held up in last pair, headway 7th, weakened soon after 4 out, beaten when hit 3 out, tailed off
led, hit 5th, ridden and narrowly headed before 3 out, led again 3 out, joined and hit 2 out, headed and no extra flat
chased leading pair, driven and weakened after 4 out, left modest 4th last
chased leader, took narrow lead approaching 3 out until 3 out, stayed challenging, still chance last, weakened flat
in touch, weakened 4 out, poor 4th when fell last
last pair, ridden and struggling 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leading trio, not fluent and pushed along 6th, went 3rd after 4 out, challenged between horses 2 out, soon hanging badly left, hung left and led flat, ridden out
Alan King's French import Titeuf De Tierce started a short-priced favourite on his UK debut at Bangor in November but weakened quickly from two out. That was his first start since scoring at Pau in January and he can do better. Mallusk shot up the weights after scoring on heavy ground at Uttoxeter a year ago and was having his first start back over this trip when a fine second there on New Year's Eve when Ours was beaten a long way. The Laodicean gained his first success over fences with a comfortable victory at Huntingdon on Boxing Day and though a 10lb rise looks harsh he's a progressive type who should go well. Inthejungle needs further while Rosoff was beaten when unseating his rider over hurdles at Fontwell last week where OWNER OCCUPIER, who is reverting to fences for the first time since his victory at Sandown in March, finished runner-up and it's the latter who gets the vote.
Titeuf De Tierce (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Held up in rear in slowly run race, headway to chase leaders 3 out, effort approaching next, soon outpaced, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 10l behind Kilkenny All Star (11-8) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Mallusk (IRE) 2-1 (11-8) Led, jumped left 2nd, pecked badly 4th, soon headed, struggling 7th, rallied approaching 3 out, every chance last, no exta close home, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Arctic Ben (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Owner Occupier 11-4 (11-5) Always prominent, led 3 out, headed before next, faded, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Whatshallwedo (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl (3yo+) (5) sft in Dec.
The Laodicean 5-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, closed approaching 5th, led before next, clear 2 out, 8 lengths ahead last, pushed out, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec beating Original Prankster (11-2) by 6l, 6 ran.
Inthejungle (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Led until 2nd, pressed leader, chased winner from 14th, travelling well after 4 out, every chance from 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat, not quite get up, 2nd of 7, nk behind Tuskar Rock (11-2) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Ours (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Prominent, led after 4th, headed approaching 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 6, 27l behind Arctic Ben (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Rosoff (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, under pressure next, 3rd and weakening when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Whatshallwedo (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl (3yo+) (5) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
