tracked leading pair, 2nd before 3 out, closed before last, ridden to lead flat, driven out
led, hit 6th, clear before 3 out, ridden between last two, reduced lead when blundered last, driven and headed flat, no extra and dropped to 3rd final 100 yards
took keen hold, held up tracking leading trio, 3rd before 3 out, closing when blundered last, driven and stayed on into 2nd final 100 yards, kept on but not reach winner
raced keenly, chased winner until weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up last, pushed along before 6th, outpaced and lost touch next, tailed off
A recent winner at Worcester, Morgan's Bay may find the heavy ground against him. The same comment applies to Vikehal, tailed off on his only previous start in testing going. But PADDY THE STOUT (NAP) ploughed the mud to win at Kempton early this year and Paul Henderson's charge drops down a grade for his reappearance. He gets the vote with Thinger Licht hard to fancy though Tresor De Bontee made a winning reappearance last term and may figure.
Tresor De Bontee (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Took keen hold chased leaders, pushed along in 4th after 13th, weakened approaching next, 5th of 7, 37l behind Lamool (10-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gd in Apr.
Vikekhal (FR) 2-1fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased winner before last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Alanjou (10-8) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Morgan's Bay 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 2nd, hit 5th, not fluent 3 out, 3rd and one pace next, switched left and rallied last, switched right flat, hard ridden and stayed on to lead final 75 yards, won at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Oct beating Un Anjou (11-5) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
Paddy The Stout (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) In rear, lost touch before 10th, plugging on when left in modest 4th 2 out, went 3rd at the last, 3rd of 8, 28l behind Headly's Bridge (11-2) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) hvy in Mar.
Thinger Licht (FR) 33-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, mistake 11th, pushed along before 5 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 19l behind Bob Ford (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Oct.
