made most until 9th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, weakened approaching last
prominent, hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
held up in touch, closed 3 out, soon led, in command last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, took keen hold, hanging right when every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway from 8th, went 4th after 2 out, one pace last
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
tracked leaders until after 8th
held up in mid-division, ridden after 9th, never on terms
tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 7th, well beaten from 9th, tailed off
held up in mid-division, ridden after 9th, went 6th last, never in contention
prominent, lost place after 8th, mistake and well beaten 3 out, tailed off
prominent, led after 3 out, soon headed, weakened approaching next
held up in rear, not fluent and ridden 7th, effort after 9th, no impression, weakened before next
held up, headway on outside 8th, went 3rd after 2 out, stayed on same pace
LOVCEN didn't get very far when falling at Doncaster last time but had won nicely at Towcester before that. Given his trainer has won the last two renewals of this race, the seven-year-old is taken to resume winning ways here. C&D winner Rolling Aces looks a real threat after going close again last time and makes more appeal than stablemate Indian Daudaie, while Towcester winner Queen's Bay looks to have the best chance of Colin Tizzard's duo. A case can also be made for Water Garden, who scored here in December, and dual hurdles winner King's Realm but C&D winner Buck Magic is having his first start since 2010.
Indian Daudaie (FR) 9-1 (9-10) In touch, effort 3 out, soon no extra, 4th of 7, 26l behind Deireadh Re (9-7) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Hildisvini (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 7th, chased leader when hit 2 out, led between last 2, went right last, kept on flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Jan beating Jukebox Melody (10-12) by 2l, 14 ran.
Benbane Head (USA) 8-1 (10-1) Mid-division, lost place 7th, pulled up before 10th, in a race won by The Minack (11-1) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Lovcen (GER) 4-1 (11-10) Tracking leaders when fell 2nd, in a race won by Rocky Creek (11-6) at Doncaster 3m nov hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan, 6 ran.
Rolling Aces (IRE) 8-15fav (11-5) Prominent, led 4th, headed last, rallied, no extra close home, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Imperial Circus (10-12) at Taunton 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Water Garden (FR) 5-1fav (10-2) Held up in rear, headway on outside 9th, mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 16, 6l behind Thehillofuisneach (10-11) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Volador (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, no extra flat, 6th of 16, 14l behind Thehillofuisneach (10-11) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
King's Realm (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by What Er Say (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Handy Andy (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Prominent, ridden 9th, weakened after 3 out, 12th of 16, 38l behind Thehillofuisneach (10-11) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
The Rainbow Hunter 10-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd 2 out, no impression approching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 13, 13l behind Shuil Royale (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Jan.
Queens Bay 20-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracked leading trio, outpaced before 2 out, no chance after, 4th of 6, 8l behind Violin Davis (11-0) at Ascot 3m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.
Rudanphast (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Prominent, not fluent 7th, ridden after 8th, lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Featherbed Lane (10-10) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Achimota (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) In touch, went 2nd approaching 3rd, led next, not fluent and headed 5th, led on long run to last, all out, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec beating Radmores Revenge (10-13) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Swansbrook (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway and in touch after 5th, outpaced 3 out, no impression before next, 5th of 14, 10l behind Hildisvini (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Jan.
Buck Magic (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Took keen hold in touch, headway 7th, led after 3 out, strongly pressed from between last 2, narrow lead when hit last, found extra and in command towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov '10 beating Vico (10-7) by 1/2l, 16 ran.
