Didn't jump with fluency - held up in last - jumped right 3rd - bad mistake and fell 8th More

(op 11/2) More

Raced in last - headway before last - went fourth run-in - never on terms(op 16/1) More

Took keen hold - chased clear leaders - awkward jump 2nd - slow jump 4th - headway and in touch with leaders 4 out - outpaced on turn approaching last - soon weakened (vet said gelding bled from nose)(op 13/8 tchd 6/4) More

Took keen hold - raced in third - went second 5th - not fluent 2 out - 2 1/2 lengths down last - no chance with winner run-in - lost second towards finish(op 5/2 tchd 9/4) More

Jumped left on occasions - held up in last - not fluent 5th - went third 7th - led and shaken up 2 out - 1 1/2 lengths ahead last - ridden run-in - cosily(op 13/8 tchd 7/4) More

Held up in last - headway and in touch with leaders 7th - headway on inner when short of room and hampered home turn - good headway approaching last - jumped right and went second last - ridden and ran on run-in - never near to challenge (inquiry held into running and riding; vet said gelding was 1/5 lame on his left-hind; jockey said his instructions were to drop gelding out and ride him cold - as he is a buzzy type which needs to be ridden cold and kept on bridle for as long as possible with a view to mounting his challenge late - which were similar tactics to those employed when he had won over course and distance on 25th November 2023; jockey said that early pace was very strong - and he was content with his position throughout and was making nice headway into race down inner approaching home bend until he was checked in his run and lost several lengths; he added that this resulted in him being further off leaders than was ideal rounding home bend and he was mindful that it would be detrimental to their chances if he placed gelding under maximum pressure too soon and for this reason had nudged and squeezed gelding forward between second last and last hurdles before asking for his finishing effort from back of the last; trainer's rep confirmed instructions and that he had spoken with trainer after the race - stating that he was satisfied with ride given and was of the opinion that considering the interference suffered - jockey had achieved best possible placing under a ride that had accorded with their instructions; their explanations were noted)(tchd 7/2) More

Held up in last - steady headway from 4 out - prominent 2 out - ridden run-in - kept on well and led inside final 110yds - ran on(op 9/4) More

Took keen hold - held up in last - bad mistake 4th - good headway after 4 out - edged left after 2 out - led last - headed run-in - kept on - no match for winner(op 9/2) More

Took keen hold - held up in last - mistake 2nd - smooth headway before 3 out - not fluent on outer 2 out - pushed along and not fluent approaching last - kept on but no impression run-in(op 9/4 tchd 11/8) More

Took keen hold - in touch with leaders - went second 4th - led 3 out - headed 2 out - soon outpaced(op 6/5 tchd 11/10) More

Took keen hold - held up in rear - headway 5th - went second before 2 out - wandered around approaching last - ridden and challenging run-in - no extra final strides(op 3/1) More

Took keen hold - held up in rear - good headway after 3 out - ridden and pressed leader approaching last - kept on but no match for winner More

Took keen hold - pressed leader - lost position before 3 out - soon shaken up and weakened (trainer had no explanation for the poor form shown)(op 2/1) More

Took keen hold - in touch with leaders - headway on outer before 3 out - jumped left when prominent 3 out - going okay when hampered 2 out - shaken up and lost ground approaching last - pushed along and kept on run-in(op 7/2 tchd 3/1) More

Tracked leaders - led going okay over 3f out - ridden when briefly headed over 2f out - kept on strongly final furlong - won going away(op 8/1) More