in touch, mistake 3rd, ridden after 3 out, weakened flat
held up in rear, took keen hold, not fluent 13th, soon ridden, headway approaching 4 out, weakened before 3 out
jumped left, led to 2nd, pressed leader until 7th, lost place 10th, mistake next, soon lost touch, tailed off
led 2nd, mistake 12th, headed 13th, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden 7th, led 13th, comfortably
held up, not fluent 11th, headway 12th, chased winner approaching 4 out, no impression before last
Nonrunner
With the Jonjo O'Neill stable still in good form we will side with BERINGS EXPRESS to score from Colophony. If official ratings are anything to go by then this will be a close contest, but the selection still looks open to some more improvement. He has been chasing for a while now and won at Bangor in September, before running a couple of decent races in defeat since. Out of sorts over shorter than ideal last time, the return to this trip and some decent ground looks a plus, as do the first-time cheek pieces, and we will side with him. Colophony makes his chasing debut and also has conditions and trip to suit. On his hurdling form he'd have half a chance here and if he takes well to fences then he could go close. Dream Falcon won over course and distance in December and then departed early last time. If his jumping holds up here he can get involved, though he is fully exposed and wouldn't have the potential of the selection. Haar was in the process of running a good race when unseating on his first chase start at Wincanton. The ground might be a bit quick for him, but if he handles it then he could give them all plenty to do. Supreme Duke was not knocked about when beaten at Kempton on Boxing Day and should come on for that, but in an intruiguing novices' chase Berings Express is preferred.
Berings Express (FR) 9-2 (11-3) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Almaydan (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Colophony (USA) 15-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place and reluctant from 3 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 6, 13l behind Midnight Chase (11-7) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jan.
Dream Falcon 12-1 (10-1) Led until mistake and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Pressgang (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
Orphelin Collonges (FR) 12-1 (11-8) Chased leader, led 9th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 10, 20l behind Rustarix (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Supreme Duke (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, hit 6th, stayed on from 3 out, not pace to threaten leaders, 4th of 9, 8l behind Pressgang (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Dec.
Haar 12-1 (10-8) Hampered 1st, mid-division until mistake and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Saphir Des Bois (10-8) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Raysrock (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, effort 7th, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Pret A Thou (11-0) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs (4) sft.
