close up, lost touch 5th, pulled up before next
in rear, not fluent 4 out, ridden and weakened next
led, ridden and joined 2 out, headed approaching next, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace
raced wide tracked leader, every chance 2 out, ridden to chase winner when slightly hampered next, stayed on one pace
towards rear, pushed along and headway after 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
held up, not fluent 9th, good headway 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last when jumped left, ran on
Valtor and Jepeck are both teenagers and better known as chasers but the latter did win over the smaller obstacles here 12 days ago. Captain Drake is definitely better over fences but remains out of sorts and St Barts hasn’t run over hurdles in almost two years while Geordie Des Champs still looks a few pounds too high. IMPHAL did well to finish second to the well-treated Ardhill at Ascot last time having been badly hampered in the early stages. He’s made giant strides this season and can return to winning ways ahead of Lord Of Kerak, who will have needed last month’s fifth at Ayr.
Geordie Des Champs (IRE) 17-2 (11-11) Held up rear of mid-division, not fluent 9th, shaken up before 3 out, soon beaten, not fluent 2 out, went 5th flat, 5th of 8, 15 3/4l behind Khan (10-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Captain Drake (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Mid-division, hit 6th, ridden and struggling 16th, soon pulled up, at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Jepeck (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Made all, went clear approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Blairgowrie (11-0) by 6 1/2l, 9 ran.
St Barts (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Raced in mid-division, ridden before 5 out, plugged on one pace, 8th of 10, dist behind Iwilldoit (10-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Valtor (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, ridden home turn and kept on one pace, 4th of 13, 21 1/4l behind Annsam (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Acey Milan (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division out wide, headway chasing leaders when pecked 11th, pushed along after 15th, weakened quickly before next, 8th of 16, dist behind Enqarde (10-9) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Lord Of Kerak 5-1 (11-13) Mid-division, closed 3rd, not fluent 3 out, outpaced from 2 out, well held last, 5th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Glentruan (11-7) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Imphal 6-1 (11-3) Badly hampered by faller 1st in rear, headway into mid-division before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, went 3rd 2 out, mistake and stumbled final flight, stayed on well but no chance with winner, 2nd of 16, 7 1/2l behind Ardhill (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp (4) gs in Dec.
