tracked leaders, hit 9th, not fluent 15th, lost position before 4 out, ridden before last, kept on and went fourth run-in
made most, not fluent 10th, hit 15th, pushed along before 4 out, pressed 3 out, ridden before last, strongly pressed run-in, always doing enough
midfield, not fluent 13th, pushed along after 18th, lost touch 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, pressed leader 4 out, ridden before 2 out, lost place before last, no extra run-in
midfield, jumped slowly 5th and lost position, hit 9th and quickly pulled up
held up, hit 6th, mistake 13th, headway into midfield 18th, shaken up before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
in rear, headway 3 out, tracked leaders 2 out, went second before last, pressed leader on run-in but always looked held
midfield, not fluent 8th, mistake 13th, not fluent 17th, tracked leaders when pushed along before 4 out, weakened from 3 out
midfield early, not fluent 15th, tracked leaders when pushed along before 4 out, ridden and pressed leading pair 3 out, every chance 2 out, weakened approaching last, lost fourth run-in
Veteran Perfect Candidate is 2-3 here but may find this company a little too hot nowadays. Potters Legend came up against the classy Royale Pagaille in the Peter Marsh here last month and is another past winner on the track. Achille made an excellent return from a lay-off when making NOTACHANCE battle all the way to the line in this grade at Warwick last month. He is 3lb better off for a half-length defeat but Alan King’s charge, likely to run here rather than at Ascot, has the greater scope as he’s only seven and has improved with each run over the larger obstacles. Ramses De Teillee and Lord Du Mesnil both finished behind runner-up The Two Amigos in the Welsh Grand National but Richard Hobson’s gelding did finish ahead of his old rival when second in this last year. Sojourn has yet to finish out of the first two over fences while Enqarde made amends for a mishap here when winning impressively at Ascot and both are relatively unexposed compared to most of these.
Ramses De Teillee (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Rear of mid-division, not fluent 11th, behind from 18th, 12th of 18, dist behind Secret Reprieve (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Lord Du Mesnil (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway after 18th, ridden 4 out, weakened from next, 9th of 18, 19 1/4l behind Secret Reprieve (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Notachance (IRE) 7-2jfav (10-5) Chased leaders, not fluent 14th, went 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan beating Achille (10-0) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
The Two Amigos 9-1 (10-9) Made most until 3 out, switched right after 2 out, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 18, 3l behind Secret Reprieve (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, went 2nd after 5 out, cruised to the lead 4 out, well clear home straight, easy, won at Haydock 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Nov beating Fortified Bay (11-7) by dist, 11 ran.
Sojourn (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-11) Held up towards rear of midfield, towards rear 9th, headway on outside 10th, upsides 13th, travelled strongly to lead 4 out, narrow advantage 3 out, ridden and headed before last, kept on flat but no match for winner, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Sam's Adventure (11-4) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Achille (FR) 12-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, headway on outside 18th, went 2nd and mistake 2 out, every chance last, 2 lengths down 100 yards out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Notachance (10-5) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Potters Legend 8-1 (10-4) In touch, headway 10th, chased winner next, until ridden 4 out, rallied to chase clear winner flat, 2nd of 8, 16l behind Royale Pagaille (11-10) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Enqarde (FR) 4-1 (11-1) Jumped left at times, always handy, led before jumping left 2 out, clear when jumped left again last, stayed on, won at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Cobolobo (11-13) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
