chased leader, jumped into lead 7th, clear from 3 out, comfortably
always behind, tailed off from 4th, pulled up before 10th
in touch, jumping left, ridden and headway 10th, beaten when badly jumped left from 2 out
led, clear 5th, headed 7th, ridden and mistake 10th, weakened next, tired when fell last
tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, hung badly right from 3 out, not run on
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
A pretty good novices' chase here and this looks like a good opportunity for Le Duc to get back to winning ways, with Bonus Bridge and Korelo the likely dangers. The selection is in receipt of 9lb from Bonus Bridge and has some decent form on the board, most notably when taking a Wetherby novices' chase from Ryders Storm in October. Mistakes cost him his chance when trounced by stablemate Thisthatandtother at Cheltenham a month later and he also tipped up when going well at Chepstow last time out, so he has a fair bit to prove as far as fencing is concerned. Having said all that, this small field will give him more time and trainer Paul Nicholls looks to have found him a nice little race to restore his confidence. Bonus Bridge faces a stiff task at the weights and although he too can make mistakes, he generally jumps well and is consistent in making the frame. However a defeat of Kalca Mome over further than this at Chepstow last time suggests he has plenty to do if he is to follow up. Korelo is still finding his feet over fences, as his two defeats so far show. With form over further than this when a very useful hurdler, two miles may be a bit on the sharp side for him but the main concern will be his ability to jump straight, having gone repeatedly left at Musselburgh last time. He looks best watched until showing he can get that right and so the confident choice is Le Duc.
