held up towards rear, headway 10th, led 12th, clear before 2 out, soon in command
with leader, took keen hold, left in lead 10th, headed 12th, weakened after 3 out
held up in rear, hampered 1st, mistake 7th and 9th, hampered 10th, jumped left after, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway 12th, soon chasing leaders, effort approaching 2 out, soon beaten
mid-division, lost place 10th, soon beaten
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, joined leaders before 6th, not fluent next, hampered 11th, weakened 5 out
help up in rear, mistake 9th, hampered 11th, ridden, headway 3 out, chasing leader when pulled up quickly before last
led, fell 10th
Nonrunner
Patricksnineteenth, Nadover, Regal Heights and Model Son head the short last with the lastnamed getting the vote but none are ruled out with confidence. The handicapper looks to have taken a chance in not raising Model Son for his third behind Vodka Bleu at Cheltenham. He may well have finished closer on that occasion but for a mistake two out and jumping problems have plagued his career. There's no doubt that he's a well handicapped horse though and he has joined an up and coming yard that is capable of getting the best out of him. Patricksnineteenth doesn't have many miles on the clock and has scope for improvement despite his age. He also has plenty of talent and is respected now that he's recaptured his form. This trip stretches Chief Yeoman whilst Tikram is difficult to predict but Nadover and Regal Heights have pretty solid claims. Both will relish these conditions and may still be ahead of the game but on this occasion a chance is taken with Model Son.
Regal Heights (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Held up, ridden and headway after 4 out, led next, headed after last, one pace, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-0) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Nadover (FR) 9-2jt-fav (11-8) Always prominent, led 5th, headed 8th, soon pushed along, led again last, ran on well, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec beating Which Pocket (10-11) by 7l, 11 ran.
Chief Yeoman 14-1 (11-10) Towards rear, headway 17th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 11, 14l behind Backbeat (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs.
Patricksnineteenth (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching last, ridden out, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec beating Scribano Eile (10-2) by 5l, 8 ran.
Tikram 20-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, close up, went 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, headed 2 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 13, 10l behind Vodka Bleu (10-3) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gf in Dec.
Without A Doubt 14-1 (10-4) Led until 8th, led 10th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up at the last in race won by Over The Creek (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Dark Corner 7-4fav (11-12) Held up in rear, headway, hit 9th, led next, ridden approaching 3 out, headed narrowly 2 out, regained lead flat, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Mage d'Estruval (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Model Son (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, hit 3 out, every chance when bad mistake 2 out, not recover, 3rd of 14, 8l behind Vodka Bleu (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gs.
Migwell (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Mid-division, weakened 13th, behind when pulled up at the 15th in race won by Ironside (10-0) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 11 ran.
