not jump well, always behind, tailed off when refused and unseated rider 4th
chased leader, ridden when left in lead 3 out, headed 2 out, one pace flat
held up, headway 9th, weakened 12th
chased leaders, hit 5th and 8th, weakened 12th, tailed off when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
behind, lost touch 6th, took poor 3rd last
in touch, ridden 3 out, led 2 out, ran on
led, ridden after 13th, slight advantage when fell 3 out
Racing Demon has looked out of the top drawer in two starts over fences so far and is taken to complete a hat-trick with Taranis the obvious choice for the forecast ahead of Team Tassel. The selection was useful over hurdles, finding just No Refuge too good in last season's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle and has carried over the improvement that he showed over timber since being switched to the larger obstacles. Impressive victories at Exeter and Sandown make Henrietta Knight's gelding one of the leading two-mile novice chasers seen this season and, granted another good round of jumping, he should be good enough to take this. Taranis was good value for his defeat of Escompteur at Newbury in November and has to be respected on that evidence but he unseated Christian Williams at Doncaster subsequently and needs to reproduce Newbury form if he is to have any chance of putting pressure on the selection. Dickensbury Lad and Jonanaud have both shown ability but lack the necessary class to trouble the judge and of more interest for forecast backers may be Martin Pipe's Team Tassel, who had some useful form over hurdles and may be better than he showed at Hereford in November. Racing Demon has looked potentially top class over hurdles, and since being switched to fences, though and he gets the vote.
Business Traveller (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Held up in mid-division, ridden and effort 3 out, no impression, 7th of 13, 12l behind Diletia (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Dec.
Desertmore King (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Held up, driven halfway, soon weakened, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Rosita Bay (11-1) at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (H) gs in Nov.
Dickensbury Lad (FR) 9-4fav (10-10) Led, headed after 4 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 31l behind Monolith (11-7) at Perth 3m hdl (E) gd in May '04.
Solar At'Em (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, lost place after 5th, ridden 8th, no danger after, 7th of 9, 31l behind Demi Beau (11-12) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec.
Stylish Prince 150-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hit 6th, hampered 7th, behind from 9th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Green Tango (11-3) at Hereford 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft, 14 ran.
Tank Buster 66-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, 8th of 12, 34l behind Harrycone Lewis (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Dec.
Taranis (FR) 9-4 (11-1) Tracked leaders, blundered and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by Kasthari (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (C) gd in Dec, 6 ran.
Team Tassel (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Mid-division, some headway 11th, chasing leading pair when weakened, mistake 15th, 4th of 8, 32l behind Zabenz (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (E) gd in Nov.
The Sneakster (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, poor 4th when mistake 7th pulled up 4 out in race won by De Blanc (10-12) at Towcester 2m 3f mrs beg chs (4) sft, 7 ran.
Racing Demon (IRE) 6-4fav (11-10) Held up last, reminders and headway 4 out, tracked leader next, challenged 2 out, led before last, kept on strongly run-in, won at Sandown 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Dec beating Hoo La Baloo (10-13) by 4l, 7 ran.
Jonanaud 50-1 (10-7) Always behind fell in race won by Mort De Rire (10-7) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) , 11 ran.
