not fluent, held up behind leaders, headway to chase winner 7th until after 12th, 2nd again approaching 16th, just over 3 lengths down when stumbled 3 out, soon weakened, lost 2nd before next
chased winner to 7th, dropped to last 9th, outpaced after 11th, lost touch approaching 16th, went moderate 3rd after last
set steady pace, drew clear after 3 out, stayed on well
held up behind leaders, chased winner after 12th until approaching 16th, ridden and beaten after 4 out, went 2nd again before 2 out, not chance with winner
Disappointingly just the four runners line up for this novices' chase with Ornais getting the verdict over Imperial Commander and Joe Lively. The last mentioned has done well since switched to fences this season, winning three of his four starts, latterly when a distance clear in a similar contest at Newbury, but Colin Tizzard's gelding is held by the selection on running at Wincanton last month and is hard to recommend on that evidence. Irish Wolf has yet to translate his hurdles form to the larger obstacles and may be best watched at present so a bigger danger would look to be the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Imperial Commander. Useful over hurdles, the six-year-old has made a decent start to his chasing career and would have every chance if staying this far. The trip should be of no problem to Ornais though as he is out of a half-sister to Naploitain and the lightly raced gelding is taken to follow up his Wincanton success here.
Imperial Commander (IRE) 4-7fav (11-7) Led to after 3rd, chased leader, regained lead 7th, in command 2 out, drew well clear between last 2, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gd in Nov beating Nation State (11-7) by 11l, 6 ran.
Irish Wolf (FR) 9-1 (10-12) Behind, headway 3 out, kept on, never nearer, 5th of 15, 19l behind Harmony Brig (10-12) at Newcastle 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs.
Joe Lively (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, led 8th to next, chased leading pair, outpaced 15th, staying on one pace and 6 lengths 3rd when left in lead last, won at Newbury 3m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs beating Here's Johnny (11-6) by a distance, 4 ran.
Ornais (FR) 2-1 (11-2) Prominent, outpaced 9th , headway to chase leaders 4 out, led approaching 3 out, hit 2 out, clear approaching last, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov beating Joe Lively (11-8) by 12l, 5 ran.
