led, headed before 5th, remained close up, not fluent 7th, ridden and lost place before 3 out, soon behind, tailed off when left 4th at last
with leaders on outside, led before 5th, made most after, joined 3 out, ridden after next, narrow advantage when left 4 lengths clear last, idled flat, headed final strides
pressed leader, lost place and reminder after 4th, driven to stay in touch from next, one pace 2 out, soon ridden, 4 lengths down in 3rd when hampered and left 2nd at last, rallied flat, edged right near finish, led final strides
held up in rear, headway 3 out, soon chased leaders, outpaced next, 4th and beaten when left 3rd at last, no chance with front pair
held up in 5th, driven 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, joined winner when not fluent 3 out, driven after next, kept on, upsides and every chance when fell last
MONT CHOISY is penalised for his previous wins over timber but went close again when runner-up at Cheltenham last time and can give weight to today's opposition. Battle Dust was beaten only a head at Southwell on his hurdling bow and there should be more to come from him while Ballywilliam finished closer when placed over a shorter trip here last month and can also figure. Wild West Wind is preferred to Doitforthevillage after a second in a bumper at Bangor while point-to-point winner Just Bill debuts under Rules today.
Mont Choisy (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) With winner, mistake 5 out, ridden before last, kept on and always held run-in, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Atlantic Gold (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m (3) gd in Oct.
Ballywilliam (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out, kept on in 3rd from last, 3rd of 15, 9l behind Tapaculo (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (5) sft in Nov.
Battle Dust (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, reminders when lost place after 8th, headway under pressure 10th, chased front pair before 2 out, soon ridden, 3 lengths down in 2nd at last, rallied flat, gaining towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 8, hd behind Crosspark (10-12) at Southwell 3m (4) sft in Nov.
Doitforthevillage (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) In rear, headway before 3 out, ridden and in 5th before 2 out, never dangerous, 6th of 13, dist behind Emerging Force (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Just Bill (IRE) Evens (12-2) Chsd ldrs, 4th 6out, chall 2out & sn rddn, ev ch when mstk last, no ch with easy wnr early flat, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Lenamore Boy (11-11) at Ballindenisk 3m gd in May.
Wild West Wind (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Made most until ridden and headed over 2f out, rallied inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Compadre (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f (6) sft in Nov.
