towards rear, slow jump 4th, ridden 15th, very tired when jumped right 2 out, refused last, continued
in touch, joined leader 17th, led after 18th, ridden when hit 3 out, challenged when hit last but kept on
chased leader, ridden 16th, weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, weakened 14th, mistake next, plugged on
in touch, ridden 16th and mistake, weakened 5 out
led and keen, headed after 18th, every chance last, no extra flat
Le Jaguar is the pick ahead of Millenaire, Zaffamore, You Owe Me and Underwriter. At the age of five, Le Jaguar has lots of scope to progress, and the Paul Nicholls inmate lines up fit enough after three outings this season. The French import does not have a change of gear and just gallops on, but his stamina is not in question, and the fitting of blinkers today is expected to help his cause. If they go any sort of pace here, that will surely play to his strengths, and he is taken to get Wincanton losses back. Strictly on the formbook Zaffamore holds sound claims of finishing a lot closer to the selection this time, having trailed home over 22 lengths behind him last time. A bigger danger though if turning out after his Leicester exertions is Millenaire, quite useful over hurdles and who did nothing wrong when beating a small field at Folkestone on only his second outing over fences. Nigel Twiston-Davies won this last year so You Owe Me, who jumped well in the main at Cheltenham, has to be respected, but the trip is a worry, while Underwriter was travelling well enough when falling at Uttoxeter but was impressive enough the time before when scoring at Hereford. An interesting contest can go to Le Jaguar.
Zaffamore (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden, took close order after 18th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 34l behind Inca Trail (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Nov.
Le Jaguar (FR) 3-1fav (10-3) Prominent, ridden, outpaced after 4 out, kept on from 3 out, 4th of 8, 11l behind Inca Trail (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Nov.
You Owe Me (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Chased winner, no chance from 2 out, weakened before last, lost moderate 3rd flat, 4th of 9, 16l behind Getoutwhenyoucan (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-135 (E) gs in Nov.
Calvic (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Behind, mistake 2nd, not fluent 14th, brief effort 17th, weakened before 4 out, 5th of 6, 27l behind Native Ivy (11-9) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
Underwriter (USA) 5-2 (11-1) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, 3rd and 5 lengths down when fell 4 out in race won by Mon Mome (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m nov chs (E) hvy in Nov, 6 ran.
Tribal Dancer (IRE) 7-2 (10-8) Led, ridden and hard-pressed from 2 out, headed near finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Moustique de L'Isle (11-2) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) hvy in Nov.
Millenaire (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, led next, in command between last 2, eased flat, won at Folkestone 2m 5f nov chs (D) gf in Nov beating Avitta (10-5) by 5l, 5 ran.
