towards rear, mistake 5th, headway 4 out to chase leaders, held when fell last
tracked leaders, led 7th, headed 3 out and hit, held when fell last
tracked leaders, led 3 out, clear last
in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, weakened 3 out, hampered last
towards rear, headway after 4 out, chased winner approaching last, in vain
in touch, ridden 7th, lost touch 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway 6th, weakened 3 out
led, headed 7th, weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out, left 3rd last
always in rear, mistake 2nd, pulled up before last
keen in rear, tailed off 6th, fell 3 out
In terms of quality this again does not look to be the best of contests and marginal preference is for Oncle Bul, who gets the vote over Roussea and Tosula. The last mentioned is less exposed than her rivals after just four career starts and Paul Keane's filly showed her best form last time out when pitched into a handicap for the first time; she should be thereabouts again. Venetia Williams has her string in flying form so her runner Never So Blue has to be respected but he would need to run better than at Aintree on his reappearance last month. Silvo has claims on the pick of his form, although more solid claims are held by the consistent Roussea but he does appear to be a shade high in the weights at present. The vote then goes to Oncle Bul who represents the in-form yard of Robert Alner and comes into this on the back of an improved effort over hurdles at Wincanton last time. The five-year-old may improve for being put over the larger obstacles and he looks worth chancing.
Chicago Alley 20-1 (11-4) Prominent, went 2nd approaching 5th, weakening when blundered last, 6th of 17, 9l behind Queens Destiny (10-5) at Towcester 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May.
High Jack (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, not fluent 2 out, one pace, 7th of 18, 7l behind Mendosino (10-11) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Never So Blue (FR) 11-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, some headway approaching next, no impression, 10th of 15, 22l behind Souffleur (10-6) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Roussea (IRE) 7-4fav (11-2) Hit 1st, held up, headway approaching 8th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 10, 31l behind Deep Quest (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Nov.
Oncle Bul (FR) 15-2 (11-2) Mid-division, headway on bit approaching 2 out, chased leaders and ridden after 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Backlash (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Oct.
Musical Gift 15-2 (11-0) Towards rear, headway 5th, led briefly after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 14, 9l behind Thievery (10-4) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Master Bell 33-1 (10-5) In touch, ridden 5th, weakened after 3 out, 7th of 11, 31l behind Miss Midnight (10-3) at Wincanton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Northern Quest (IRE) 11-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, keen, weakened after 3 out, 8th of 9, 34l behind Miss Pross (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Macreater 11-1 (10-8) Led until after 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next, 7th of 10, 24l behind Ndola (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Tosula 33-1 (10-1) Held up, headway 8th, every chance last, no extra, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Thievery (10-4) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Eyes To The Right (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Pulled hard, led 5th, clear 8th, headed 4 out, soon held, 2nd of 4, 24l behind Warrior Drive (11-2) at Hereford 2m 3f beg chs (4) frm in Nov.
Silvo (NZ) 13-2 (10-4) Chased winner 2nd until 10th, ridden and weakened between last 2, last of 4, 9l behind Beau Torero (11-9) at Fakenham 2m cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
