held up, headway approaching 4 out, hard ridden after last, stayed on to lead close home
chased leaders, reminders 9th, weakened next
held up in touch, weakened approaching last
held up, ridden after 5 out, soon weakened
led, headed 8th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 8th
always behind
chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, one pace
tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed 2 out, every chance last, kept on flat
held up, headway approaching 4 out, weakened after 2 out
SAGALYRIQUE came good at Taunton last time in similar conditions and the way he won that day suggests that a 7lb penalty won't be enough to prevent him following-up. The dangers are probably Pavillon Bleu and Crank Hill. The last-named represents Bob Buckler, who does well here, but who appears to have entered a bit of a lean spell. The horse itself was a wide margin Towcester winner when last seen, but he has never won when fresh and this trip also looks plenty short enough for him. Pavillon Bleu returned from a 21-month absence to record a soft ground win here over slightly shorter last month. If he doesn't suffer from the dreaded bounce factor then from 8lbs higher he will be a force to be reckoned with. Foxesbow appears to want better ground and is hard to fancy from 9lbs higher than his only chase success, while if Pistol Desbois was able to reproduce his hurdling ability over the bigger obstacles then he would be well handicapped, though he does have it to prove at present. Therefore we will side with Sagalyrique. Alan King's five-year-old took a couple of races to get to fever pitch after a lengthy absence but left a very good impression at Taunton, and it will take a good effort to lower his colours today.
Pavillon Bleu (FR) 7-1 (10-8) Held up in mid-division, steady headway from 8th (5 out), tracked leading pair 4 out, 2nd 3 out, soon challenging, led 2 out, jumped right last, driven and kept on well flat, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov beating Green Belt Elite (11-6) by 3l, 12 ran.
Pur De Sivola (FR) 50-1 (10-9) Prominent early, behind from 10th, tailed off, 5th of 14, well behind Exmoor Ranger (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Sagalyrique (FR) 10-3 (11-12) With leader, led 8th, made rest, clear when jumped left from 2 out, driven out, comfortably, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft beating Mister Wiseman (11-3) by 13l, 10 ran.
Pistol Desbois (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Always in rear, slow jump 2nd, well behind when blundered 10th, 10th of 15, 24l behind Nikos Extra (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Bushwacker (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, effort 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 23l behind Sydney Sling (10-8) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Josear 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, join leader approaching 6th, led 7th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 13, 25l behind Russian Flag (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Foxesbow (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, bumped 2nd, behind from 9th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Double Mead (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Crank Hill 11-4fav (11-2) Hung right most of way, in rear, pushed along several times 1st circuit, mistake 2nd, closed 12th, led 4 out, drew clear approaching 2 out, lunged at last, ridden out, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Apr beating Green 'n' Gold (10-1) by 17l, 8 ran.
Ammunition (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway 14th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 10, 30l behind Fine By Me (9-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Jayne's Crusader 5-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, reminders 4th, when behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by You And I (11-8) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May, 11 ran.
Darn Hot 12-1 (9-11) Well in rear, ridden along 8th, headway into modest 5th approaching 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 12, 33l behind Pavillon Bleu (10-8) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Triple Bluff 10-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, 5 lengths 4th when fell 3 out, in a race won by Carrickmines (10-11) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Nov, 7 ran.
Nougat de L'Isle (FR) 17-2 (11-2) Tracked winner, reminders and lost place 8th, weakened 3 out, 10th of 11, 48l behind Deep Pockets (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
