held up towards rear, steady headway 13th, chased leaders before 3 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression flat
held up in rear, headway into mid-division 9th, hit 13th and next, ridden and struggling after 4 out
mistakes 3rd and 5th, always in rear, tailed off
held up towards rear, mistake 9th, steady headway from 12th, chased leaders after 4 out, 2nd and going well when mistake bumped and unseated rider 3 out
led, hit 1st, headed 5th, chased leader, regained lead 8th, made rest, hit 10th, stayed on gamely from 3 out
in rear, headway under pressure into midfield 12th, ridden and struggling when bumped 14th, tailed off
mid-division, reminder 11th, behind when hit 14th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, losing place when blundered 11th, behind after, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
close 5th when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
mid-division, jumped left 14th, soon behind, tailed off
chased leader, slightly hampered 3rd, hampered again 12th, mistake and weakened next, tailed off
held up in rear, hit 10th, headway 14th, no impression on leaders after 4 out
always towards rear, jumped left 14th, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th until 2 out, weakened into 3rd when hit last
mistake 1st, always towards rear, tailed off
never reached beyond mid-division, ridden and struggling 14th, tailed off when refused last
held up towards rear, headway 14th, stayed on from 3 out, never reached leaders
soon chased leader, led 5th until 8th, chased leader, 3rd when hit 4 out and weakened soon after
Big Fella Thanks doesn't look one to trust implicitly after his showing last time so despite the fact that he could be nicely-handicapped off 136, it is OCEANOS DES ORBEAUX who gets the vote ahead of Fleet Street, Alright Now M'Lad and Laskari. Philip Hobbs' gelding ran well in defeat last time, finishing a possibly flattered six-length second to the progressive My Petra. That form has been franked since and as long as his jumping holds together, another big run should be forthcoming. Fleet Street is slowly edging down the weights and showed a bit more vigour last time at Newbury when in midfield behind Classic Fiddle. His previous fourth in the Jewson handicap at the festival reads well. Charlies Future needs to improve on two lacklustre showings, so a bigger threat could be Laskari. Paul Webber's gelding seems to be progressing at a rate of knots and comes here chasing a hat-trick of victories. Bible Lord is probably well-treated but was disappointing last time, Royals Darling represents a stable going well and this course winner has shown plenty of ability if perhaps not an abundance of stamina, whilst The King Of Angels has been paying with the handicapper due to his consistency. Alright Now M'Lad did it well last time but this looks much tougher and so it is Oceanos Des Orbeaux who receives the tentative nomination.
Laskari (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway approaching 11th, led approaching and blundered 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft beating Tell Henry (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Bible Lord (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 11th, weakened next, 8th of 19, 33l behind Imperial Commander (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Oceanos des Obeaux (FR) 15-2 (10-4) Led, headed 12th, ridden after next, plugged on, 2nd of 6, 6l behind My Petra (10-4) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Big Fella Thanks 1-4fav (11-1) Jumped left, made most, slow jump 1st, ridden along from 12th, went badly left and mistake 4 out, hard pressed from next, headed near finish, 2nd of 4, shd behind Itsa Legend (11-1) at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) sft.
Fleet Street 16-1 (11-4) Led until 2nd, tracked leader until 7th, dropped rear and struggling 11th, stayed on again from 2 out, 6th of 13, 16l behind Classic Fiddle (10-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Alright Now M'Lad (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, led 4 out, hard driven and in command last, stayed on well run-in, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov beating Chiaro (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Royals Darling (GER) 25-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, effort next, kept on same pace, 4th of 14, 13l behind Earth Planet (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
The King of Angels (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Led, soon clear with one rival, headed 3rd, chased leader, hit 7th, pushed along when led again approaching 3 out, ridden and left 6 lengths ahead 2 out, headed flat no extra, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Parsons Legacy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3.
Charlies Future 16-1 (11-1) Led to 9th, reminders and struggling 12th, well behind when blundered 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 14, 46l behind Alright Now M'Lad (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Kelrev (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leaders, stayed on flat, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Bishop's Bridge (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov.
Mount Oscar (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Tended to jump left, led, ridden before when headed 2 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered last, weakened, last of 5, 18l behind Rustarix (11-1) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
The Wicketkeeper (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, 9th of 13, 21l behind Master Medic (11-5) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs.
Sweet Diversion (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Held up, weakened approaching 18th, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Joe Lively (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Yardbird (IRE) 3-1fav (11-11) Ran in snatches, chasing leaders when slightly hampered 10th, ridden and hit 14th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Can't Buy Time (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Ocean du Moulin (FR) 8-1 (11-5) In touch, slow 14th, headway 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened after next, 4th of 6, 11l behind The Dark Lord (11-8) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Seymar Lad (IRE) 15-8fav (11-6) Prominent until 9th, chased leaders, ridden after 19th, weakened after next, 4th of 6, 20l behind Bowleaze (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Creinch 11-1 (11-3) Held up, headway to track leaders 14th, challenged from 2 out, upsides and hit last, soon narrow lead, kept on gamely flat, caught last stride, 2nd of 10, shd behind Rustarix (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Georges Boy (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Chased leader, led 5th, blundered and unseated rider at the 14th in race won by Go For One (11-2) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 8 ran.
