held up mid-division, raced wide and headway before 4 out, ridden before and hit last, kept on same pace
tracked leader, hit 5th, weakened before 8th, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear
prominent, pushed along and weakened after 4 out
tracked leaders, quickly weakened 7th, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, led 6th, headed before 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, in touch before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on
in rear, effort before 2 out, never dangerous
always behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, pushed along and headway before 8th, ridden before 2 out, never dangerous
held up behind, headway 8th, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, chased winner before 2 out, kept on and no impression
in touch, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, chased leaders before 3 out, ridden before last, no impression
led, pushed along and headed 6th, weakened before 3 out
in touch, reminders before 7th, weakened from next, pulled up before 4 out
held up behind, pushed along before 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 8th
mid-division, headway before 4 out, led before 3 out, clear from 2 out, kept on well
held up towards rear, ridden before 8th, weakened from 4 out
It's never easy working out these series qualifiers as most of these will have the final at Cheltenham next month as their main target. In addition, several of these are back over hurdles having lost confidence over fences. The latter group includes Cape Tribulation, Wayward Prince, Mr Moonshine, Tamarinbleu, Sunnyhillboy and Sa Suffit but there possibilities about Ben's Folly back over timber and Tour Des Champs found only the in-form Theologist too good over 3m2f at Huntingdon last month. Safran De Cotte didn't appear to last home over a longer trip at Warwick last time so we'll take Cheltenham winner HOUBLON DES OBEAUX to reverse earlier course running with Henry Daly's charge on 5lb better terms. Chepstow dead-heater Palace Jester also warrants a second look but Tornado Bob has proved disappointing this season and Pegasus Prince may prefer better ground.
Cape Tribulation 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place 5 out, 14th of 15, well behind Calgary Bay (11-11) at Doncaster 3m Listed Handicap Chase (0-155) (5yo+) (1) gs in Jan.
Wayward Prince 11-2fav (11-6) Held up well in rear, some headway 4 out, never dangerous, 7th of 15, 20l behind Calgary Bay (11-11) at Doncaster 3m Listed Handicap Chase (0-155) (5yo+) (1) gs in Jan.
Tornado Bob (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Prominent, led over 10f out, headed 9f out, led again over 4f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no impression final 150 yards, 2nd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Rory Boy (10-11) at Southwell 2m n h flat (6) std.
Houblon Des Obeaux (FR) 11-1 (10-1) Held up behind leaders, closed 8th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, driven into lead before last, soon headed, led narrowly after last, pressed all the way to the finish, held on, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan beating Kayf Aramis (10-0) by hd, 8 ran.
Palace Jester 6-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, soon led, joined by rival post, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Dec deadheating with Rev It Up (11-6), 8 ran.
Mr Moonshine (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Led and clear with one other to 10th, mistake 6th, headed 12th, soon lost place, weakened before 3 out, 5th of 6, well behind Grands Crus (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grade 1 (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Tamarinbleu (FR) 14-1 (10-5) Mistakes, soon behind, reminders after 6th, never near leaders, 8th of 10, 47l behind The Giant Bolster (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
Sunnyhillboy (IRE) 7-2fav (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 9th, lost place 11th, soon behind, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Quantitativeeasing (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Scotsbrook Cloud 12-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 3rd, not fluent 7th, headway when not fluent 10th, ridden after 3 out, switched right approaching last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Snake Charmer (10-1) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Sep.
Alfie Sherrin 25-1 (11-11) Mid-division, hit 7th, reminders 8th, outpaced 12th, never on terms, 7th of 14, 28l behind Cruchain (10-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jan.
As De Fer (FR) 10-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, mistakes 10th and 11th, no impression on leaders 5 out, weakened 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Le Beau Bai (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 5f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) hvy in Dec, 20 ran.
Sa Suffit (FR) 16-1 (11-7) In touch, weakened 11th, behind and no chance when slightly hampered 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 14, 40l behind Tatenen (11-3) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Tour Des Champs (FR) 8-1 (9-12) Led, headed 8th, led again narrowly 3 out, driven and joined last, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Theologist (9-13) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Safran De Cotte (FR) 5-1fav (10-8) Mid-division, ridden and struggling from 9th, 11th of 16, 33l behind Thehillofuisneach (10-11) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Heathcliff (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Led to 4 out, ridden and outpaced next, kept on same pace under pressure from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Reindeer Dippin (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Jan.
Ben's Folly (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on inside,hit 5th and 12th, led 2 out, ridden and headed last, pushed left and hit rail flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Gotoyourplay (11-2) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Pegasus Prince (USA) 10-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, outpaced from 18th, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 32l behind Posh Bird (10-3) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Grand Vision (IRE) 5-4fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, led after 4th, jumped left 2 out, soon ridden, went left again last, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan beating Dusky Bob (11-6) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Chamirey (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Prominent, ridden after 7th, soon beaten, 5th of 9, 26l behind Sandynow (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
Riptide 40-1 (11-9) Prominent early, soon lost place and in rear, tailed off from 8th, 11th of 12, 48l behind Dais Return (11-1) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
