took keen hold and jumped poorly in rear, bad mistake 13th (water), pulled up before next
led to 2nd, chased leader to 14th, weakened before 4 out, blundered next, tailed off when blundered last
led 2nd, pressed from 3 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat
held up in touch, headway on outside after 3 out, no impression from next, stayed on to take 3rd last but no impression
in touch, blundered 7th, headway to track leading pair 15th, one pace after 2 out, lost 3rd final strides
took keen hold, held up in touch, mistake 9th and blundered 14th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake 10th, went 2nd 14th, challenged and blundered 2 out, led before last, driven out
tracking leaders when mistake and fell 3rd
held up in rear, smooth headway to track leaders on bit from 3 out, hit 2 out, soon weakened
L'Ami can take the prize back across the Channel, with Comply Or Die, Trabolgan and Cornish Rebel all sure to make it hard for the French raider. Although it is commonplace for our leading trainers to plunder the best young French talent these days, we have yet to witness a Gallic handler coming over to grab this prestigious contest. That might change today though. Successful in the Gold Cup with The Fellow, The Stayers Hurdle with Baracouda, and The Triumph Hurdle with Snow Drop, Paris-based handler Francois Doumen knows exactly what it takes to prepare a horse for Cheltenham, and you can be sure that L'Ami will be ready. This full-brother to the useful Kelami came over to contest a Grade 2 novices' chase at Lingfield in November and duly prevailed over subsequent Reynoldstown hero Distant Thunder. He had too much use made of him when falling at halfway in the Feltham, but made amends in fine style by easily accounting for Control Man, a fellow faller in the Feltham, at Warwick last time. The ground was very different to that which he will encounter here, but he remains an exciting prospect at the age of six. The trainer has had two thirds in this event in the past 10 years, Djeddah in 1997 and Fulip the following year, and this fellow is rated just as good, if not better. Trabolgan has had a light campaign in the main and time will tell he was beaten by a very useful heavy-ground performer in Jazz D'Estruval at Haydock. There is still time for him to come good, but is he worth chancing today? Of the rest, Cornish Rebel makes some appeal for a place. Third to Lacdoudal over two miles and five furlongs here on 29 January, he will benefit from the trip. He does tend to jump big and may lack that required bit of speed to get himself into a winning position, but Paul Nicholls will have him as ready as he can. However, providing that his jumping does not let him down, L'Ami can prove to be the answer.
Backbeat (IRE) 14-1 Held up in touch, mistake 5th, went 2nd and mistake 12th, blundered and weakened 3 out, beaten when blundered and fell 3 out in race won by Ollie Magern at Kempton 3m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec, 9 ran.
Brave Spirit (FR) 8-1 Led, ridden 13th, headed next, outpaced and lost place 15th, kept on under pressure from 3 out, 4th of 6, 10l behind Distant Thunder at Lingfield 3m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
Comply Or Die (IRE) 8-11fav Led and set good pace, hit 11th, narrow leader when fell 4 out in race won by Cornish Rebel at Newbury 3m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov, 5 ran.
Cornish Rebel (IRE) 13-8fav Settled last, pushed along from 4 out, challenging and not much room but ridden when blundered badly 2 out, not recover, kept on, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Lacdoudal at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (B) gs in Jan.
L'ami (FR) 7-2 Held up, headway 10th, led 13th, ridden approaching last, driven clear flat, won at Warwick 3m nov chs (B) sft in Jan beating Control Man by 9l, 5 ran.
Light Des Mulottes (FR) 2-1fav Held up in touch, led 8th, mistake 10th and 11th, hard ridden approaching last, headed and weakened close home, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Toulouse at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Nov.
Trabolgan (IRE) 7-4fav Tracked leaders, headway 12th, mistake 4 out, lost place next, kept on from 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 9l behind Jazz d'Estruval at Haydock 2m 6f nov chs (B) hvy in Jan.
Tribal Venture (FR) 7-1 Held up towards rear, effort and in touch 15th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 16, 27l behind Farmer Jack at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Like-A-Butterfly (IRE) 11-10fav 3rd early, weakened from 5 out, trailing when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mariah Rollins at Leopardstown 2m 1f nov chs Grd 1 sft in Dec, 10 ran.
King Harald (IRE) 8-1 Tracked winner, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened from 2 out, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Ollie Magern at Wetherby 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Feb.
