Paul Nicholls won this last year with Big Fella Thanks, who was carrying 1lb more than today's entry Fistral Beach. The latter warmed up for this with an impressive success at Wincanton, his first start since last April. He has an obvious chance here but stablemate Take The Breeze is looking high in the weights on what he's achieved to date. Chief Dan George is getting better with age and followed his victory here in February by taking the William Hill Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. He can go well as can Blazing Bailey, who was having only his fifth start over fences when storming away with a Cheltenham handicap on New Year's Day. Calgary Bay may not have quite fulfilled early potential but he's still a very good chaser on a fair mark and he's another to consider, though KING FONTAINE looks the one to beat. Malcolm Jefferson's charge has won his last four starts over fences, looking progressively better with each victory. He overcame several mistakes to land a tough Haydock handicap last time and these fences are not as stiff though Wogan, who won twice here early last year, will be better for finishing third that day and looks a threat. Irish raider Killyglen, runner-up to Wogan here last March, looks to have been trained with the race in mind and could reward each-way support.
Take The Breeze (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Settled in mid-division, headway 4 out, soon tracking leaders, effort approaching 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Massini's Maguire (11-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Chief Dan George (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Keen early, in touch, outpaced 11th, soon lost place, behind from 14th, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Imperial Commander (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs G1 (1) gs in Nov.
Killyglen (IRE) 2-1fav (10-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden and dropped to 3rd entering straight, no impression from before last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Four Chimneys (9-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp hdl hvy in Dec.
Calgary Bay (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) In touch on inside, effort 3 out, ridden next, chased leading pair approaching last, no impression flat, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 16, 8l behind Poquelin (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
King Fontaine (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Held up behind in touch, blundered 8th, mistake and reminder next, hit 11th, blundered 13th, headway on outside after 5 out, came stands' side and went 2nd before next, led before 3 out, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov beating Dance Island (11-11) by 11l, 8 ran.
Fistral Beach (IRE) 7-2fav (11-1) Tracked leader, led 5 out, driven and stayed on from 3 out, drew clear flat, eased towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft beating I'm A Legend (9-13) by 4l, 11 ran.
Theatrical Moment (USA) 8-1 (11-11) Always in rear, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Rustarix (9-13) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Nov.
Aimigayle 16-1 (10-7) Chased leader, blundered 9th, lost 2nd 4 out, outpaced from next, rallied approaching last, kept on well run-in to take 2nd final 100 yards, 2nd of 16, 5l behind The Last Derby (10-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct '09.
Wogan 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, driven and lost place after 5 out, ridden next, kept on under pressure from 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 8, 15l behind King Fontaine (11-1) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Saphir Des Bois (FR) 17-2 (11-8) Led, headed approaching 10th, reminders and weakened 11th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Storymaker (10-10) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr, 11 ran.
I'moncloudnine (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Prominent, hit 3rd, ridden and in 3rd approaching 2 out, kept on, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 18, 12l behind Synchronised (11-6) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs (1) sft.
Door Boy (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, chased leaders 13th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 15, 37l behind Tartak (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Khachaturian (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led, headed over 5f out, ridden over 4f out, weakened 2f out, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Den of Iniquity (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (5yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Ringaroses 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 7th, ridden 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 17, 42l behind Ashkazar (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs.
Burren Legend (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Behind, hampered 12th, tailed off 17th, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Meanus Dandy (9-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
Etxalar (FR) 20-1 (10-8) Held up in touch, mistake 3 out, ridden after 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 17, 35l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 11-2 (10-9) Always in last trio, struggling 9th, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Ballycarney (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Oct.
Dashing George (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Held up behind, some headway approaching 4 out, soon ridden and never a factor, 10th of 18, 31l behind Synchronised (11-6) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs (1) sft.
Blazing Bailey 11-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, led before last, soon clear, readily, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs beating Richard's Sundance (11-3) by 11l, 17 ran.
