chased leader to 8th, pushed along approaching 10th, weakened after 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, went second 8th, led 5 out, ridden and stayed on well flat
chased leaders, lost place approaching 9th, not fluent 13th, weakened approaching 5 out
held up, mistake 1st, headway approaching 9th, weakened after 11th, well behind when pulled up before 13th
not always fluent, held up, blundered 11th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, blundered 11th, ridden and headway to go 4th approaching 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders, ridden and switched right after 2 out, went 2nd last, kept on but always held by winner
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5 out, ridden and wekeaned quickly approaching 4 out, behind when pulled up before 3 out
led until stumbled and headed 5 out, jumped left final 3, weakened flat
We'll take a chance on Galant Approach here ahead of Bob Ar Aghaidh, Star Angler and He's The Guv'nor. Bob Ar Aghaidh is a fair benchmark to the value of this race, having shown a fair level of chasing form, but Galant Approach must have been hard to assess based on his taking Huntingdon hurdle win last time, but he did look very promising there. Victory Gunner is closing in on a winning mark from a year ago, while Star Angler would have needed his latest run over a shorter trip last time and could be interesting if staying sound enough to fulfil his obvious potential. Master Trix has a fairly similar profile and is respected, while He's The Guv'nor looked to be coming to hand last time and looks worth another try at today's trip. Finally, Nicky Henderson's Kyper Disco has something to prove at present and it was not a strong race that Bob The Builder won last time. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Galant Approach.
Bob Ar Aghaidh (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Led to 3rd, close up when fell at the 7th in race won by Silver Knight (11-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (C) hvy, 6 ran.
Gallant Approach (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Chased leader, led approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov beating Mikado (11-5) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Victory Gunner (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Held up rear, hit 1st, 2nd, behind from 7th, stayed on through beaten horses from 3 out, 3rd of 8, 31l behind Zabenz (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (E) gd in Nov.
Nick Junior (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Chased leaders until weakened and lost place 12th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Iris's Gift (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (B) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Star Angler (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) In touch, hampered 6th, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 19l behind Terivic (11-0) at Towcester 2m nov chs (D) sft in Nov.
Master Trix (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (11-10) With leader, led 2nd, mistake 5th, headed 9th, led again 10th to 11th, chased leader until bumped 5 out, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 12, 21l behind Koumba (11-3) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Nov.
He's The Guv'nor (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 7th, soon ridden, stayed on flat, 2nd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Keepers Mead (11-4) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) sft.
Kyper Disco (FR) 15-2 (11-2) Chased leader, ridden and outpaced 6th, stayed on one pace from 4 out, 4th of 8, 17l behind Space Star (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (E) gd in Apr.
Bob The Builder 11-2 (11-2) Held up, pulled hard, headway 3rd, led after 5th, jumped left from 9th, headed 11th, led again 4 out, clear 3 out, eased flat, won at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (E) gd beating Superrollercoaster (11-2) by 5l, 8 ran.
