in touch, pushed along after 13th, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again approaching last, went 2nd run-in
raced wide, led until 3rd, tracked leaders until faded tamely from 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 16th
tracked leaders, ridden after 17th, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again approaching last
raced wide, held up, short lived effort approaching 3 out, finished tired
led 3rd until 18th, soon ridden, led approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly, comfortably
held up, stumbled badly 3rd, ridden and weakened after 18th
tracked leaders, mistake 16th, ridden after 17th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before last
raced wide, in touch, reminder 7th, led 18th, ridden and headed after 3 out, close 2nd when stumbled badly 2 out, soon held
tracked leaders, hit 11th and 17th, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, held by winner from next, lost 3rd run-in
held up, weakened approaching 18th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
Grand National winner Comply Or Die makes his seasonal reappearance here and David Pipe's gelding has to be respected but he has been harshly punished for his Aintree success and looks best watched so a better bet may be OPERA MUNDI, who gets the vote with Halcon Genelardais rated the pick of the remainder. The selection was pulled up in his last two starts, latterly in the Scottish National, but his earlier form looks solid especially on testing ground and he is taken to give Paul Nicholls another winner. Parsons Legacy was good value for his win here last month but he would probably want the ground to be faster, while Joe Lively looks a shade high in the weights now after a good season last term. Second season chaser Beat The Boys, from the in-from Nigel Twiston-Davies stable, has more to do than when landing a novice chase here when last seen in April but he is another to consider along with Halcon Genelardais, who is a confirmed performer on testing ground. Alan King's gelding may struggle to give so much weight away to Opera Mundi though and the last mentioned is preferred.
Halcon Genelardais (FR) 10-1 (11-12) In touch, led 5 out, ridden and headed 2 out, 4 lengths down when blundered badly last, one pace, 2nd of 24, 14l behind Iris De Balme (9-7) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Comply Or Die (IRE) 7-1jt-fav (10-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, led 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Aintree 4m 4f Grand National (1) gd in Apr beating King Johns Castle (10-11) by 4l, 40 ran.
Simon 11-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider at the 25th in race won by Comply Or Die (10-9) at Aintree 4m 4f Grand National (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Opera Mundi (FR) 17-2 (10-7) Mid-divsion, weakened 19th and pulled up in race won by Iris De Balme (9-7) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr, 24 ran.
Joe Lively (IRE) 7-1jt-fav (11-10) Mid-division, not fluent 9th, headway approaching 11th, outpaced from 4 out, stayed on approaching last, 3rd of 17, 11l behind Parsons Legacy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Always behind and pulled up 5 out in race won by Miko de Beauchene (10-5) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec, 18 ran.
Karanja 2-11fav (11-4) Held up, headway after 13th, led 14th until fell 5 out in race won by Classic Clover (10-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov chs (3) gd in Mar, 4 ran.
Flintoff (USA) 28-1 (9-9) Towards rear, ridden 18th, soon outpaced, stayed on from 3 out, 3rd of 24, 16l behind Iris De Balme (9-7) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Beat The Boys (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Led until 3rd, prominent, led 10th, hit 15th, drew clear from 2 out, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) gs in Apr beating Joe Lively (11-8) by 10l, 6 ran.
Sweet Diversion (IRE) 12-1 (9-12) Always rear, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Hot Weld (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr '07, 10 ran.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, outpaced after 4 out, left 6 lengths 2nd 2 out, closed approaching last, led flat, stayed on, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct beating The King of Angels (10-8) by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.
