held up in touch in 4th, jumped left 3rd, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well, driven out
led to 5th, jumped slow next, ridden and weakened from 3 out
chased leaders, led 7th, headed approaching 2 out, 2 lengths down in 2nd and one pace when blundered last, lost 2nd flat, kept on
held up in 5th, pushed approaching 9th, ridden and blundered 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led 5th to 7th, remained close up, stayed on to take 2nd flat
in rear, pushed along 10th, weakened from 4 out
A tightly-knit race in which RECIF DE THAIX is narrowly preferred to Cool Friend, Awesome George and Ginolad. Paul Nicholls' five-year-old has taken well to fences and on official ratings he has a good chance today. Admittedly his run at Wincanton last time was disappointing however before then he had looked progressive and his career can get back on track on better ground today. Cool Friend has been unlucky to bump into some smart mares however she looks to be in another tough race and whilst her weight-for-sex allowance makes her an attractive proposition she is taken on. Awesome George has been given a break since finishing fifth to Weird Al at Cheltenham. The form of that race looks strong but he needs to show more zest today under his penalty. Ginolad also has a penalty and this Australian import went off too quick last time in a hot race won by Burton Port. The drop in trip and better ground should be in his favour today if more restrained. The other three are just making up the numbers, so this race can go to Recif De Thaix.
Awesome George 9-4fav (11-5) Tracked leading pair, ridden and weakening when mistake 2 out, last of 5, 38l behind Weird Al (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) sft in Dec.
Ginolad (AUS) 20-1 (11-4) Led, blundered 4th, headed next, hit 10th, weakened from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th, in a race won by Burton Port (11-8) at Southwell 3m nov chs (3) sft in Feb, 5 ran.
Recif De Thaix (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked winner, until weakened approaching 3 out, last of 3, 24l behind Green Belt Elite (11-5) at Wincanton 2m nov chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Beware Chalk Pit (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, dropped rear 5th, lost touch 9th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mighty Man (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m nov stks (3) sft in Jan, 5 ran.
Picture In The Sky (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Held up, hampered 2nd, slow 6th, lost place halfway, soon tailed off, pulled up 14th, in a race won by Khachaturian (11-2) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gs in Nov, 10 ran.
Cool Friend (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, held when blundered last, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Carole's Legacy (11-10) at Ffos Las 3m mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) gs in Jan.
Western Pride 200-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Robo (10-4) at Southwell 2m 4f cond nov hdl 4yo+ (4) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
