handy, slow 7th, ridden after 9th, lost place 15th, pulled up before 18th
led 2nd until 4th, led after 9th, headed before next, well held after 18th, went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
in rear, ridden after 14th, mistake next, well beaten 18th, went 3rd after 4 out, left 2nd last, no chance with winner, lost 2nd towards finish
prominent, led 4th, headed 9th, led before 10th, well clear from 4 out, stayed on
held up on outside, slow 7th, mistake 12th, went 2nd when blundered 15th, well held by winner when mistake 3 out, no extra, pulled up before last
held up, blundered and unseated rider 9th
led until 2nd, led 9th, mistake 14th, well beaten after 18th, pulled up before 3 out
There are some dour stayers in this but most have been around the block more than a few times. It’s not always wise to take the form of veteran chases too literally but it was good to see BLAKLION get his head back in front here at the start of the month and he might be the one to beat again. He is a former winner of the Becher Chase, as is Vieux Lion Rouge who is also a course and distance winner. Chef D'oeuvre is another who goes well here and Bobo Mac has slipped to a decent mark. The Two Amigos can take some pegging back when allowed an easy lead but Beware The Bear is looking a light of former days and Captain Cattistock is returning from a break.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 11-1 (10-9) Mid-division, hampered and unseated rider 12th, at Aintree 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
The Two Amigos 20-1 (11-0) Mid-division, shaken up in last after 11th, fell 12th, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Dec.
Beware The Bear (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) In touch, short of room and lost place soon after 3rd, not trouble leaders, 8th of 14, 28 3/4l behind Snow Leopardess (11-0) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Blaklion 3-1 (10-7) Close up on inside from 2nd, led after 5th, reduced lead last, stayed on gamely and going away again towards finish, won at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec beating Aso (11-9) by 3 3/4l, 11 ran.
Captain Cattistock 12-1 (12-0) Prominent, led 4th until 5th, hit 14th, lost place before slow 16th, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 7, 31l behind Law Of Gold (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f (2) gd in May.
Bobo Mac (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Held up, made headway before 4 out, outpaced after 3 out, kept on after 2 out, rallied after final fence, 2nd of 7, 18l behind Minella Encore (11-6) at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Chef D'Oeuvre (FR) 28-1 (11-5) Close up, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 13 1/4l behind Saint Palais (10-10) at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
