chased leaders, led 12th until next, stayed challenging, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
held up in rear, steady headway from 13th, chased leaders from 2 out, stayed on to chase winner flat, closing at finish, always just held
chased leaders, led 2 out, strongly pressed and hard driven flat, held on gamely
always towards rear, mistake 6th, struggling from 12th
always behind, lost touch before 13th, tailed off
mid-division, blundered 5th, hit 8th, behind from 12th, well behind when jumped right 2 out
in touch, led 13th, blundered and headed 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, led 8th until 12th, weakened under pressure after 13th
led, hit 2nd, headed 8th, blundered 10th, struggling after, tailed off
chased leaders, blundered 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, hit 2nd, never a factor
chased leaders, driven to challenge before last, stayed on same pace flat
always behind, no chance when hampered 2 out
Nonrunner
A really good race in which there are any number of possibilities. SHOULDHAVEHADTHAT is one of those and is our suggestion given that Opera De Coeur comes into this on the back of a hard race and that Tarotino ran poorly last time. In fairness to Shouldhavehadthat, he was still in contention at Cheltenham until a bad mistake put him out of the race and he was allowed to come back in his own time. Prior to that, he'd run out an impressive winner over course and distance from a subsequent winner, Calusa Caldera and Plein Pouvoir in a race where Turbulance fell at the first. He is up in the weights but is relatively lightly raced and could have more to offer. Tarotino was very disappointing at Wincanton but he had previously shaped with promise behind Tartak and remains a runner to be interested in with the yard going well. Freeze The Flame won his only chase start but could find others better handicapped whilst Opera De Coeur had a hard race at Ludlow and will find this more demanding. Nom De Guerre was in the process of running well on Sunday until taking a fall and would be worth considering if allowed to take his chance but we'll take Shouldhavehadthat to resume his upward curve.
Freeze The Flame (GER) 10-11fav (11-0) Tracked leader, disputed lead from 8th until led approaching 4 out, driven clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Fakenham 2m 5f beg chs (4) sft beating Pairc Na Gcapall (10-7) by 8l, 5 ran.
Poker De Sivola (FR) 10-1 (11-1) Always rear of main group, ridden and not fluent 8th, struggling after, tailed off, 6th of 8, 42l behind Massini's Maguire (11-1) at Ascot 2m 5f beg chs (3) gd in Nov.
Shouldhavehadthat (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 6th, some headway when blundered badly 4 out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, well behind Saunders Road (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Opera de Coeur (FR) 10-3fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 2nd, mistake 2 out, headed, challenging when blundered last, all out to lead close home, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Our Jasper (11-11) by a hd, 7 ran.
Turbulance (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up, 2nd after 7th, led after next until 4 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 20l behind Sound Accord (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chs (4) gs.
Calusa Caldera (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Held up, blundered 3rd, in touch approaching 4 out, left 4th 2 out, left poor 3rd last, 3rd of 11, 23l behind Shouldhavehadthat (11-4) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Plein Pouvoir (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened from 3 out, 4th of 11, 27l behind Shouldhavehadthat (11-4) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
North Island (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (11-0) Led to 3rd, chased leaders, led again approaching 3 out, kept on well, won at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gs beating Professor Higgins (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Present Oriented (USA) 28-1 (10-0) Tracking leader when carried out at the 4th in race won by Pretty Star (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft, 8 ran.
Royal Kicks (FR) 10-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, some late progress, never dangerous, 6th of 16, 11l behind Saunders Road (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Uncle Eli (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Settled 3rd and off the pace, mistake 4th, closed up before 6th, jumped left 2 out, soon no chance with front pair, finished tired, 3rd of 12, 34l behind Medermit (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov.
South Bank (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 13th, weakened 15th, 6th of 15, 49l behind Prince of Persia (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Chamacco (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Held up, mistake 13th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Nagam (10-13) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Mar '07, 9 ran.
Tarotino (FR) Evensjt-fav (11-0) Chased leader, led 4th to approaching 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 4, 27l behind Lightning Strike (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f beg chs (4) sft.
Nom de Guerre (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) In touch, hit 2nd, headway when bumped 13th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden after 3 out, kept on but always held by winner, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Aimigayle (10-9) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gd in Nov.
