in rear, chased leading pair from 4th, pushed along before and hit 5 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last
with leader from 2nd, ridden to challenge before 3 out, led last, kept on gamely run-in, held on well towards finish
led from 2nd, ridden before 3 out and under pressure, headed last, every chance run-in, no extra towards finish
led to 2nd, tracked leaders, in rear from 4th, detached from 6th and soon well behind, not fluent 5 out, went very remote 3rd last
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Benartic was tailed off on his final start over hurdles last season and pulled up on his reappearance at Cheltenham in October. Unraced since, the seven-year-old is probably best watched on his chasing debut. Cool Mission's form figures are impressive but he hasn't been close to breaking his duck over the larger obstacles so far. Silent Cliché was odds-on over a longer trip at Sedgefield last time but fell after being hampered on the final circuit. He can't be ignored here but preference is for BESHABAR, who was in the process of running a fine race in good company at Cheltenham in November when brought down at the second-last. He made mistakes that day but will have had plenty of schooling since and is probably the one to beat.
Benartic (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Chased leaders until weakened rapidly before 4 out, behind and pulled up before next, in a race won by Russian War (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct, 17 ran.
Beshabar (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, mistake 5th, not fluent next, hit 4 out, headway to chase leaders when hit 3 out, 4th when hampered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Wayward Prince (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gs in Nov, 8 ran.
Cool Mission (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Led until 2nd, tracked leader until not fluent 9th, soon ridden and lost place, rallied approaching 2 out, jumped left and left 2nd last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Fredo (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chase (4) sft.
Flowonlovelyriver (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Led untiol 6th, weakened well before 4 out, taile doff and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Sherwani Wolf (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft, 15 ran.
El Zorro 12-1 (11-4) Held up, not fluent 1st, headway 2nd, went 2nd 12th, not fluent 4 out, led next, headed approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace last, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Master d'Or (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Ramborob (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Chased leading pair until jumped slow 1st, soon in rear, pushed along after 5th, weakened 5 out, soon tailed off, last of 4, well behind Aberdale (11-2) at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Silent Cliche (IRE) 4-7fav (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, jumped right 6th, reminders approaching and hit 10th, went 2nd from 11th, hampered 17th, a close 2nd when badly hampered and fell 18th, in a race won by Radharc Na Mara (10-7) at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) gs in Jan, 6 ran.
