dist behind Samcro (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f sft in Nov.
Eclair Des Sablons (FR) 18-1 (11-0) Chased leaders weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 14th of 15, dist behind Annsam (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Demon D'Aunou (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Held up mid-division, outpaced from 3 out, 7th of 12, 29 3/4l behind Strong Glance (12-1) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Bannixtown Glory (IRE) 7-1 (11-13) Made most until after 4th, 3rd and held from omitted last, stayed on, 3rd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Getaway Mag (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Feb.
Whiskey And Water 7-2 (9-7) Held up in mid-division, headway over 2f out, lost place over 1f out, 5th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Nataleena (9-1) at Redcar 1m 6f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Catch The Cuban 33-1 (10-12) Held up, pushed along 3rd, closed next, weakened before last (normal 2 out), 4th of 5, 32 1/2l behind Grand Roi (11-4) at Warwick 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Court Duty (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Chased leader, led 5th, mistake and headed 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 6, 12 1/4l behind As You Like (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Jac Brown 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leader next, led before last, strongly challenged throughout run i, headed last strides, 2nd of 8, nk behind Saint Dalina (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
