held up, not much room 8th, not fluent 12th, outpaced when left 4th and hampered 3 out, no impression
prominent, hit 6th, slow next and 8th, pushed along 13th, just over 1 length down when left in lead 3 out, edged right flat, driven out
prominent, mistake 10th, outpaced when left 3rd and hampered 3 out, rallied from 2 out, disputing 2nd flat, held by winner when not much room towards finish
held up, slow 5th, not fluent next, headway approaching 4 out, left 2nd 3 out, held by winner flat, stayed on
led, just over 1 length up when fell 3 out
Le Rocher usually needs a run so is best watched on his reappearance. As De Mee ran well for a long way in the Becher Chase at Aintree and will strip fitter today, though hasn’t raced over a trip this short in almost three years. Valdez certainly wasn’t winning out of turn at Hereford and will make a bold bid to defy a 5lb rise but GALA BALL had excuses when tailed off at Newbury in November and much better is expected here from the Hobbs runner. Pingshou was a smart hurdler but his career over fences has been very stop-start.
Valdez 12-1 (12-0) Held up in touch, blundered 10th, effort 4 out, led next, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Dans Le Vent (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Gala Ball (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division, weakened 5 out, tailed off, last of 12, dist behind Oldgrangewood (10-6) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
As De Mee (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Led until after 3rd, led 14th, mistake 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra elbow, 6th of 18, 18 3/4l behind Walk In The Mill (10-8) at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Le Rocher (FR) (11-0) 2nd of 8, 6l behind Forthing (10-10) at Pau 2m 4f lst in Feb.
Pingshou (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) With leader, led 4th until after 3 out, soon ridden, 4th and weakening when fell 2 out, at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
