held up towards rear, headway 4 out, close 3rd going well 2 out, led approaching last, quickened away flat
mid-division, took keen hold, headway 3rd, weakened approaching 2out
held up in rear, headway 4 out, not fluent 2 out, pressed for 2nd flat until stayed on same pace towards finish
mid-division, towards rear 6th, not fluent next, stayed on under pressure from 3 out, never near leaders
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, struggling 4 out, no impression after
pressed leader, led 8th, driven after 2 out, headed approaching last, weakened flat
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, in rear when blundered and fell 7th
prominent, raced keenly, lost place approaching 7th, weakened 4 out
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, blundered and unseated rider 7th
mid-division, headway 6th, driven after 3 out, slightly impeded last, kept on well to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner
held up, headway 4th, challenged 4 out, mistake last, no extra flat
held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, headway when hit 4th, not fluent next, weakened 4 out
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, 6th and looking held when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
led, mistake and headed 8th, weakening when not fluent 3 out
TARTAK gets the vote in this most competitive of handicap chases ahead of Free World and Kalahari King, although few can be discounted. Our selection helped force a strong pace in the King George when last seen - a performance which followed a good second in the Peterborough chase - and we feel this drop back into handicap company can reap instant rewards. His sole run over today's trip resulted in a good fifth in the Arkle, so whilst the gelding is better known for his exploits over three miles we feel that he could prove very hard to beg back over the minimum if jumping well. The long list of dangers is headed by Free World, a talented but frustrating sort from the Paul Nicholls yard. He looked a most exciting prospect last year when narrowly denied in Grade One novice company, but a worrying tendency to find one to good has done his reputation no favours. However, a switch to patient tactics helped the horse see out his race better when last seen and he's surely capable off progressing beyond this mark of 152, so the six-year-old is a real threat. Kalahari King makes his long-awaited seasonal debut and is asked to carry top weight for it. His second to Twist Magic when last seen is very strong form, as is his second in the Arkle on which he's closely matched with our pick at the weights. The concern is he's clearly had his problems and connections will be using this as a stepping stone towards Cheltenham, so today may be the day to oppose him with an eye on the future. I'msingingtheblues is another Nicholls runner with claims. He won this race last year in impressive fashion and a 7lb higher mark might not have stopped him that day, although we feel this might be a shade more competitive. Leo's Lucky Star is interesting towards the foot of the weights having shown drastically improved form when scoring last time. He'd previously not looked a natural over fences but this mark looks reasonable on his hurdles form and if he jumps well once more there's no reason he can't go close. Oiseau De Nuit won well last time and these are very much his conditions, but this looks a touch more competitive and he needs more from this revised rating. Pepsyrock is a talented and unexposed sort but he jumped poorly when making his seasonal debut in November and his habit of throwing in the odd howler is enough for us to look elsewhere, so of more interest is Tarotino who was pulled up last time but the stable are going better now and providing the ground doesn't get too soft he could surprise a few. Doctor David was second in this last year and has claims on that but he's not looked the same horse since and along with Santa's Son looks worth opposing, whilst the latter's stablemate Lennon is of some each way appeal under ideal conditions. This is a real minefield but in our view Tartak might represent some value and can make all to score.
Kalahari King (FR) 5-4fav (11-6) Not always fluent, held up, shaken up and headway approaching 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Twist Magic (11-6) at Sandown 2m chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
I'msingingtheblues (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, held up in touch, mistake 7th, headway to 3rd approaching 2 out, one pace and no chance with front pair, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Petit Robin (11-4) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Free World (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Behind, blundered badly 5th, headway to 4th after 12th (old 3 out) stayed on approaching last, chased winner run-in closed near finish always held, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind French Opera (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-130 (2) sft in Dec.
Tartak (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, weakened before 5 out, 7th of 13, well behind Kauto Star (11-10) at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Tarotino (FR) 12-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 12th, in a race won by Tranquil Sea (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Lennon (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Tended to jump left, led after 1st, headed after 3rd, chased winner, lost place 6th, weakened from 3 out, 6th of 7, 27l behind Twist Magic (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f Grade 1 chs (1) sft in Jan.
Santa's Son (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, blundered 8th, outpaced when mistake 4 out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, well behind The Sawyer (9-8) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Jan.
Moon Over Miami (GER) 12-1 (11-6) Held up, chased leaders 4 out, went 2nd after last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-4) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-125 (2) sft in Jan.
Andreas (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, headway into 4th 10th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 49l behind Twist Magic (11-6) at Sandown 2m chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 2-1fav (10-4) Held up mid-division, led approaching 2 out, stayed on to go clear approaching last, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-125 (2) sft in Jan beating Moon Over Miami (11-6) by 7l, 8 ran.
Doctor David 50-1 (11-2) Reluctant to go to post, prominent, chased leader 4th, led 8th to after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 8, 25l behind Petit Robin (11-4) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Pepsyrock (FR) 10-3fav (11-7) Took keen hold, soon in touch, blundered badly 6th, weakening when hit 2 out, 6th of 10, 38l behind Consigliere (11-2) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Beggars Cap (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, effort approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 15, 42l behind Watch My Back (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec.
Leo's Lucky Star (USA) 8-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, headway 6th, led 2 out, in command last, pushed out flat, won at Warwick 2m beg chs (4) sft in Dec beating Quartz De Thaix (11-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
Lorient Express (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Led, headed approaching 4th, tracked leader, led 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-4) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-125 (2) sft in Jan.
