always towards rear, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after
chased leaders until not fluent and lost place 9th, towards rear and struggling 13th, tailed off
chased leaders, stumbled 17th, driven along when stumbled and outpaced 3 out, plugged on into modest 4th last
chased leaders, pushed along going out on final circuit, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 18th
always towards rear, struggling in modest 8th 4 out, never involved
raced wide, chased leader until 11th, chased leaders, weakening when mistake 14th, pulled up before 16th
chased leaders, went 2nd 11th until 18th, chased leading pair, pushed along before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no extra in 4th when went badly right last, weakened
led, hit 18th and stumbled, headed 3 out, chased winner until after next, driven and kept on same pace in 3rd run-in
held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders 16th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
towards rear, last and struggling 12th, never involved
last trio, tailed off and pulled up before 16th
held up in mid-division, stumbled badly 12th, headway chasing leaders approaching 14th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway tracking leaders 17th, 2nd soon after 2 out, stayed on same pace from last
always towards rear, tailed off
always towards rear, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 8th, went 2nd 18th, led 3 out, stayed on strongly, driven out
NonRunner
NonRunner
NonRunner
As a dual Grade 1 winner, Dynaste is probably entitled to be favourite for this racing of a mark of 145. But the grey, in common with a few of these, does not appear to be the force of old and was soon in trouble last time at Kelso when behind several of these. GAS LINE BOY won that contest in a canter and Ian Williams appears to have coaxed some improvement out of the 11-year-old, who was a thorough stayer in his earlier years. He can again beat Cloudy Too, Aerial and Wychwoods Brook, despite a 9lb higher mark, and come out on top despite the claims of Rocky Creek, winner of the London National here last month and only 4lb higher. Shuil Royale has never won off a mark this high but arrives in good form, as does Forgotten Gold. Astracad beat Ericht at Wetherby on Boxing Day but this is probably too far for both. Colin Tizzard has been cleaning up in staying chases this season and Theatrical Star has plummeted down the weights, though hasn’t won in more than two years.
Shuil Royale (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Mid-division on inside, headway approaching 12th, 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, clear before last, idled briefly, stayed on well to come clear again flat, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Your Busy (10-6) by 5l, 10 ran.
Rocky Creek (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Led until approaching 15th, chased leader until 20th, remained handy, 2nd again approaching 3 out, led again last, kept on gamely, won at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Doing Fine (10-8) by nk, 13 ran.
Gas Line Boy (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) Made most, clear from 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec beating Cloudy Too (11-4) by 11l, 8 ran.
Aachen 33-1 (11-1) Soon not going that well in rear, behind when pulled up after 15th (canal turn), at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Dynaste (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) Always towards rear, weakened from 4 out, 7th of 8, 32 1/4l behind Gas Line Boy (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Bennys Mist (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 11th (foinavon), well behind 4 out, pulled up after 3 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Cloudy Too (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, chased winner from 7 out, no impression 2 out, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Gas Line Boy (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Loose Chips 12-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, led approaching 15th, headed before 3 out, lost 2nd approaching 3 out, weakened soon after, 7th of 13, 37 3/4l behind Rocky Creek (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Astracad (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 3rd from 4 out, stayed on to take 2nd last, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Hollywoodien (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Aerial (FR) 9-2 (10-11) Mid-division, headway before 4 out to chase leaders, ridden before last, one pace, 4th of 8, 13l behind Gas Line Boy (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Wychwoods Brook 9-1 (10-8) Mid-division, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 21l behind Gas Line Boy (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Court By Surprise (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up in last pair, mistake 10th, hit 13th, went 2nd after 15th, blundered 3 out, ridden and lost 2nd approaching next, chased leading pair, weakened into 4th last, 4th of 7, 20l behind Dancing Shadow (11-4) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Theatrical Star 20-1 (10-8) Made most, headed 3 out, soon ridden, one paced when left 3rd last, 3rd of 11, 3 1/4l behind Mr Mix (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Baileys Concerto (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) In rear when leaving start, still there when in view after 5th, 2nd when in view after 14th, soon weakened, pulled up after, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Cody Wyoming 8-1 (11-13) Mid-division, closed 8th, not fluent 12th, close up when carried right 4 out, beaten after 2 out, well held when left 4th and hampered last, 4th of 8, 19l behind Templehills (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-12) Led, headed 4 out, ridden before 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 32 3/4l behind Adam du Breteau (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Saint Are (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Fell 1st, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Forgotten Gold (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Disputed lead until 4th, with leader, led 5th until after 8th, led again 11th, ridden and hung right before last, came clear run-in, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (2) fm in Nov beating Caulfields Venture (11-6) by 5l, 3 ran.
Ericht (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 13th, went 2nd after 4 out, challenged next, ridden after 2 out, every chance last, kept on same pace, held flat, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Astracad (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
