pecked 1st, tracked leaders, went left 4th, ridden approaching 5 out, went 3rd after 4 out, one pace from next
led until 2nd, tracked winner, ridden after 5 out, kept on, always being held from 3 out
led 2nd, ridden clear from last, comfortably
chased leaders, ridden in 3rd approaching 5 out, mistake 4 out, soon beaten
pulled hard, tracked leaders, joined winner 7th until hit 9th, weakened after 11th, tailed off
PRESENTING COPPER is our pick with Pauillac and Lysander the obvious dangers. Philip Hobbs' mare was a tad disappointing on her most recent start but she has shown form in conditions such as these in the past and provided that her jumping holds together, she represents a tough benchmark for the rest. Pauillac impressed in a beginners event at Lingfield but has yet to get his head infront since. That said, his yard are in better form than what they were previously. Lysander took advantage of a lower hurdles rating to dot up at Aintree recently. Though a winner of three chases, this is a tougher assignment. Ardaghey handles the ground but seems at his best around Cheltenham these days. Master d'Or is fully exposed and his consistency offers the assessor little room for adjusting his rating. Presenting Copper is taken to bounce back to form today.
Lysander (GER) 6-1 (10-0) Held up, headway approaching 9th, led approaching 3 out, soon clear, hit 2 out, mistake when tired last, all out, won at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Oct beating Major Malarkey (10-13) by 2l, 18 ran.
Ardaghey (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden after 17th, one pace, 5th of 12, 43l behind Cornish Sett (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Nov.
Presenting Copper (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) In touch, hit 3rd, weakening when blundered 2 out, 7th of 14, 34l behind Medicinal (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Nov.
Pauillac (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) In touch until 5th, soon struggling in rear, well behind 8th, stayed on past beaten horses from 3 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Nemetan (10-13) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Master d'Or (FR) 6-1 (10-10) In touch, headway after 8th, ridden to challenge 3 out, every chance last, no extra, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Nemetan (10-13) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.