held up in mid-division, chased leaders approaching 10th, every chance approaching 4 out, soon ridden and weakened tailed off and 3 out
chased leader, led after 2nd, hit 13th, ridden after 4 out, mistake 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat
held up towards rear, headway 10th, no fluent 11th, weakened 12th, pulled up before 4 out
led to after 2nd, chased leader, mistake 11th, hit 13th and soon ridden, challenged and mistake 2 out, led approaching last, driven out flat
held up in mid-division, lost place and weakened 8th, pulled up before 10th
Blue Splash can get back on the right track; possibly at the main expense of All right Now M' Lad and Dream Alliance. The last named is a proven mudlark and goes well at Exeter. He won a novices' chase here in good style last time out and has to be respected on that form. Alright Now M' Lad also won a similar race at Wetherby last October and was far from disgraced in better company here last month. It is noteworthy that Tony McCoy dashes off to Cheltenham for just one ride after this, and he would not need to drag much improvement out of his mount to finish his Exeter duties on a high note. However, he may have to settle for second fiddle if Blue Splash turns up in a mean frame of mind. The six-year-old - a brother to Feltham Chase winner Ungaro - has always looked a chaser in the making and he is fancied to be good value for this introduction to the larger obstacles.
Alright Now M'Lad (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up, effort 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 23l behind Patsy Hall (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (2) sft in Dec.
Dream Alliance 4-6fav (10-11) In touch, led approaching 7th, hit 2 out, stayed on strongly, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Nov beating Dream Falcon (10-5) by 8l, 10 ran.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 6th, hit 10th, led 3 out, soon clear, won at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) gs in Oct beating Teeton Babysham (11-0) by 9l, 7 ran.
Blue Splash (FR) 15-8fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leaders approaching 2 out, outpaced and stayed on to take 2nd again flat, 2nd of 15, 3l behind Joaaci (10-12) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Bobsleigh 25-1 (10-7) In touch, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 15, 28l behind Fountain Crumble (10-5) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Kilcarty (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Chased leaders until 7th, lost touch 11th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Dream Alliance (10-11) at Exeter 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
