prominent, led 9th, headed next, led again 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, led 2 out, ran on well
held up in rear, mistake 7th, beaten 6 out, tailed off
held up in touch, keen, weakened 5 out, tailed off
reluctant start and very slowly away, detached until joined main group 5th, headway 8th, chased leaders next, ridden to challenge 2 out, no extra closing stages
led, keen, mistake 3rd, slow 9th, soon headed, led again next, headed 3 out, weakened next
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, took closer order 8th, weakened 4 out
There is strength-in-depth in this novices’ chase so it’s difficult to make a case for the likes of Eddy and Spring Wolf. Defi Du Seuil was last of five behind Lalor at Cheltenham but that was a Grade 2. Topofthegame fell on his chasing bow at Newbury last season but went on to win a Grade 3 handicap over hurdles and finish a close second in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. With a clear round, he could make a race of it with BLACK OP but there will be some long faces if Tom George’s seven-year-old comes up short given he wasn’t far off the best novices over hurdles last season and won a Grade 1 at Aintree in April. He’s already won a point so the switch to fences could see him in an even better light. White Moon was in the process of running a good race at Cheltenham last month when falling at the last and winners have already come out of that contest while Westend Story should also win races over the larger obstacles.
Black Op (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led before not fluent 3 out, hard pressed 2 out, hit last and headed, soon led again, headed 120 yards out, stayed on well to regain lead towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr beating Lostintranslation (11-4) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Defi Du Seuil (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Not always fluent, in touch in rear, tracked leaders 4 out, outpaced after next, no extra between last 2, 4th and beaten when blundered last, weakened flat, last of 5, 25l behind Lalor (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Nov.
Eddy 40-1 (10-9) Always behind, 9th of 13, 33 1/4l behind Solstice Star (11-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
Spring Wolf 66-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, poor 5th when pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 2m 2f (4) gs in Mar.
Topofthegame (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) In touch, challenged 2 out, led narrowly last, soon ridden, kept on when headed inside final 100 yards, just held, 2nd of 26, nk behind Bleu Berry (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Westend Story (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) With leader, led 3rd (usual 5th), ridden and headed over 1f out, soon weakened, 11th of 14, 26l behind Speedo Boy (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
White Moon (GER) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders to 6th, held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, outpaced in 4th after next, rallied and in touch when not much room and fell last, at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
