mid-division, mistake and lost place 4th, mistake 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
chased leader, led 3rd, clear after 4 out, comfortably
led to 3rd, chased winner until ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, jumped left 3rd, weakened 14th
in touch, hit 7th, mistake 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division until weakened 13th
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
held up, headway 7th, ridden to go 2nd after 3 out, no chance with winner
mid-division, pushed along 12th, soon weakened, tailed off when jumped right last
Heidi and Courage Under Fire both returned to their best last time and can fight out the finish here, with the former just edging the vote, Indalo may do best of the remainder. Heidi hadn't won for nearly four years when easily beating the in form Ossmoses at Wetherby last time and if in the same mood will be difficult to pass here. He may not be the force of old but he did jump, soundly and does have the beating of Indalo on a line through the runner up. Indalo though is steadily improving and should be capable of reaching the frame. However a bigger threat to the selection should be Courage Under Fire who got back into the winning habit in good style when easily accounting for Lanmire Tower at Market Rasen last week. Jackem and Mistletoe represent in form yards so are also worth a mention, but with Tony McCoy in the plate Heidi looks the pick of the handicap
Sir Talbot 20-1 Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, stayed on same pace from next, 4th of 9, 16l behind Longshanks at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Jan.
Mistletoe (IRE) 7-2 Led to 2nd, remained prominent, stumbled 12th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Kerry Lads at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Feb '03, 9 ran.
Indalo (IRE) 5-1 Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Rathbawn Prince at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Jan.
Heidi III (FR) 10-1 Tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 5th, remained close up, led again 13th, ridden approaching 2 out, driven out, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Jan beating Ossmoses by 4l, 5 ran.
Courage Under Fire 11-2 Led early, chased leader, left in lead 6th, hit 10th, kept on well from last, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd beating Lanmire Tower by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Strong Magic (IRE) 200-1 Always in rear, losing touch when mistake 10th and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Grey Abbey at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Jan, 7 ran.
Calcot Flyer 12-1 Held up, mistake 1st, headway approaching 4 out, ridden after next, weakened approaching last, 5th of 17, 10l behind Jackem at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-95 (F) gs in Jan.
Jackem (IRE) 6-1 Mid-division, headway 12th, ridden after 4 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Pewter Light at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft.
