chased winner, hit 4th, lost 2nd before next, lost place after 7th, weakened before 12th, tailed off
made all, mistake 4 out, came well clear next, unchallenged
waited with in rear and raced keenly, closer in 5th home turn, went modest 4th before 3 out, bad mistake next
tracked leaders on inside, went 2nd before 8th, ridden well held and no chance with winner when mistake and lost 2nd 2 out
raced in 3rd out wide and keen, went 2nd before 5th until before 8th, chased leaders, hit 10th, awkward 1th, ridden before 3 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
waited with in last pair, steady headway 11th, went 3rd home turn, took modest 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
Coole Cody beat Saint Calvados in a match at Ascot in November but had the benefit of race-fitness that day and is slightly worse off at the weights. It’s hard to see Clondaw Castle or Angels Breath landing this off the back of a long absence so the race may end up as a straight fight between Pic D'Orhy and PAINT THE DREAM. Harry Cobden’s mount won the Grade 2 Pendil over course and distance less than a year ago and confirmed that form with runner-up Millers Bank in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last month but his likely market rival, who receives 2lb, also arrives off the back of a victory, at Newbury, and a fourth in last year’s Melling Chase at Aintree showed what he is capable of.
Coole Cody (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Chased leader, not fluent 5 out, pushed along and briefly outpaced from 3 out, rapid headway to lead 2 out, clear last, stayed on well flat, won at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gd in Nov beating Saint Calvados (11-10) by 10l, 2 ran.
Pic D'Orhy (FR) 9-4 (11-7) Made all, jumped well in the main, hit 2 out and shaken up, ridden run-in and stayed on well, always doing enough, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f (1) gd in Dec beating Millers Bank (11-7) by 2l, 7 ran.
Saint Calvados (FR) 2-7fav (11-10) Led, raced freely, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened thereafter, last of 2, 10l behind Coole Cody (11-8) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gd in Nov.
Paint The Dream 5-2 (12-0) Jumped well, waited with in rear, smooth headway 11th, jumped into 2nd place at 11th, challenged 4 out, soon led, came clear from 3 out, very easily, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating The Widdow Maker (10-12) by 14l, 5 ran.
Angels Breath (IRE) 1-5fav (11-0) Made all, quickened pace 3 out, soon 5 lengths clear, eased flat, unchallenged (fence before swinley bottom not jumped 15 fences jumped), won at Ascot 2m 5f (1) hvy in Dec beating Mont Des Avaloirs (11-0) by 23l, 2 ran.
Clondaw Castle (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, hampered 13th, pushed along 4 out, not pace to challenge from 3 out, 4th of 7, dist behind A Plus Tard (11-7) at Haydock 3m 2f (1) gs in Nov.
