held up, behind, headway 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leader, led just after 2 out, soon shaken up, edged slightly left after last, ridden, ran on well flat
mistakes, chased leaders, slightly outpaced from 3 out, no impression after, stayed on same pace to take 3rd flat
led, not fluent 4 out, ridden, hit 2 out, soon headed, no impression on winner from last, stayed on same
held up, not fluent 8th, soon behind
chased leaders, 3rd when blundered badly 4 out and relegated to 5th, went 3rd again 3 out, ridden 2 out, weakened, hung right flat
Predateur, Tidal Bay and Duc De Regniere all look useful recruits to the chasing game and we will be with Predateur. Paul Nicholls has been quick to praise the four-year-old in his various stable tours and in receipt of the valuable allowances, he is worth trying again despite slightly disappointing on his debut. Tidal Bay has done nothing wrong thus far. He looks every inch the chaser and jumps with plenty of fluency. Duc De Regniere looks as if he should have no problems adapting to the larger obstacles. A high class hurdler, he has been well touted by Nicky Henderson in the press. Gold Medallist looked useful prior to injury. Predicament is hopelessly outclassed. Plenty of future winners on view and we stick with Predateur to make the headlines this afternoon.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Held up, headway 3 out, challenged last, soon led, driven out, won at Kelso 2m 6f nov chs (2) gs beating Mr Strachan (11-1) by a hd, 4 ran.
Tidal Bay (IRE) 2-9fav (11-7) Held up in touch, mistake 8th, mistake 4 out, led after 2 out, ridden out, won at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Nov beating Mr Strachan (11-1) by 4l, 9 ran.
Duc De Regniere (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 3 out, 13th of 15, well behind Massini's Maguire (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Gold Medallist 11-2 (11-4) In touch, lost place approaching 8th, hit next, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Asian Maze (10-11) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Apr '05, 17 ran.
Predicament 66-1 (11-2) Always behind, tailed off from 6th, last of 5, 47l behind Marodima (11-2) at Sandown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft.
Predateur (FR) 9-4fav (10-11) Held up, blundered 2nd, jinked right and wandered 4th, headway 9th, hampered and left 3rd 2 out, chased winner before last, no impression, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Moon Over Miami (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
