chased leaders until 10th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
lost touch 8th, held off and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, struggling when mistake 3 out, stayed on under strong pressure approaching last, went 3rd final 100 yards
chased leaders, led 3 out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and steady progress from 3 out, jumped well to lead soon after last, kept on well, ridden out
chased leaders until 7th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, headed soon after last, kept on gamely, held near finish
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden when hampered 2 out, no extra from last
lost touch 9th, weakened and pulled before 4 out
mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
held up towrds rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, mistake 4th and 4 out, soon ridden, weakened after next
led until approaching 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, gradually weakened
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 4 out, badly hampered 2 out, stayed on
chased leaders, hit 8th, weakened 4 out
always towards rear
prominent, hit 2nd and 3rd, led approaching 4 out, narrowly headed 3 out, rallied gamely, no extra from last
mistake 12th, mainly towards rear
in touch until 6th, soon behind
in touch, joined leaders 4 out, travelling well and every chance when fell 2 out
Granit Jack has just sneaked in to the contest as the last runner and whilst he must be respected, this is a tough race in which to make one's British chasing debut and so preference is for L'Antartique ahead of Bob Hall and Private Be. Ferdy Murphy's runner has the form at the track having landed the Jewson Novices' last year at the Festival and he has since won well on his reappearance at Carlisle. Likely to have improved physically for that effort, he looks sure to run well and is the pick of Ferdy Murphy's pair. Three Mirrors is sure to have come on for his rather quiet reappearance run at Wetherby and cannot be ruled out of a place at bigger prices, however Granit Jack looks an obvious threat. His hurdles form last year is rock solid (second in the Supreme Novices') and as a multiple chase winner in France, he should go well with just ten stone on his back. Bob Hall and Private Be are closely linked on form, and both ran behind Knowhere last time out. He rates a threat with the stable still in form, whilst Private Be was still going well in that race before being brought down and should go well. Black Hills is consistent and has run well at the track in the past, whilst Billyvoddan and Too Forward are both capable but will need to be in A1 shape returning from breaks. Copsale Lad and Vodka Bleu are two more who need respect, and whilst Il Duce should go well for his local trainer, it is L'Antartique who receives the nomination.
Billyvoddan (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear, struggling halfway pulled up before 19th pulled up at the 19th in race won by Silver Birch (10-6) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Too Forward (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Chased winner to 3rd until after 3 out, rallied to regain 2nd last, stayed on as winner idled run in but always held, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Nycteos (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Knowhere (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway and mistake 8th, ridden after 3 out, ran on strongly flat and led towards finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct beating Maljimar (10-1) by a nk, 19 ran.
Crozan (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Led, headed approaching 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 6, 21l behind Monet's Garden (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
L'Antartique (FR) 11-4 (11-6) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden to lead last, stayed on well, won at Carlisle 2m 4f int chs (3) gd beating Mr Strachan (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 3 ran.
Idole First (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, joined leader 4 out, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, ran on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar beating Palarshan (10-5) by 4l, 23 ran.
Il Duce (IRE) 10-3 (11-12) Held up in touch, led 11th, driven out flat, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May beating East Tycoon (11-2) by 2l, 7 ran.
Bob Hall (IRE) 4-1fav (11-7) Mid-division, hit 5th, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, led after last, no extra and headed flat, 3rd of 19, 1 1/2l behind Knowhere (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Kings Brook 2-1fav (11-12) Patiently ridden in last place, headway to go 2nd after 3 out, travelling well, delayed challenge until ridden flat, led towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct beating Urban (10-5) by a nk, 5 ran.
Ponmeoath (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway into 4th 5 out, 3rd 3 out, ridden in 4th entering straight, stayed on to 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 16, 7l behind Mossbank (10-11) at Limerick 3m hcp chs gd in Oct.
Bambi de L'Orme (FR) 15-2 (11-0) In touch, driven and outpaced after 4 out, stayed on under pressure from 3 out, not reach leaders, 4th of 7, 6l behind Hoo La Baloo (10-9) at Kempton 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Copsale Lad 7-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 5 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 18, 17l behind Reveillez (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Private Be 8-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, close up and travelling well when brought down 2 out in race won by Knowhere (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct, 19 ran.
Palarshan (FR) 28-1 (10-5) Held up last, steady progress after 4 out, ridden after next, stayed on strongly from 2 out, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 23, 4l behind Idole First (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Black Hills 20-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden 12th, soon weakened, 15th of 19, well behind Knowhere (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Ballyagran (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Led, headed 3 out, 2nd under pressure before straight, 4th and no extra before 2 out, 7th of 16, 21l behind Mossbank (10-11) at Limerick 3m hcp chs gd in Oct.
Patman Du Charmil (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Led, hit 8th, headed 4 out, outpaced 2 out, 3rd of 8, 22l behind Joe Lively (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gd in Oct.
Three Mirrors 4-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, ridden and outpaced 4 out, headway 3 out, one pace, 4th of 7, 8l behind Mister McGoldrick (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 3f lst hcp chs (1) gf.
Vodka Bleu (FR) 14-1 (10-11) Towards rear, never dangerous, 12th of 29, 30l behind Dunbrody Millar (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Granit Jack (FR) 15-2 (11-7) Took keen hold, chased leaders, led 3rd, went right, hit 2 out, driven between last 2, mistake last, headed, not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 22, 3l behind Ebaziyan (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Mar.
