Take The Breeze isn't out of this, despite top weight, while Maktu was probably a little too free in the early stages when weakening into fifth in the Welsh National last month. Pat Murphy's stayer must have every chance of overturning earlier C&D running with the in-form King Fontaine on 16lb better terms. Both Becauseicouldntsee and Khachaturian give every impression they have been laid out for this race by connections and are much respected, but the handicapper may have caught up with Buffalo Bob and Frankie Figg's best form is over shorter. PALYPSO DE CREEK's recent form figures hardly inspire confidence but you feel the eight-year-old is just one relatively clear round away from a big-race win and he competes off a 4lb lower mark than when runner-up in this 12 months ago. At the likely odds, he could be the value bet.
Take The Breeze (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Settled in mid-division, headway 4 out, soon tracking leaders, effort approaching 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Massini's Maguire (11-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Sa Suffit (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, dropped to mid-division 9th, pushed along after 11th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by From Dawn To Dusk (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Madison Du Berlais (FR) 40-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, lost place 9th, soon behind, struggling 11th, no danger after, tailed off 4 out, 6th of 9, well behind Long Run (11-10) at Kempton 3m chs G1 (1) gs.
Becauseicouldntsee (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, 7th approaching halfway, 5th 4 out, 3rd 3 out, 2nd and ridden after 2 out, stayed on well without ever getting to winner, 2nd of 28, 2 1/2l behind Majestic Concorde (11-9) at Leopardstown 3m hcp chs 0-145 hvy in Dec.
King Fontaine (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Held up behind in touch, blundered 8th, mistake and reminder next, hit 11th, blundered 13th, headway on outside after 5 out, came stands' side and went 2nd before next, led before 3 out, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov beating Dance Island (11-11) by 11l, 8 ran.
Dream Alliance 28-1 (11-7) Behind, hit 1st and reminders, reminders again after 4th, hit 6th, tailed off from 15th, pulled up 6 out, in a race won by Synchronised (11-6) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs (1) sft, 18 ran.
Atouchbetweenacara (IRE) 80-1 (11-7) Led to 10th, chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, weakened from next, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Imperial Commander (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs G1 (1) gs in Nov.
Frankie Figg (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Jumped well, made all, ridden after last, stayed on well to go clear flat, won at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Nov beating Nikola (11-2) by 5l, 16 ran.
Maktu 9-2fav (10-3) Tracked leaders on outer and keen, took closer order 5th, ridden before 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 18, 24l behind Synchronised (11-6) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs (1) sft.
Buffalo Bob (IRE) 4-1fav (11-1) Led, mistake 3rd, ridden and headed before last, weakened final 150 yards, 4th of 17, 19l behind Blazing Bailey (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Palypso De Creek (FR) 10-1 (9-11) In touch, ridden and lost place 14th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Midnight Chase (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Khachaturian (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led, headed over 5f out, ridden over 4f out, weakened 2f out, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Den of Iniquity (11-0) at Southwell 2m Nat Hunt Flat (5yo+) (AWT) (4) std in Dec.
Major Malarkey (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, chased leaders when blundered 5 out, went 2nd next, led 2 out, ridden and held on under pressure flat, won at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Dec beating Promising Anshan (11-5) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
