held up mid-division, headway after 4 out, hampered next, led 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, under pressure 9th, headway 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, kept on approaching last, no chance with winner
mid-division, headway 10th, soon chasing leaders, not fluent 4 out, left in lead next, headed 2 out, soon under pressure and weakened
held up towards rear, mistake 11th, moderate headway when mistake 2 out, never on terms
led, headed 6th, hit next, led again 10th, hit 13th, soon headed, hit 15th, soon ridden and weakened
always behind, pulled up after 13th
held up in touch, lost place 12th, behind when pulled up last
prominent, joined leaders 4th, weakened 8th, pulled up 15th
with leader, led 6th, headed 10th, led again after 13th, blundered badly and headed 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up last
Course specialist New Perk, The Dark Lord and Yann's will have their supporters but our vote goes to Pasagai with Bronson F'Sure feared. Pasagai gave a sign of things to come when showing up well behind Character Building in February last year and duly confirmed that promise when making a winning return on just his third start over fences. That form looks solid and improvement is expected over this longer trip. Bronson F'Sure won three times at around this trip in the spring; two runs over shorter this season should have put him spot on for a crack at this prize and an improved performance is expected. Yann's, New Perk and The Dark Lord aren't particularly well handicapped and a bigger danger could be the unexposed Delightful Cliche who's had just three starts over fences but the claims of Pasagai are preferred.
The Dark Lord (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Mistakes, chased leaders, led 6th, headed after 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Victory Gunner (10-10) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Yann's (FR) 11-1 (10-9) Held up, ridden and outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on from 3 out, switched right and led flat, all out, won at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Dec beating Contact Dancer (11-8) by a hd, 10 ran.
Pasagai (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 10th, led after 2 out, just held on, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Dec beating Supreme Cara (10-4) by a hd, 11 ran.
New Perk (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up mid-division, weakened 3 out, 7th of 11, 25l behind Blaze Ahead (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Bronson F'sure 100-1 (10-12) Led, soon clear, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 28l behind Jack The Giant (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f chs (2) gs.
Moment of Madness (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up, headway when blundered 11th, weakening when blundered 3 out, pulled up before last pulled up * out in race won by Profowens (10-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Apr, 9 ran.
Delightful Cliche 5-4 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed 14th, outpaced from 2 out, 2nd of 4, 17l behind Sprosser (11-0) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Art Virginia (FR) 50-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway 6th, soon chasing leaders, led before 7th, headed 11th, weakened 14th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Kathleens Pride (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Follow Your Heart (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 12th, behind when pulled up in race won by Alcatras (11-8) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
