mid-division, not fluent and behind from 9th, tailed off
held up in rear, ridden and struggling after 10th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
led to 10th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway 9th, ridden after 3 out, under strong pressure from 2 out, ran on flat
mostly chased leader, led 3 out, headed when not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last
always prominent, reminders before 9th, led 10th, headed 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, headed and edged right approaching last, kept on flat
prominent, jumped slowly 5th, ridden after 10th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in rear, well beaten 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division on outside, headway 9th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, headway on inside when mistake 3 out, led approaching last, edged left flat, all out
held up in rear, well beaten 3 out
in touch, ridden 3 out, weakened after 2 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
It is hard to look beyond LITTLE SHILLING here and he is nominated to get the better of Officier De Reserve and Snake Charmer. Tim Vaughan's 7-year-old won well last time when he beat Honour High at Fontwell. He defied a huge rise in the weights to score that day and there is every chance that the handicapper has yet to get his measure. Officier De Reserve ran better than the bare form would suggest over the chasing fences at Chepstow last time and he has to be of interest back over timber today. He can go well, along with Snake Charmer who has got some solid form over hurdles and he will handle the ground. Oliver Sherwood's Six Day War is another to consider, although the horse he beat last time has since been out and let the form down. Little Shilling goes from strength to strength and he can complete the seven-timer.
Officier De Reserve (FR) 13-2 (10-2) Held up, headway 17th, effort 3 out, hung left and hit last, no extra, 4th of 20, 7l behind Notre Pere (11-0) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden 17th, soon weakened, 6th of 12, well behind Cornish Sett (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Nov.
Arctic Echo 20-1 (10-6) Held up, ridden along after 7th, never on terms, 12th of 21, 33l behind Albertas Run (10-4) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr '07.
Pennek (FR) 8-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, keen early, hit 8th, ridden after 3 out, soon outpaced, hampered 2 out, stayed on last, went 3rd final 75 yards, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Big Buck's (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs.
Six Day War (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden 3 out, headway soon after, with leader from 2 out, hard ridden and led line, won at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Havenstone (10-3) by a ns, 14 ran.
The Very Man (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 4th, headway 4 out, led approaching 2 out, driven out, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec beating Fair Question (11-1) by 2l, 10 ran.
Kayf Aramis 13-2 (11-7) In touch, ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on from 2 out to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 13l behind Gullible Gordon (11-7) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Go Amwell 16-1 (10-13) In touch, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next, 5th of 9, 10l behind Little Shilling (10-8) at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
Snake Charmer 7-4fav (11-6) Held up in touch, slow 5th, chased leaders 9th, not fluent next, led 3 out, clear before last, unchallenged after, won at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd beating Leo McGarry (11-5) by 27l, 7 ran.
Maktu 10-1 (11-6) Held up behind, headway after 8th, ridden after 3 out, hit next, stayed on same pace, 4th of 18, 12l behind Heathcliff (10-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Nadover (FR) 20-1 (11-4) Mid-division, steady headway from 24th, ridden after 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, stayed on, closing at finish, 3rd of 16, 2l behind Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
Cannon Fire (FR) 5-2fav (10-0) Soon tracking leaders, led 4 out, shaken up after 3 out, clear when went left last 2, stayed on strongly, won at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec beating Gallileo Figaro (9-8) by 11l, 9 ran.
Little Shilling (IRE) 4-1 (10-8) In touch, headway 8th, led after 3 out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Fontwell 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Dec beating Honour High (11-4) by 4l, 9 ran.
Mumbles Head (IRE) 1-4fav (11-8) Pressed winner, led 3 out, headed flat, no extra, finished lame, 2nd of 6, 3l behind King Barry (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) gf in May '07.
