jumped left at times, made all, pushed clear before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden out
tracked winner until 3rd, went 2nd again 11th, pushed along before 3 out, hit next, ridden between last 2, lost 2nd soon after, no extra in 3rd
bit keen, held up in 5th, headway on outside tracking leaders before 10th, outpaced in rear before 11th, went modest 4th before 3 out
raced keenly, held up in 4th, closer at 6th, pushed along before 12th, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened into 5th before 3 out
raced wide tracking leaders, went 2nd 3rd until 11th, chased leading pair, pushed along before 3 out, went 2nd before the last, driven and stayed on run-in, always held
It’s disappointing that there is no Altior in the line-up but Nicky Henderson has a decent replacement in TOP NOTCH, who won this 12 months ago. The nine-year-old had to be ridden out to beat 100/1 chance Kauto Riko in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last month and the runner-up is 2lb better off, though it would be a surprise if her turned the tables. Born Survivor looks held on that run but Frodon looks a big danger dropping back in trip having failed to stay in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. Keeper Hill is talented but his confidence over fences is fragile.
Frodon (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Close up, pushed along before 4 out, kept on same pace, no chance with clear pair before 2 out, 3rd of 4, 26 1/2l behind Lostintranslation (11-7) at Haydock 3m 2f (1) gs in Nov.
Top Notch (FR) 15-8fav (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, led next, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec beating Kauto Riko (11-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Born Survivor (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 8th until awkward 2 out, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 7 1/4l behind Top Notch (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec.
Kauto Riko (FR) 100-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, in touch 10th, pushed along after 3 out, 4th 2 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Top Notch (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f (1) gs in Dec.
Keeper Hill (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) In rear, mistake 4th, pushed along 6th, not fluent next, mistake 8th, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
