in touch until 5th, soon struggling in rear, well behind 8th, stayed on past beaten horses from 3 out, went 3rd flat
held up, headway approaching 5th, went 2nd after 8th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakening when hit last, lost 3rd flat
raced wide, tracked leaders, hit 8th, soon ridden, weakened 4 out, tailed off
tailed off from 7th
in touch, awkward first 3 fences, hard ridden from 4 out, led 3 out, ridden clear from last
behind from 7th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
in touch, headway after 8th, ridden to challenge 3 out, every chance last, no extra
hampered 2nd, hit 6, always towards rear, tailed off
PAUILLAC gets the vote in this handicap chase, although Master d'Or and Nemetan are also considered. The selection has been off the track since March but he was last seen in the Jewson novices' handicap chase at the Cheltenham festival and he has plenty of class. He won on his seasonal bow last year and we put him forward to do so again. Master d'Or is also making his seasonal reappearance here so he should strip fitter for the run. He does go on the ground but he is arguably better on a quicker surface and on that basis we will take him on. Nemetan looked in need of the run at Towcester last month and he is admirably consistent so he should again run his race. Brave Villa was well beaten last time and the form has since taken a knock so he looks one to swerve. We will stick with Pauillac as the pick.
Pauillac (FR) 33-1 (10-5) Mid-division, reminders 7th, headway 4 out, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 9th of 20, 16l behind Finger Onthe Pulse (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hcp chs (1) gs in Mar.
Down The Stretch 16-1 (10-9) Hampered and unseated rider in race won by Creinch (9-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft, 10 ran.
Brave Villa (FR) 5-2 (11-11) Led 3rd, ridden and headed briefly approaching 3 out, headed 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 5, 23l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-8) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy.
Eluvaparty 18-1 (11-11) Led, ridden and headed 4 out, led again 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 3l behind Nemetan (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Major Euro (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) In touch when fell at the 7th in race won by King Louis (11-2) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Nemetan (FR) 7-2fav (10-13) With leaders, led 4th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 7th of 18, 4 1/2l behind Picky (11-5) at Towcester 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Towards rear, headway 5 out, went poor 3rd after 3 out, 3rd of 10, 32l behind Araldur (11-3) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Master d'Or (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 9th, outpaced after 4 out, stayed on again from 2 out, 2nd of 12, 11l behind Down The Stretch (11-10) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Great Character (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 10th, weakened after next, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Artipreuil (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
