tracked winner, challenged 7th to soon after 3 out, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, blundered 7th, jumped left 9th, went 2nd and hit 2 out, no impression winner
made all, ridden and drew clear after 2 out, unchallenged
Just four runners in this but three of them - Caracciola, Non So and Bal de Nuit - can go a long way in this sport. Of the trio we think Caracciola will prove the best. Nicky Henderson runs Caracciola and Non So, but Mick Fitzgerald has elected to ride the former, which gives a pointer towards his chances. There is no surprise in that as he beat the high-class Thisthatandtother at Kempton last time out, and that form is outstanding in this season's novice chasing division. Non So is two-from-two in his chasing career but will need to improve again to score at the third attempt. A bigger danger to the selection should come from Bal de Nuit, for whom trainer Paul Nicholls has had this race in mind for some time. He won well at Newbury last time and, getting the five-year-old weight allowances, will provide a good test for the selection. Mercato was beaten nine lengths into third behind Santenay at Cheltenham last time, a race he would have needed. That was a decent run and any easing in the ground will also be in his favour. However, it is hard to get away from Caracciola's Feltham Chase win, and he gets the nomination.
