led, jumped right 4th and 5th, joined after 3 out, headed before next, kept on same pace, no impession with leading pair before last
tracked leaders on outside, lost place after 7th, soon struggling, tailed off 3 out
held up in last pair, struggling 7th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked leader, challenged after 3 out, led before next, hard pressed last, soon ridden, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish
held up in touch on inside, outpaced when went moderate 4th after 3 out, mistake last, no chance when hung badly right flat
disputed 2nd, lost place 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next, tailed off
held up in last pair, headway 8th, tracked leading pair 3 out, went 2nd before next, challenged last, ridden and stayed on flat, led towards finish
tracked leadrrs in 4th, jumped slowly 8th, lost place when mistake next, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
Hexham winner Soudain was found wanting under his penalty at Huntingdon on Boxing Day but winning pointer Finnegan Paddy should appreciate this longer trip having got outpaced over 2m4f at Chepstow last time. Quel Elite is a consistent sort and should be in the firing-line again but Rudemeister needs to improve on his well-beaten third over C&D if he is to figure. REALMONT was returning from a lengthy absence when fourth at Ffos Las so he should strip fitter here. Placed in a Grade 1 over fences at Auteuil in 2009, he'll be back over the larger obstacles sooner rather than later but may have enough class to take this en route.
Soudain (FR) 5-4fav (11-0) Jumped right at times, led, ridden when not fluent 2 out, soon headed, no extra when blundered last, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Godsmejudge (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Balivernier 50-1 (11-2) Pressed winner, lost place before 4th, behind from 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Kaolak (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m nh nov hdl (3) gd.
Ballyday (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Held up, pushed along 4th, soon weakened, 9th of 10, well behind Secret Pact (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov '06.
Finnegan Paddy (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) Led, not fluent 1st, ridden 4 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat, 5th of 10, 15l behind Ambion Wood (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Quel Elite (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, effort 2 out, hung right last, not run on, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Brindisi Breeze (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
Realmont (FR) 5-1 (10-9) Pressed leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 35l behind Meister Eckhart (10-12) at Ffos Las 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
Rudemeister (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden approaching 3out, soon driven and weakened, 3rd of 6, 43l behind South Leinster (10-12) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) sft.
Watford (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 14, 36l behind Rugged Jack (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) sft in Dec.
