held up, went 2nd 7th, distance down when left in lead 10th, hit 2 out, ridden last, stayed on well flat
held up, left in touch, 10th, blundered next, challenged and every chance last, ridden and no extra flat
raced keenly, led 2nd and soon clear, 34 lengths clear when fell 10th
held up, left in touch 10th, hit and lost touch 3 out, no danger after
led to 2nd, tracked clear leader, left 2nd 10th, ridden approaching last, one pace flat
Dom d'Orgegeval gets the confident vote here with Himalayan Trail and L'Antartique rating the main dangers. The selection was the best of these over hurdles and made a pleasing debut over fences when beating Back For The Craic, he looks sure to improve and he is taken to win this before being sent to the Cheltenham Festival for the Sun Alliance chase. L'Antartique rates the main danger on his best form but he fell last time out and it is hard to know if his confidence will have been effected so he is taken on with this in mind. Himalayan Trail has looked a different horse since being sent chasing and is unbeaten to date over the larger obstacles but this is his toughest assignement to date and his overall profile leaves him with a little to find. The remainder look outclassed and for the winner we return to Dom d'Orgegeval who need only put in a clear round to score.
Dom d'Orgeval (FR) 2-9fav (11-5) In touch, smooth headway12th, led 3 out, clear approaching last, eased flat, won at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs in Jan beating Back For The Craic (11-5) by 4l, 6 ran.
L'Antartique (FR) 4-9fav (11-9) Tracking winner when fell at the 12th in race won by More Likely (11-2) at Kelso 2m 6f nov chs (2) sft in Jan, 5 ran.
Captain Murphy (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, weakened 3 out, virtually pulled up, 6th of 12, well behind The Abbots Habit (11-4) at Ayr 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Piraeus (NZ) 9-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, outpaced 7th, rallied 2 out, no impression flat, 5th of 16, 14l behind Witch Wind (11-5) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Tynedale (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Tracked leaders, outpaced 11th, 5th and beaten when blundered 4 out, 4th of 7, 26l behind Crackadee (11-5) at Newcastle 3m beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Himalayan Trail 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 5 out, blundered last, soon headed, rallied to lead again flat, driven out, won at Catterick 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Jan beating Nine De Sivola (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
