led narrowly, headed 2nd, close up 11th, ridden to press leader 3 out, stayed on strongly flat, just denied
held up towards rear, headway into midfield 11th, not fluent 13th and ridden, stayed on under pressure before 2 out, kept on without troubling leaders from last
close up, led 2nd, awkward 5th, narrow advantage when ridden after 3 out, kept lead jumping last, stayed on strongly under pressure flat, held on well close home
held up in rear, lost touch 11th, ridden after 13th, tailed off before 2 out
midfield, ridden and lost place 12th, unseated rider 4 out
prominent, lost place and ridden after 12th, blundered and unseated rider 3 out
tracked leader, close up when not fluent 7th, pushed along and lost place 10th, ridden before 11th, weakened and lost touch 12th, tailed off from 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up in rear, some headway 13th, ridden off the pace 3 out, still plenty to do approaching last, stayed on strongly flat, nearest finish
midfield, headway 7th, bumped 11th, pressed leader 12th, ridden before 3 out, weakened quickly before 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway on outside 9th, awkward 10th, ridden after 4 out, kept on one pace from 3 out
midfield, took closer order before 11th where not fluent, chased leaders when ridden after 3 out, hit 2 out, weakened flat
held up towards rear, awkward 3rd, not fluent 12th, lost touch 13th, tailed off from 4 out
NonRunner
Aso was in tremendous form last winter, culminating in a narrow defeat by Frodon in the Ryanair at Cheltenham, and has dropped to a fair mark. OLDGRANGEWOOD won the Grade 3 Paddy Power Handicap at Cheltenham last January before a very good fourth at the Festival. He's had a break since two fine runs in the autumn and can return to winning ways. Smarty Wild, a four-times winning hurdler, has steadily improved over fences and won a Kempton Class 3 handicap last month while Two For Gold completed a hat-trick when landing a Grade 2 novices' chase here last January. Admiral's Secret is 6-16 over fences and on a four-timer after returning from a long break to gain a comfortable victory at Ludlow while novice Le Patriote is back in his correct class after tackling the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot.
Aso (FR) 14-1 (11-8) Behind until fell 9th, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Mister Whitaker (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up, progress before 4 out, hit 3 out and ridden, weakened from 2 out, 6th of 10, 22 1/2l behind Cyrname (11-6) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Two For Gold (IRE) 10-3fav (11-9) Chased leaders, jumped slowly 9th, jumped slowly and lost place 11th, rallied and not fluent 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, stayed on run-in, not reach leaders, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Double Shuffle (11-2) at Kempton 3m hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Spiritofthegames (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) In touch, headway 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 17 1/4l behind Canelo (11-6) at Wetherby 3m hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Le Patriote (FR) 100-1 (11-7) Not that fluent towards rear, behind 8th, 6th of 8, 36 3/4l behind First Flow (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f (1) sft in Jan.
Oldgrangewood 9-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, switched right to challenge before 3 out, stayed on well from last, 4th of 10, 3l behind Clondaw Castle (11-8) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Gala Ball (IRE) 11-2 (11-9) Chased leaders, lost position and ridden before 4 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 6, 35 1/2l behind Capeland (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Admiral's Secret 17-2 (11-5) Ponied to start, towards rear, progress to track leaders 4 out, nudged to join leader last, ridden clear, readily, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Molineaux (10-11) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
Flowery (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Led 3rd until 5th, tracked leader but pushed along after slight mistake 5 out, effort 3 out, kept on but not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Drumconnor Lad (11-12) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) hvy in Oct.
Smarty Wild 5-2fav (11-2) Raced out wide chasing leaders, hit 10th and lost place, rallied 12th, 2nd next, upsides 3 out, led next, driven and pressed between last 2, battled on gamely run-in, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan beating Pistol Whipped (11-6) by 1l, 8 ran.
Another Crick 7-1 (10-12) Held up last, niggled along and brief progress over 3 out, pushed along and headway on the outer before 2 out, up for 2nd approaching last, kept on flat but no match for winner, 2nd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Lord Of Kerak (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec.
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) Towards rear, pushed along 12th, never dangerous, 7th of 14, 27l behind Dashel Drasher (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Sir Jack Yeats (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Led until 4th, chased leader, left in lead 6th, jumped slowly next, hit 10th, jumped left from 13th, headed before last, ridden and no extra run-in, 3rd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Doitforthevillage (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
