tracked leader, in rear from 4th, ridden after 4 out, kept on same pace to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner
led, headed approaching 2 out, weakened and lost 2nd place flat
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, led approaching 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well
held up in touch, weakened after 4 out
in rear, weakened approaching 4 out
A contest to enjoy here and CORNAS is preferred to Pasco and Or Bleu. The selection has been a regular at picking up prize money as reward for his consistency, and he acts over the minimum trip and with cut in the ground. He ran very well here in the Haldon Gold Cup last month and was not disgraced from 3lbs higher than that at Ascot next time. He has earned his mark of 150, usually jumps very well, and will take some beating. Pasco came out on the wrong end of a hammer-and-tongs battle with Mount Oscar on Hennessy day, for which he has gone up 6lbs. The winner did nothing for the form at Cheltenham over the weekend, but we would be foolish to write off the Ditcheat inmate on that basis and with McCoy up he is hugely respected. Or Bleu was looking beaten when falling in that same Newbury race, and although he acts on the ground and stays a bit further than this, he looks to have a bit too much to find with the leading pair today. Procas De Thaix looks the better of the other pair, but Cornas is the one for us.
Or Bleu (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Behind when blundered and fell 10th, in a race won by Mount Oscar (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Pasco (SWI) 9-2fav (11-6) Led 2nd to 5th, stayed handy, challenged 13th, led approaching 4 out, kept on well from last until no extra and headed near finish, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Mount Oscar (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Cornas (NZ) 7-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 11l behind Fix The Rib (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (2) gd in Nov.
Master Cobbler (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, mistake 5th and 11th, chased winner approaching 3 out, lost position when jumped slowly last, one pace flat, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Gleann An Sagart (11-7) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Procas de Thaix (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, lost place 7th, soon behind, left remote 3rd last, never on terms, 3rd of 8, 32l behind Pocket Aces (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (3) sft.
