prominent, ridden after 12th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, ridden 2 out, soon no impression, mistake 2 out
chased leader, mistake 2nd, lost place 9th, weakened 4 out
in touch until mistake and unseated rider 7th
held up, headway 9th, ridden behind leaders 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, kept on but no chance with winner
in touch, chased leader 9th, led approaching 3 out, clear last, eased
always behind, lost touch after 9th, no impression
led, mistake 11th, ridden after 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, kept on one pace to regain 2nd from last
Plenty in fair form here but Sou' Wester impressed on his reappearance run and Colin Tizzard's charge gets the nod to win again at the main expense of Mighty Matters and Lidjo De Rouge. The selection never had to come off the bridle when winning last time and he should make a bold bid to follow up here despite a huge rise in the weights. The stable are in fair form and this lightly-raced eight-year-old can go on from here. Lidjo De Rouge looked a well-handicapped horse when dotting up at Wincancton on Boxing Day and a 7lb penalty should not be enough to stop a big run from being in the offing. Lease Back also comes here on the back of a victory and as he is still fairly unexposed in this country, it wouldn't be an awful surprise to see his winning continue now back over fences. Mighty Matters performed with credit in a better race than this at Sandown last time out and should not be easily overlooked, although this will require another career best effort. All in all this looks fairly open however we will take Sou' Wester to score again.
Mighty Matters (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) In touch, headway 11th, led 15th, clear after 4 out, driven after 3 out, mistake and headed 2 out, beaten when blundered last, 4th of 9, 19l behind Alfadora (9-11) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Randwick Roar (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Mid-division, ridden and slightly outpaced 12th, staying on until weakened 2 out and jumped left last, 6th of 10, 19l behind Leading Authority (11-7) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
My World (FR) 15-2 (11-5) Held up, ridden 9th, one pace when mistake last, 6th of 9, 6l behind Brave Villa (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Lease Back (FR) 14-1 (11-9) In touch, led 3 out, soon ridden, hit last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May beating Michaels Dream (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Sou'wester 11-8fav (11-2) Held up in touch, jumped right 6th, led 11th, easily, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Dec beating Running Hot (11-0) by 9l, 11 ran.
Lidjo De Rouge (FR) 15-2 (10-4) Prominent, chased leader 11th, ridden to lead approaching 3 out, in command 2 out, readily, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec beating Garston Star (10-1) by 15l, 9 ran.
I'm Supreme (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, gradually faded, 11th of 17, 14l behind National Trust (11-7) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Dec.
Romany Dream 50-1 (10-1) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 3 out, soon every chance, weakened before last, 6th of 16, 13l behind Basic Fact (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
