held up, headway chasing leaders 4th, weakened next
always behind, no chance when hung badly left on home turn
keen, held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, weakened run-in
raced keenly, chased leaders until lost place and towards rear 4 out, rallied 3 out, went 3rd before the last, stayed on same pace run-in
raced wide, chased leaders, raced wide, keen in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden to lead before last, stayed on well
raced on inside, chased leaders, led after 2nd, hit 3 out, mistake 2 out, headed before last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in
raced keenly, mid-division on inside, headway chasing leaders approaching 4 out, chance next, ridden and weakened before 2 out
chased leaders on outside and raced keenly, led after 2nd until ran wide on bend and headed soon after, chased leader, every chance 3 out, lost 2nd before next, plugged on in 4th run-in
held up in rear, headway on inside chasing leaders before 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
chased leaders, went 2nd briefly before 2 out, weakened run-in
chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
led until after 2nd, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out
Mr Antolini has his first run for new connections but ran well at Punchestown when last seen and doesn’t look badly treated. Du Soleil won at Uttoxeter before falling when favourite at Haydock. Only a neck separated Balgemmois and Wind Place And Sho here last month but the latter can come out best on the revised terms. Maxime Tissier has already won twice on hurdlers trained by Lucy Wadham and Iconic Sky has a decent chance at the weights but Chieftain's Choice may need this. SLEEPY HAVEN (NAP) is gradually getting there and is back on the same mark as when successful over course and distance last season. Sword Of Fate has no form on going this heavy.
Chieftain's Choice (IRE) 7-4 (11-2) Chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, slow 5th, went 3rd halfway, under pressure 3 out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 4, 15 1/4l behind Chitu (11-8) at Perth 2m (4) gs in Aug.
Sword Of Fate (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Led after 1st until after 4th, hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before last, 7th of 8, 14 1/4l behind Irish Roe (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Sleepy Haven (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Held up, jumped left 2nd, headway on outside from 4th, ridden after 3 out, one pace when jumped left and mistake last, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Chti Balko (11-12) at Haydock 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Shanroe Saint 40-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened 2 out, 9th of 14, 30 3/4l behind Golan Fortune (10-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Mr Antolini (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, closer in 3rd halfway, headway to lead entering straight, under pressure and kept on one pace run-in, headed and no extra close home, 3rd of 20, 1/4l behind Lex Talionis (10-5) at Punchestown 2m hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Du Soleil (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Led, not fluent 2nd, fell next, at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
Capitoul (FR) 9-2 (10-11) In rear, pushed along after 4 out, never dangerous, last of 6, 35 1/2l behind Potters Story (10-13) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) hvy in Dec.
Balgemmois (FR) 12-1 (11-4) Chased leader, led approaching 3 out, strongly pressed run-in, held on gamely, won at Leicester 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Wind Place And Sho (11-2) by nk, 9 ran.
Wind Place And Sho 4-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, good headway approaching 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, every chance run-in, no extra near finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind Balgemmois (11-4) at Leicester 2m hcp (4) sft in Dec.
Iconic Sky 9-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out to chase leaders, ridden before last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Midnight Silver (11-12) at Southwell 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Sporty Yankee (USA) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders and keen, headway before 2 out, went 3rd from last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Cliffside Park (11-8) at Leicester 2m 4f (5) sft in Dec.
Hollywood All Star (IRE) 22-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, ridden and before 2 out, 6th of 8, 10 1/2l behind Le Capricieux (12-0) at Plumpton 2m hcp (5) sft in Dec.