led until after 4th, led 7th until after next, mistake 11th, mistake and lost placed 13th, weakened 4 out
in touch, jumped slowly 5th, outpaced approaching 2 out, went 3rd before last, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd 10th, led before 2 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace last
prominent, took keen hold, led after 4th, headed 7th, led again after next, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
in touch, jumped slowly 4th, closed 7th, ridden after 3 out, challenged next, soon led, edged right before last, stayed on
not always fluent, held up, hampered 4th, mistake 13th, headway after 15th, weakened from 3 out
Gevrey Chambertin has the size to make a chaser and his debut over the larger obstacles has been long-awaited. He won four of six starts over hurdles, including a Grade 3 on his reappearance at Haydock, and is worth following but will have to jump well to lower the colours of MANY CLOUDS. His defeat of Indian Castle at Wetherby over Christmas was franked when the runner-up beat Feltham Chase winner Anacotty in a handicap at Cheltenham last month and Oliver Sherwood's charge looks a leading contender for next month's RSA Chase. Ely Brown is progressing nicely but was handed the Towton at Wetherby on a plate when market rival Green Flag clipped heels and unseated his rider. This looks more competitive and Third Intention is usually found out at this level. Baby Shine's form is over shorter trips and O'Faolains Boy may need more time after being pulled up at Haydock.
Ely Brown (IRE) 2-1 (11-4) Disputed lead, left in clear lead before 9th, joined 11th, driven 3 out, ridden clear after next, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) hvy beating Milborough (11-0) by 9l, 5 ran.
Third Intention (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, hard driven approaching 12th, weakened 6 out, rallied 3 out, stayed on to go modest 3rd next, never able to challenge, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Annacotty (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec.
Many Clouds (IRE) 8-15fav (11-5) Tracked front pair, challenged on outside 9th, led narrowly 5 out, pushed clear before 2 out, very easily, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Dec beating Indian Castle (11-5) by 16l, 3 ran.
Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 4th, 5 lengths clear 3 out, strongly challenged 2 out, hard ridden last, held on gamely, won at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov beating Utopie Des Bordes (11-0) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
O'Faolains Boy (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened before 8th, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Taquin Du Seuil (11-7) at Haydock 2m 5f nov chs G2 (1) hvy in Jan, 4 ran.
Baby Shine (IRE) 4-5fav (11-4) Pressed leader, led narrowly 8th until 11th, led again 12th, in command when slight stumble 3 out, soon came well clear, kept on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 4f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) sft in Jan beating Definite Memories (11-4) by 24l, 3 ran.
Spike Mac (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, soon detached, tailed off, 3rd of 4, well behind Midnight Prayer (11-7) at Warwick 3m 2f nov chs (3) sft.
