mid-division, lost place after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
chased leaders, reminders after 4th, ridden and prominent 11th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in mid-division, steady headway from 13th, chased leaders after 4 out, went 2nd before last, no chance with winner
prominent to 4th, soon lost place, towards rear when hit 8th, not fluent after, plugged on
mid-division, blundered 12th, no chance after
mistakes, in rear, driven and struggling 10th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 4 out
never going well in rear, tailed off when pulled up after 9th
always behind, struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders until lost place after 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
made most until headed 14th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mistakes towards rear, blundered 7th, beaten when hit 3 out, pulled up before next
in touch, went 2nd 8th, led 14th, in command after 3 out, stayed on strongly
mid-division, headway 13th, chased winner approaching 4 out, no impression next, lost 2nd before last
wanted to go left throughout, soon towards rear, went badly left 10th and pulled up
Petitjean is on the rise and Philip Hobbs' promising youngster needs respect, however Umbrella Man is taken to improve for his recent outing and land this race ahead of Jaunty Times. Emma Lavelle's gelding is lightly raced given that he is 11 years old but he shaped with plenty of promise on his reappearance run before tiring late on. With that effort likely to have brought him on physically, a big run can be expected here with the ground to suit. Bible Lord is better than he has shown in recent outings, whilst Kock De La Vesvre needs to bounce back to form after an abject display last time out. Yardbird ran well in first time blinkers when last seen, and if they work again then he should be involved in the shake-up, whilst Cruising River is quickly turned out again following a poor run just five days ago; better could be expected. Jaunty Times is a classy individual and there was plenty of promise to be gleaned from his reappearance, however it is Umbrella Man who can rain on his rivals parade.
Kock de La Vesvre (FR) 15-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, hit 16th, soon struggling, behind when blundered 19th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kilbeggan Blade (11-1) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft, 7 ran.
Jaunty Times 16-1 (10-4) Held up, losing touch when mistake 17th, soon ridden, stayed on again approaching last, 4th of 10, 16l behind Sir Rembrandt (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Nov.
Caribou (FR) 12-1 (11-11) Jumped right, held up, weakened 3 out, 8th of 9, 41l behind Officier De Reserve (11-7) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Cool Roxy 5-4fav (11-9) Tracked leader until 5th, remained close up, ridden 12th, stayed on under pressure flat, 2nd of 5, 1l behind King Harald (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Bible Lord (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Mid-division, not fluent 13th, headway, went 3rd 17th until before 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, 32l behind Denman (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Turthen (FR) 6-1 (11-12) Mid-division, hit 11th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 5th of 22, 43l behind Lampion Du Bost (9-11) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Ryders Storm (USA) 11-1 (11-10) In touch, lost place 6th, behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Green Finger (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in May, 7 ran.
Umbrella Man (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Chased winner, mistake 9th, driven after 3 out, soon no impression, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Lord Jay Jay (10-4) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Cruising River (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Mid-division, ridden and struggling 14th, well behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Vodka Bleu (10-3) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gf, 13 ran.
Lord Jay Jay (IRE) 2-1fav (10-4) Made all, clear from 6th, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating Roznic (10-12) by 13l, 5 ran.
Petitjean 8-11 (11-11) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, headway and chased leaders 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 13, 14l behind Bernard (9-7) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Yardbird (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 16th, mistake 3 out, soon chasing leaders, challenged 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Cruising River (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Thistlecraft (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, driven clear flat, won at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov beating Ballybough Jack (10-13) by 4l, 7 ran.
Scribano Eile (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (10-2) Prominent, led approaching 3 out, headed approaching last, one pace under pressure, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Patricksnineteenth (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
