tracked leaders throughout, hit last, strong challenge run-in, ran on gamely to lead last strides
tracked leaders in 4th, under pressure and weakened after 4 out
held up in 5th, not fluent 4th, chased leading pair approaching 4 out, one pace between last 2
held up last, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, to challenge for 3rd last, no chance with first 2
tended to jump left, tracked leading pair until ridden after 8th, behind when jumped left 3 out and next, pulled up before last
tended to jump left, led, strongly pressed and jumped left last, kept on gamely run-in, caught last strides
We will plump for Armaturk here, with his biggest dangers given as Bleu Superbe and Dempsey, in what is a very good race. Armaturk loves this course and distance and will make them all go even though he is five pounds above his win here on October 29th. Dempsey finished last season with a third to Ashley Brook in the Grade Maghull Chase at Aintree and remains interesting, while Kadount's Grade 3 third at Aintree in April would give him a chance, although he is not entirely consistent. Classy hurdler Non So - and he has also shown form over fences - adds further spice to the affair, while Claymore has bags of ability and is actually heading back towards a winning mark. Le Seychellois is closely-weighted with Non So on recent Newbury form, while Bleu Superbe is seven pounds better off for the two lengths that Armaturk beat him over course and distance in the October race already referred to. Can he turn the tables? Possibly, but we are going to stick with Armaturk.
Armaturk (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 10, 8l behind Bold Bishop (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (B) gs in Nov.
Kadount (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Mid-division, driven along after 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, no chance when stumbled and hampered 3 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Town Crier (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
Non So (FR) 15-2 (11-6) Mid-division, mistake 6th, headway 8th, not fluent 9th, ridden 2 out, stayed on flat, 4th of 14, 5l behind Town Crier (11-4) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Claymore (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Mid-division, hit 9th, steady headway next, ridden 4 out, weakening when mistake 3 out, 8th of 16, 28l behind Bold Bishop (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Le Seychellois (FR) 11-4 (11-0) Hit 7th, always behind, tailed off when fell 4 out in race won by Tysou (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gs, 9 ran.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 12-1 (10-9) Led to 5th, blundered 7th, led again after 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Tysou (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gs.
Dempsey (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Tracked winner, went upsides from 5th until hit 8th, lost 2nd 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 10, 25l behind Ashley Brook (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Apr.
