soon held up in touch, effort after 3 out, soon chased winner, kept on one pace
led 2nd, headed 10th, soon weakened, pulled up after 12th
led, headed 2nd, remained prominent, slow 4th, ridden and weakened 4 out
in touch, jumped slow 14th, ridden and soon weakened
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway 14th, hampered 2 out, kept on
held up in rear, headway after 12th, disputing 2nd and 3 lengths down when fell 2 out
close up, mistake 8th, led 10th, headed next, led again 15th, headed after 3 out, weakening when hampered next
held up, headway 8th, mistake 10th, staying on when hampered 2 out
close up, led 11th, headed 15th, led again after 3 out, ridden out
held up, ridden after 12th, weakened 5 out
Nykel is the pick ahead of Menphis Beury, Would You Believe, Mighty Matters and Special Conquest. None here are really worth supporting solidly, but Alan King, whose chasers are in fair form at present, has no qualms about pitching the five-year-old Nykel in against his elders, so we shall take the hint. The ex-French gelding, successful twice over fences in his native land, was pulled up on his British debut at Aintree in October, but has got round on both visits to Wincanton this year, leaving the impression that this slightly shorter trip will be in his favour at present. In receipt of weight from all of his main rivals, he is worth chancing. Menphis Beury would have needed his Fakenham outing in January, as that was only his second since April, and at the age of six, he too has scope to improve so is worth keeping on the right side. Would You Believe will need the run and has to brush up his jumping anyway, and a bigger danger may be Mighty Matters who will appreciate this step up in trip. Special Conquest still has a bit to learn but is worth noting as well, but Nykel can emerge as the winner.
Special Conquest 13-2 (11-1) Led, not fluent and reminder 5th fell at the 8th in race won by De Blanc (10-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov chs (3) gs, 6 ran.
Menphis Beury (FR) 4-1 (10-7) Held up in touch, ridden 13th, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 38l behind Melford (10-13) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jan.
Cinnamon Line 25-1 (11-3) Held up rear, headway 9th, soon weakened, tailed off, 5th of 12, well behind Precious Bane (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Would You Believe 9-2 (11-1) Held up mid-division, blundered 2nd, headway 12th, chased leader 16th, led 4 out, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 11, 32l behind Barton May (11-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Apr.
Patriarch (IRE) 40-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden and effort after 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 14, 14l behind Lubinas (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
Nykel (FR) 7-2 (10-4) Prominent, ridden 17th, left 3rd 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, stayed on well from 2 out, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Florida Dream (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Runaway Bishop (USA) 15-2 (10-2) Prominent, lost place after 1st, headway 9th, hit and lost place 10th, stayed on flat, 4th of 10, 18l behind The Outlier (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
Mighty Matters (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Prominent, led after 13th, ridden 4 out, headed 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 12l behind East Lawyer (10-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Jan.
