in touch on inside, tracked winner 6th, lost place 4 out, regained 2nd next, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
in touch on outside, dropped to mid-division 5th, lost place 9th, soon struggling, no danger after
chased winner to 6th, outpaced 11th, soon behind
tracked leaders, 3rd and outpaced after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no chance with leading pair when lost 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, hit 8th, chased winner when mistake 4 out, lost place next, weakened 2 out
mistakes, soon behind, reminders after 6th, never near leaders
mid-division, outpaced 12th, ridden and stayed on from last, never on terms
made all, drew clear after 3 out, stayed on well, comfortably
held up towards rear, headway on outside 9th, hit 13th, outpaced 4 out, soon beaten
chased leaders to 3rd, mid-division, reminders after 7th, soon behind, outpaced 5 out, headway under pressure 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish, no chance with leaders
Paul Nicholls complicates matters by saddling Poquelin, Woolcombe Folly and AERIAL but with Ruby Walsh on board the latter he looks the one to concentrate on. Still only six, he had breathing problems last season but has returned in superb form and an excellent fourth in the Paddy Power here was followed by an emphatic victory at Ascot. Araldur dropped out of the Paddy Power after a bad mistake but he's a progressive type who is on a fair mark. The Giant Bolster has the ability to win a race of this nature but his career has been littered with jumping problems and he has a very poor record on this track. Tartak last won a race on New Year's Day last year when landing a Grade 3 over the C&D but he doesn't always put everything in though he generally races at a very high level. Tamarinbleu had sunk to his lowest mark for many years when scoring at Haydock and though up 5lb isn't one to dismiss lightly.
Poquelin (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, hampered 1st, headway 11th, 8th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Great Endeavour (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov, 20 ran.
Woolcombe Folly (IRE) 11-10fav (11-4) Chased leading pair, pushed along 9th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 16l behind Gauvain (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m chs (2) gs in Nov.
Tartak (FR) 18-1 (11-10) In touch, chased leader 9th to next, soon pushed along, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Gauvain (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Aerial (FR) 2-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 11th, ridden clear 2 out, ran on well, won at Ascot 2m 5f chs (2) sft in Dec beating Giorgio Quercus (11-7) by 10l, 6 ran.
Hell's Bay (FR) 14-1 (10-8) Mid-division, hit 2nd, mistake 8th, headway next, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 14, well behind Calgary Bay (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Tamarinbleu (FR) 10-3fav (11-12) Held up, not fluent 2nd, headway 11th, lost place after 13th, closed 4 out, not much room 2 out, went 2nd after last, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Haydock 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec beating Kilcrea Asla (10-0) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Chance Du Roy (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place after 10th, stayed on from 5 out, went 2nd after 3 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 16l behind Quincy Des Pictons (9-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs (2) hvy in Dec.
The Giant Bolster 5-1 (11-8) Mostly tracked winner throughout, jumped slowly 2nd, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace, no impression, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Time For Rupert (11-8) at Newbury 3m chs (2) sft in Dec.
Araldur (FR) 12-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, hit 3rd and 8th, blundered badly and struggling from 11th, 10th of 20, 39l behind Great Endeavour (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Nov.
Billie Magern 20-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, hampered 7th, lost place and towards rear next, last and struggling 11th, tailed off 13th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Fruity O'Rooney (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Dec, 12 ran.
