tracked leaders, went close 2nd after 9th, left in lead 12th, headed and not fluent last, no impression flat, one pace
mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd 4 out, led last, stayed on well, clear final 100 yards
jumped left at times, tracked leader, led 4th, narrow advantage when fell 12th
tracked leaders, left 2nd 12th until pecked 4 out, outpaced next, weakened 2 out
held up, jumped right at times, headway after 12th, weakened from 4 out
led, not fluent 1st or 3rd, headed 4th, mistake 6th and 9th, soon lost place, behind 11th, pulled up after
held up, headway 10th, hampered 12th, weakened before 3 out, went 3rd from last
PTIT ZIG (NAP) was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles in France and was sixth in last year's Champion Hurdle. But he promises to be even better over the larger obstacles judged on his defeat of Josses Hill at Ascot and can make it four from four over fences in this at the main expense of Champagne West. Philip Hobbs' charge is also unbeaten over fences and beat Urban Hymn here in November, though still trailed Little Jon when that one crashed out here at the fourth-last just under three weeks ago. Clondaw Kaempfer would probably have won at Doncaster last time had he not unseated Brian Harding after jumping the last and Ned Stark is a promising sort. But, like the mare Top Totti, Alan King's entry will need to up his game to compete at this level.
Champagne West (IRE) 2-5fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 10th, not fluent next, went 2nd 12th, about 1 length down when left in lead 4 out, shaken up 2 out, not fluent last, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gs in Dec beating Un Ace (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 3 ran.
Ptit Zig (FR) 6-4 (11-4) Jumped well, tracked leader, challenged 11th, led 4 out, pushed along and came readily clear between last 2, easily, won at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grade 2 (1) sft in Dec beating Josses Hill (11-0) by 9l, 5 ran.
Little Jon 11-2 (11-5) Led, clear until after 3rd, reached for 10th, about 1 length up when ran out 4 out, in a race won by Champagne West (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gs in Dec, 3 ran.
Ned Stark (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Held up in 5th on inside, headway tracking leaders 5th, 2nd 2 out, led between last two, in command last, stayed on strongly and driven clear run-in, won at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov beating Timesawastin (10-10) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Clondaw Kaempfer (IRE) Evensfav (11-0) Tracked leaders, driven to challenge 3 out, led after next, stumbled and unseated rider after last, in a race won by Smart Freddy (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (4) sft in Dec, 4 ran.
Urban Hymn (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Led, headed after last (usual 3 out), ridden and one pace in 3rd approaching bypassed 2 out, no impression with front pair after, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Champagne West (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) sft in Nov.
Top Totti 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, closed when left in lead 10th, headed 13th, led again 3 out, not fluent 2 out, jumped left last, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 3m nov chs (4) sft in Dec beating Cloudy Copper (11-1) by 3l, 5 ran.
