led, reminders before 14th, headed 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, mistake 8th, blundered 13th, challenged before 3 out, led before and mistake last, driven out
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd fromo 14th, led 4 out, pressed before 3 out, headed before and blundered badly last, soon weakened
in rear, pushed along after 15th, weakened from 5 out, blundered 3 out
Benheir failed to complete in a decent novice chase at Cheltenham last time but had shaped well enough when runner-up on his chasing debut at Bangor. OSCARGO is rated much higher than him over hurdles, however, and this brother to a winning chaser is taken to open his account over fences at the first time of asking for Paul Nicholls. Both The Gossmoor Yank and Alpha Native have each had a couple of starts over fences without showing much so far and are hard to fancy as a consequence.
Alpha Native 18-1 (11-4) Led until 7th, ridden after 12th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, last of 6, 41l behind There's No Panic (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (4) sft in Oct.
Benheir (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Held up in touch towards rear, headway approaching 5th, not fluent 12th, hit 14th, ridden next, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Sire Collonges (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gs in Oct, 8 ran.
Oscargo (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Pulled hard, chased leaders, not fluent 7th, weakened 9th, driven in well held 5th when blundered badly 2 out, 6th of 11, 24l behind Theologist (9-13) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
The Gossmoor Yank (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Close up on outer, blundered 2nd, soon towards rear, reminders after 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Ruben Cotter (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in May, 15 ran.
