tracking leader when blundered badly and unseated rider 6th
held up, pecked 10th, lost touch next, left remote 3rd at last, lost 3rd close home
tracked leaders, hit 9th, chased winner from next, weakened after 4 out, hit next, finished tired
in touch, headway and left 2nd at 6th, drew well clear after 4 out, hit 2 out, easily
jumped badly right throughout, led until 9th, weakened 4 out, poor 3rd when refused last
lost touch from 11th, tailed off when left 4th at last, went 3rd close home
mistake 2nd, hit 4th, lost touch 11th, pulled up before 2 out
The Venetia Williams-trained Flintoff clearly has ability but needs to improve on all known form to trouble Hoh Viss, who is taken to open his account over fences in a race where Nonantais rates the main danger. The selection was just about the pick of these over hurdles and gave every indication that he would be the best of them over fences as well when making a creditable chase debut before lack of peak fitness told behind Heez A Dreamer under extreme conditions at Uttoxeter last month. Bally Bolshoi showed progressive form over hurdles last term but gave little sign for encouragement on his chasing debut at Chepstow recently, while Barton Legend has been similarly disappointing in two starts over fences this term. Mark Bradstock's Nonantais did as well as could have been expected when returned to fences at Plumpton recently and looks the main threat judged by that effort but there should be more to come from Hoh Viss and he is preferred.
Barton Legend 14-1 (10-13) Chased leader to 7th, soon behind, mistake 10th and next, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Opera Mundi (10-11) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Colony Hill (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) In touch until 8th, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Minella Tipperary (11-8) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov, 14 ran.
Flintoff (USA) 6-1 (10-11) Prominent, led after 4th, headed 6th, led again after 7th, ridden and hung left after 2 out, headed and hung left flat, stayed on, 2nd of 5, nk behind Principe Azzurro (11-0) at Towcester 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Nov.
Hoh Viss 9-4fav (11-0) In touch, mistake 8th, ridden after 9th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 12, 17l behind Heez A Dreamer (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov.
Nonantais (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Jumped right, led, reminders after 9th, headed next, no chance with winner from 3 out, 2nd of 6, 13l behind New Little Bric (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Nov.
Solid As A Rock 20-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, ridden and struggling 11th, tailed off, 5th of 7, 47l behind Geeveem (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Bally Bolshoi (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Towards rear, weakened after 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Hiers De Brouage (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov, 8 ran.
