mid-division, fell 1st
led, clear from 2nd until blundered 4th, ridden before 2 out, headed after last, weakened flat
held up mid-division on inner, quickly lost place and pulled up before 5 out
mid-division, lost place after 6th, weakened before 8th
held up towards rear, headway on inner before 2 out, every chance last, kept on, one pace
held up towards rear on outer, headway before 3 out, challenged when mistake 2 out, weakened flat
always towards rear
chased leaders, hit 4 out, ridden and blundered 2 out, weakened last
always towards rear
held up mid-division, chased leaders before 3 out, led after last, ran on strongly, eased towards finish
towards rear, hampered after 1st, headway before 2 out, chased winner flat, no impression
mid-division, pushed along before 8th, weakened before 5 out
held up mid-division, ridden and weakened before last
held up towards rear, badly hampered 1st, some headway before 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, went 2nd before 5th, with leader next, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, ridden before last, soon weakened
chased leader, mistake 3rd, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division, headway before 6th to chase leaders, weakened 2 out
in rear, hampered 1st, not fluent 4th, headway before 2 out on inner, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, brought down 1st
Jonjo O'Neill has a good record in this and runs two with AP McCoy on last year's winner Ringaroses, who has been in poor form subsequently. Buena Vista reserves his best for Cheltenham and was beaten in this last year after his Festival heroics while Golden Chieftain has been raised 11lb for landing a Uttoxeter handicap. Son Of Flicka last won a handicap off 129 and is now on 148. The reason for the rise is his superb efforts here in November and when runner-up in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham so he's likely to be thereabouts again. Battle Group was going on strongly in the Coral Cup so today's longer trip will be in his favour and he can reach a place at least though the vote goes to KILCREA KIM, who ran well until tiring from the last in the Albert Bartlett and looks well enough treated to land this for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson.
Son Of Flicka 28-1 (11-6) In touch, lost place and outpaced approaching 7th, rallied before 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on under pressure, headed near finish, 2nd of 23, 1/2l behind Sir Des Champs (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Buena Vista (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Led 1st, made rest, ridden clear and well in command after 2 out, stayed on strongly flat, won at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar beating Son Amix (10-6) by 4l, 23 ran.
Souffleur 100-1 (11-10) Held up behind, mistake 7th, outpaced 2 out, never on terms, 11th of 13, 31l behind Big Buck's (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Mobaasher (USA) 33-1 (11-4) Mid-division, driven and lost place after 6th, soon struggling, behind from 3 out, 17th of 23, well behind Buena Vista (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Sir Harry Ormesher 10-1 (11-9) In touch, driven along in 4th before 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 13, 25l behind Cross Kennon (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Golden Chieftain (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway after 7th, led 2 out, ridden clear flat, ran on well, readily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar beating Basford Bob (10-12) by 6l, 11 ran.
Al Co (FR) 28-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, headway approaching 2 out, led after last, kept on, driven out, won at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Feb beating Ackertac (11-9) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Kilcrea Kim (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along and effort 2 out, one pace and no impression approaching last, 5th of 18, 15l behind Bobs Worth (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Whodoyouthink (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, driven along and went 3rd before 2 out, no impression under pressure approaching last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Bella Mana Mou (9-3) at Navan 2m 7f hcp hdl sft in Mar.
Battle Group 33-1 (10-9) Mid-division on outside, outpaced 2 out, ridden to chase leaders when hung left between last 2, stayed on to go 4th after last, no impression, 4th of 22, 9l behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Ringaroses 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, blundered 1st, never a factor, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Always Right (10-10) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Viking Blond (FR) 40-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from next, never on terms, 7th of 23, 18l behind Buena Vista (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Carpincho (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, pushed along in 5th before 3 out, soon ridden, never dangerous, 4th of 8, 20l behind Back In Focus (11-4) at Haydock 3m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Pistolet Noir (FR) 33-1 (10-6) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never near leaders, 9th of 22, 21l behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Mr Moonshine (IRE) 40-1 (10-9) Mid-division, outpaced when hampered and lost place after 4 out, behind from next, 22nd of 23, well behind Buena Vista (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gd in Mar.
Ackertac (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, some headway approaching last, no impression, 6th of 18, 21l behind Bobs Worth (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Swingkeel (IRE) 7-4fav (10-13) Held up in touch, tracked leaders halfway, pushed along approaching 3 out, soon pressing leader, left in clear lead 2nd last, eased near finish, won at Ffos Las 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Total Submission (11-8) by 24l, 7 ran.
Superior Wisdom (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Raced keenly, mid-division on inside, headway and in touch 6th, close up on inside when fell 3 out, in a race won by Lush Life (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Cloudy Spirit 11-1 (11-4) Held up, headway on inner before 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, kep ton well, ridden out, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar beating Larks Lad (11-1) by 2l, 14 ran.
Barnhill Brownie (IRE) 25-1 (9-12) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on under pressure from next, never nearer, 5th of 14, 7l behind Amber Brook (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Dynaste (FR) 7-1fav (11-7) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner until last, weakened flat, 6th of 17, 10l behind Skint (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f Novice Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (4-7yo) (1) gd in Mar.
Orsippus (USA) 33-1 (10-8) Mid-divison on inside, headway 4 out, ridden and effort approaching last, 5 lengths down in 4th and one pace when left 3rd last, kept on flat, no impression, 3rd of 22, 7l behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
