never better than mid-division, struggling when hit 12th
chased leaders, ridden along 13th, weakened soon after next
chased leaders, ridden 4 out, no extra before next
in touch, slightly lost place 13th, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on well approaching last, kept on flat
chased leader, led after 11th, made rest clear before 3 out, stayed on strongly easily
behind, blundered 13th, tailed of 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, ridden before 12th, weaked from next
in touch, mistake 8th, struggling 13th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out
never travelling in rear, reminders 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
towards rear, ridden 9th, headway 12th, ridden on outside after 4 out, stayed on well from next, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next
behind, reminders 11th, weakened soon after 4 out
never going well, always rear division
led until after 11th, chased winner until 13th, weakened after 4 out and pulled up
held up in rear, headway 12th, one pace and no impression on leaders before 3 out
mid-division, blundered 7th and next, driven 11th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
rear, hit 1st, headway into mid-division 12th, chased leaders after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
never travelling in rear, reminders 9th, blunders and struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
not jumped well and always in rear
held up, headway from 10th, chased winner 4 out, until last no extra flat
A lack of a recent run is a concern for fans of Oedipe, whilst Piraya is likely to prove better than we have seen, and Nozic needs to get over a poor run last time; preference is for ENDLESS POWER ahead of favourite Big Fella Thanks. Positive bulletins and a bullish part-owner who likes a flutter or ten has resulted in Big Fella Thanks looking to be a false price; he has strong obvious claims on a flat track that is likely to suit, but unless he drifts on course, he might be one to swerve. The selection on the other hand is likely to be a fair price; he has some very good form on flat tracks and although he has stamina to prove, if connections are eyeing the Grand National realistically then this trip must be within range. Good ground suits and if assuming his strong front-running tactics under new jockey Robert Thornton, he might prove tricky to peg back. Fleet Street looks the main Nicky Henderson hope, and he won it with a 12-year-old in 2004 so despite the horse's advancing years a big run is anticipated. Ollie Magern is game but this isn't usually his time of year, so a bigger threat may be Nacarat. AP McCoy gets the leg-up on Tom George's gelding once again and he was a ready winner last time at Doncaster. Nozic was poor last time at Cheltenham but is better than that judged by his Wetherby win on Boxing Day under today's jockey, whilst Fier Normand is not straight-forward but his jockey is and he rates a danger off his light-weight. Also creeping in down there is Hold-Em who is as tough as the oldest of old boots, whilst horses such as Battlecry, Lacdoudal (stable have a good record in the race) and Possol all add more depth to the contest. A back-to-form Silverburn would be a player off a mark of 143 but he has become disappointing and so it is Endless Power who can take the prize back to Scotland.
Nozic (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Held up, mistake 2nd, weakened 17th, blundered 4 out, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Joe Lively (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Stan (NZ) 8-1 (11-7) In touch until weakened quickly after 4 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by The Sawyer (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Ollie Magern 50-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 4th until 6th, prominent until dropped to last tamely after 8th, never back on terms, tailed off, 5th of 8, well behind Joe Lively (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Big Fella Thanks 9-2 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway and in touch 11th, led before 3 out, stayed on well from next, won at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) sft in Jan beating Ungaro (11-8) by 11l, 13 ran.
Nacarat (FR) 11-4fav (11-9) With leader, led 8th, mistake 10th, clear from 3 out, eased towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Jan beating Yes Sir (11-12) by 6l, 12 ran.
Ungaro (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Close up on outside, outpaced 5 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure, to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 11l behind Big Fella Thanks (11-2) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) sft in Jan.
Fleet Street 12-1 (11-10) Led, hit 1st, headed 5th, chased leader, regained lead 8th, made rest, hit 10th, stayed on gamely from 3 out, won at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Dec beating Laskari (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 18 ran.
Battlecry 8-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, hit 4 out, ridden and every chance after 3 out, weakened after next, 5th of 13, 30l behind The Sawyer (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan.
Silverburn (IRE) 4-6fav (11-7) Prominent, mistake 3rd, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened after, 4th of 6, 33l behind Private Be (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f Grad Ch (2) sft in Dec.
Possol (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 8th, hampered 16th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, plugged on to go modest 3rd after last, 3rd of 15, 20l behind Mon Mome (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Billyvoddan (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) In touch, close up when blundered 8th, ridden and weakened after 11th, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Classic Fiddle (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Oedipe (FR) 4-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 13th, hit 16th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 14, 14l behind Niche Market (9-9) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
Lacdoudal (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leader until 4 out, ridden next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Can't Buy Time (9-7) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Endless Power (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, led again 4 out, headed last, ridden and no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Harmony Brig (11-0) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
Conna Castle (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Held up early, 10th halfway, headway to 4th 6 out, improved to 2nd and challenged 3 out, disputed and mistake 2 out, soon no extra, 7th of 18, 19l behind Preists Leap (10-10) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs hvy in Jan.
Laskari (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division, outpaced approaching 4 out, never on terms, 5th of 13, 19l behind Big Fella Thanks (11-2) at Doncaster 3m lst hcp chs (1) sft in Jan.
Piraya (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Held last, steady progress from 14th, ridden after 3 out, no impression, 5th and beaten when fell at the last in race won by Niche Market (9-9) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
New Little Bric (FR) 11-2 (10-10) Held up, blundered 5 out, not recover, 6th of 9, 12l behind Can't Buy Time (9-7) at Sandown 3m hcp chs (2) gs in Jan.
Fier Normand (FR) 25-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, steady headway 13th, chased leaders after 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, never any chance with easy winner, 2nd of 14, 11l behind Stan (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Jan.
Hold Em (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (9-12) In touch, hit 7th, blundered 8th, hit 11th and next, kept on after 2 out, stayed on well flat, 3rd of 14, 15l behind Stan (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Jan.
