led until not fluent 1st, tracked leaders, jumped left and baulked 2nd, switched left after 4 out, challenged from 3 out, led flat, ridden out
held up, hampered 2nd, headway 8th, led before 3 out, headed flat, held towards finish
prominent, mistake 1st, not fluent 5th, lost place after 8th, well beaten 4 out, mistake 3 out, blundered 2 out
led 1st, not fluent 4 out, headed before next, weakened from 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 1st, lost place before not fluent next, headway 4 out, close 3rd next, no impression after 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up, headway from 5th, outpaced before 4 out, well held after, went 4th flat
Marracudja has disappointed the last twice now after a below par effort at Newbury but Paul Nicholls’ charge should find this easier and it would be no surprise to see him return to form. Baby King also struggled in the same race at Newbury having won at Aintree before that while Chain Of Beacons faces a tougher task raised 8lb for winning at Kelso in November. Contre Tous missed out on a hat-trick when last in action back in April while SOLAR IMPULSE was a well beaten third in last year’s renewal. But the latter can race off a 17lb lower mark today and having suffered a recent agonising nose defeat over course and distance, Chris Kellett’s charge is taken to make a bold bid this time round.
Marracudja (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6th until hit 9th, chased leaders, weakened, 5th of 10, 15 3/4l behind Overtown Express (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Baby King (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Towards rear, slightly hampered 2nd, short-lived effort before 4 out, soon beaten, 8th of 10, dist behind Overtown Express (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
King's Wharf (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, mistake 8 out, headway 4 out, one pace, 4th of 6, 33l behind Knockgraffon (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Jan.
Ink Master (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) With leader, hit 1st, led 2nd, pressed 3 out, headed before 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 7, 27l behind Dresden (12-0) at Catterick 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Contre Tous (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Chased winner, not fluent 2nd, pushed along before 2 out, ridden before last, no extra in 3rd run-in, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Doitforthevillage (11-12) at Warwick 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Solar Impulse (FR) 14-1 (10-8) Raced keenly, held up in last pair, outpaced 4 out, switched outside and headway after next, challenged 2 out, every chance last, ridden to lead narrowly flat, kept on, headed post, 2nd of 5, shd behind Mixboy (11-12) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Chain Of Beacons 9-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, headway to track front pair before 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, challenged last, ridden to lead flat, kept on, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Welcome Ben (10-6) by 1l, 8 ran.
