with leader, led 8th, blundered 11th, pushed clear flat
led, jumped right throughout, headed 8th, weakened next, struggled on
in touch, chased winner from 3 out, soon beaten
held up, hampered when fell
held up, headway 9th, chased leaders, switched left and weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, tracking leaders when blundered and unseated rider
Nikola and Victorias Groom both look capable of winning races over fences but this should prove to be a relatively straightforward opportunity for Duc De Regniere. Nicky Henderson pitched his exciting gelding in at the deep end for his chase bow in a classy contest at Cheltenham where, despite his jumping being far from fluent, he finished just over 8 lengths behind the smart Tidal Bay. That experience won't have been lost on him and he should take all the beating. Victorias Groom will relish the conditions but clearly needs to brush up on his fencing which leaves Nikola as the one for the forecast. He has had to settle for second four times from just five chase starts and is likely to have to do so again with Duc De Regniere the choice to take the honours.
Duc De Regniere (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Mistakes, chased leaders, slightly outpaced from 3 out, no impression after, stayed on same pace to take 3rd flat, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Tidal Bay (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gd in Dec.
Littleton Aldor (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Led and soon clear, jumped right from 2nd, headed 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Portland Bill (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (4) gs in Dec, 10 ran.
Nikola (FR) 11-8fav (10-11) Held up in rear, chased leaders 5 out, led next not fluent 3 out, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Daldini (11-1) at Haydock 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Tanners Court 6-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, held up, headway 3rd, led 5th, jumped right 7th, headed 4 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Itsmyboy (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd in May.
Victorias Groom (GER) 11-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, hampered 9th, badly hampered and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Pedros Brief (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
Ya I Know (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Never a factor, 10th of 14, 49l behind Le Briar Soul (10-11) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Elbdoubleu 66-1 (10-9) Led after 4th to 5th, chased leader until weakened approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, well behind Helen Wood (10-6) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov chs (4) gs in Dec.
