close up, joined leaders 4 out, soon ridden, weakened quickly before next, pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway when hit 13th, soon ridden, lost touch quickly 14th, pulled up after next
tracked leaders, struggling when not fluent 15th, soon behind
led 3rd to 14th, led 16th, ridden, headed after 2 out, kept on same pace
led until 3rd, prominent, pecked 4th, led 14th to 16th, soon ridden, weakened before 3 out
held up, headway 15th, ridden after 4 out, led after 2 out, hit last, driven out
A 16lb rise seems harsh for Kaldouas following his success at Worcester last month but Paul Nicholls' chaser won with plenty in hand that day, being eased down on the flat and he is taken to carry on the progression that he has shown of late and gets the vote ahead of Hermano Cordobes and Oakfield Legend. The last mentioned is clearly better over fences than he was over hurdles and he should again be thereabouts but he may be a shade high in the weights so looks best watched. Take The Stand has been running well in hunter chase-company and has to be respected provided any rain does not fall but there is a suspicion that Peter Bowen's gelding is too high in the weights at present. Formerly with Henrietta Knight, One Nation is nowhere near as good as he once was and the 13-year-old looks best left out of calculations. Ice Tea has given little cause for optimism of late and of more interest may be Hermano Cordobes, who looks to be going the right way. Kaldouas is very much in form at present though and he is taken to give Paul Nicholls another winner.
Kaldouas (FR) 7-2fav (11-4) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 7th, led 10th, drew clear from 4 out, eased flat, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun beating He's The Gaffer (11-0) by 15l, 10 ran.
Ice Tea (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Prominent, close 3rd 5 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Surface To Air (11-5) at Uttoxeter 4m lst hcp chs (1) gd in Jun, 16 ran.
Take The Stand (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Took keen hold, in touch, hit 13th, led 5 out, headed after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 16, well behind Surface To Air (11-5) at Uttoxeter 4m lst hcp chs (1) gd in Jun.
Oakfield Legend 8-1 (11-1) Jumped boldly, raced keenly, led, headed 2 out, beaten between last 2, mistake last, weakened flat, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Fieldsofclover (10-4) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun.
One Nation (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, 4th of 9, 2 1/2l behind Inaro (10-10) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Jun.
Hermano Cordobes (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-3) Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on but held from 2 out, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Alphabetical (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
