in rear, stayed on under pressure from 3 out to take poor 3rd last
mistake 1st, held up in mid-division, headway 12th, chased leader from 2 out, upsides last, driven ahead flat
chased leaders, went 2nd before 10th, weakening when jumped violently right 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake 6th, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always behind, mistake 6th, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, no chance when blundered 3 out and pulled up
in touch, weakened before 3 out, pulled up and dismouted before last
tracked leaders, challenged from 10th, led 3 out, ridden, hard pressed last, headed flat, kept on under pressure
in touch, 4th and looked beaten when fell 2 out
led, mistake, headed 3 out, pecked and lost 2nd next, weakened
Nonrunner
Ball O Malt, Big Rob, Tamango and Gazump form our shortlist, with the vote going to Ball O Malt. Ball O Malt proved himself a tough type when, after jumping well, he scored at Uttoxeter last time, As such, a six-pounds rise might not stop him from being competitive today. Big Rob was in the process of running a good race when falling four out at the Festival in March, and he remains an interesting chaser. Course and distance winner Gazump comes here from a stable in form and he'll strip fitter for his Perth run, so he is respected. Very consistent, Indien Royal, who is six pounds above a winning mark, should be young enough to still have improvement in him, while Halexy would hold claims on his 2002 form, but has raced only once in the last two years. Tamango continues on the up and has won three of his last four races. He's been raised a further five pounds for the latest of them, a narrow Stratford success, but, very tough, he could still get amongst the money. Whispered Secret's winning run came to an end at Huntingdon last time, and maybe the handicapper has him weighed up now. Given that he is eleven pounds better off for the near-four lengths he finished behind Tamango at Newton Abbot in August, Bronzesmith holds claims, although his winning form has come on good or quicker going. Wrags To Riches was found out here in January after showing earlier promise, but the jury is out on him at present, while You'Re Special was beaten off his revised mark last time, and while Deep Run is often placed, that is maybe the best he can hope for from his current mark, we feel. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Ball O Malt.
Tamango (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 10th, narrow leader 11th, ridden 2 out, pecked last, held on, won at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd beating Black De Bessy (10-4) by a nk, 9 ran.
Whispered Secret (GER) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leader, not fluent 5th, led after 11th, hit 3 out, ridden and headed when stumbled 2 out, no chance with winner, finished tired, 2nd of 7, 14l behind Duke of Buckingham (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gf in Sept.
Bronzesmith 11-2 (11-6) Not always fluent, held up, pecked 6th, behind from 10th, 6th of 7, 33l behind Duke of Buckingham (11-11) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gf in Sept.
Wrags To Riches (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Led 2nd to 3rd, chased leader until led 12th, ridden 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, tired approaching last, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Mixsterthetrixster (11-10) at N Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (C) gd in Apr.
You're Special (USA) 5-4fav (11-2) Led, jumped left 3rd, headed after 6th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 6, 17l behind Kandjar D'allier (11-12) at Windsor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec.
Ball O Malt (IRE) 11-4fav (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 8th, ridden to lead 2 out, went left last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gf in Sept beating Beat The Heat (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Indien Royal (FR) 5-1jt-fav (11-8) Prominent, mistake 4th, pressed winner from 3 out, ridden and held when pecked 2 out, no impression but kept on to hold 2nd, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Full House (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Apr.
Halexy (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Held up rear, headway 10th, mistake and lost place 12th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 22l behind Mighty Strong (11-7) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Nov.
Big Rob (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Prominent, close up on inner when blundered and fell 4 out fell 4 out in race won by King Harald (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (A) gd in Mar, 19 ran.
Deep King (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Always prominent, led 7th, ridden 2 out, headed and not quicken flat, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Magic Sky (11-2) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gf in Sept.
Gazump (FR) 7-4fav (11-3) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, well behind Drumbeater (10-4) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Sept.
