in touch, effort approaching 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, one pace from 2 out
held up towards rear and keen, lost place after 3 out
tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well from last
chased leaders, stumbled on landing 4th, weakened approaching 2 out
led, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon chasing winner, one pace
COQ HARDI looks the one to beat here with Romping Home and Carrick Oscar also rated. An impressive reappearance this season is in our selection's favour and the testing conditions hold little concern. That seasonal debut saw him a fair way off Kicks For Free but he never was going to get in contention with an animal going on to bigger on better things. Tony McCoy partners him again here after giving the gelding a good ride in that defeat. This is a winner waiting to happen, who has some place form on heavy going in France. Carrick Oscar for Charlie Mann is an unexposed animal who came back this season with a decent performance to finish third of fourteen in better company at Chepstow last month on his first run for the yard. More wins are expected and the handler has his string in good form of late but the ground could be an issue though. Romping Home must have a least a small claim in this contest after a winning season return was followed by a decent second in a better grade at Southwell last time. A couple of near misses in testing conditions suggest she will act on this going and a continuation of recent form will have her close. Or Bleu should also be considered after a decent hurdle campaign last season and was given a tough introduction to the bigger obstacles when fourth in the Best Mate Beginners' Chase won by Sir Harry Ormesher with Straw Bear in second. On that show chasing isn't beyond this one and in an easier race such as this Phillip Hobbs' charge could go better. If Stop The Show can take to chasing the way he finished over hurdles last year then he too could spoil the party but Coq Hardi should have too many things in his favour and gets the nod.
Carrick Oscar (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden and every chance last, no extra, 3rd of 14, 3 1/2l behind Warsaw Pact (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Coq Hardi (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, headed 2 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 19l behind Kicks For Free (11-2) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Oct.
King of Confusion (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up, ridden after 9th, weakened 12th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Boomshakalaka (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Or Bleu (FR) 12-1 (11-2) In touch, headway 5th, effort approaching 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 10, 12l behind Sir Harry Ormesher (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (3) gs in Oct.
Stop The Show (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 3rd of 12, 36l behind Companero (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Thenford Trout (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Prominent, not fluent 7th, every chance when mistake 2 out, soon faded, 5th of 15, 16l behind Ingratitude (11-3) at Towcester 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Romping Home (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (11-12) In touch, chased winner approaching 2 out, soon ridden, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Owlesbury Dream (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Billy Murphy 12-1 (10-12) Chased winner, not fluent 2nd, lost 2nd 6th, soon weakened, 10th of 14, 22l behind Warsaw Pact (11-7) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
