made all, shaken up to go clear after 3 out, kept on well, readily
held up, headway 10th, hit next, soon weakened
tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th to 11th, ridden after next, one pace
held up and behind, ridden and weakened after 13th
held up and behind until fell 9th
in touch until ridden and weakened after 11th
in touch, headway 8th, weakening when blundered 11th, behind when pulled up before 13th
tracked leader, ridden and outpaced approaching 13th, stayed on well approaching 2 out, no chance with winner
held up, headway approaching 10th, challenged winner 13th, every chance when not fluent 3 out (water), weakened from next
in touch when fell 2nd
Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh have had a few titanic struggles of late and look set for another one here as they ride the principals in the 10-strong field. McCoy is reunited with Magnus who came from France with a big reputation that was soon dented when he trailed home last of five on his debut for Martin Pipe last season. However, it transpired that he had broken a blood vessel, and he was allowed to take his chance in the Coral Eurobet Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Things got worse though as he struggled under topweight, finishing 25th of the 27 runners, and to add insult to injury, he was banned under the non-triers rule. So now Magnus goes novice chasing, and by all accounts has schooled very well indeed, But he will have to be spot on to repel the challenge of Joly Bey from the in-form Paul Nicholls yard. Already a winner over fences in France, he came up against a potential Cheltenham candidate in Moss Harvey on his chase debut in this country at Fakenham in October and was not disgraced in second, conceding 8lbs to the winner. Although having to give the same amount away to Magnus, TEAMtalk reckon that Joly Bey looks a more likely sort to make the grade over fences, and his owners, the Million In Mind partnership might just have a Royal & SunAlliance Chase prospect on their hands. Mr Woodland bolted up at Huntingdon but the testing conditions are likely to find him out, while Briar's Mist has to make his debut somewhere-it is just a pity that it against such high-class rivals.
