held up, headway 9th, outpaced 11th, rallied 2 out, one pace flat
in touch, went 2nd 6th, led 9th to 10th, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out
prominent to 3rd, weakened 8th, towards rear when mistake 10th, soon pulled up
chased leaders from 3rd, led last, driven out
hit 7th, always behind, tailed off when fell 11th
always behind
led to 5th, blundered 7th, led again after 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra flat
mid-division, headway approaching 9th, ridden 2 out, every chance when hung left approaching last, stayed on same pace flat
chased leader, led 5th to 9th, led again 10th, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out
Made In Japan sidesteps the Robin Cook for this and is the pick over over Le Seychellois, Feel The Pride and Escompteur. Made In Japan has failed to progress in the main since winning the Triumph Hurdle in 2004, but has caught the eye twice this season, here when third to Bold Bishop, and more recently when second to Town Crier at Newbury. He was ridden with more restraint last time and stuck to his task well in the closing stages. He should be fitter, and the decision to take in this shorter trip rather than the feature race later today will hopefully pay dividends. He meets Le Seychellois on the same terms as last time so the Nicholls runner should in theory be held. However, he is highly-rated at Ditcheat and is a likely sort to bear in mind for the Victor Chandler, whatever his fate here. Feel The Pride has been in good form already this season, but needed rousting up to get home at Doncaster and may just struggle up the hill. Escompteur returned from a four-month break to finish second at Newbury recently, and off bottom weight must be considered, but Made In Japan is finally getting his act together over fences and can come good today.
Ground Ball (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up, headway approaching 5th, weakened after 8th, 10th of 11, well behind Monkerhostin (10-5) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Nov.
Made In Japan (JPN) 5-1fav (11-6) Chased leaders, mistake 8th, not much room on inside approaching 4 out, kept on under pressure to go 2nd flat, no trouble winner, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Town Crier (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Provocative (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 4th, driven out, won at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Oct beating Almaydan (11-12) by 1l, 10 ran.
Tysou (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Held up, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, not reached leaders, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Bold Bishop (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (B) gs in Nov.
Le Seychellois (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Held up, hit 7th, headway approaching 4 out, kept on well final 100 yards, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Town Crier (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Feel The Pride (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden after next, led approaching last, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Doncaster 2m nov hcp chs (C) gd in Nov beating Carthys Cross (10-13) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 11-1 (10-10) Blundered 1st, tracked leader, not fluent 5th, led 9th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra final 100 yards, 5th of 14, 5l behind Town Crier (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Tribal Dispute 12-1 (11-9) Held up, headway after 7th, 4th when blundered 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 31l behind Island Faith (11-6) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
Escompteur (FR) 9-4fav (11-2) In touch, went 2nd from 7th, left in lead 9th, ridden when headed 2 out, weakened after last, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Taranis (10-9) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (C) gd in Nov.
