always in rear, struggling 10th, tailed off
held up, jumped slowly 6th, reminder next, tailed off when pulled before 10th
in touch, hard ridden and weakened before 2 out
behind, mistake 8th, ridden before next, pulled up before 10th
made virtually all, hit 4 out, blundered 2 out, in command before last, pushed out, run-in
not jump well in rear, blundered 5th and 8th, fell 10th
took keen hold, not always fluent, held up in rear, hit 6th, headway from 9th, chased winner 3 out, tried to close before 2 out, no impression before last
tracked leaders, jumped big 5th, chased winner 10th to 3 out, one paced under pressure before next
prominent until weakened 10th
chased leaders, challenged 10th, weakened under pressure 4 out
disputing close 2nd when fell 4th
Once again, an interesting beginners' chase, and Pardishar gets the vote ahead of, possibly, Pass Me A Dime and Prato. Given that he was winning from a mark of 109 over hurdles in April, Pardishar gets plenty of respect here on his chasing debut, while Pass Me A Dime's third behind Millenaire and Avitta on his chasing debut was promising. German raider Prato has already won over hurdles in Britain, while connections paid 28,000 guineas for the Paul Nicholls-trained Smart Cavalier, and he is surely better than his novice hunter chase debut might suggest. Lord Olympia would be a danger to all based on his form of a year ago but will need to show more than in his last two runs. General Grey and ID Technology are among those to have shown hurdling promise and, given that Loup Bleu had been off for three years, his run behind Cruzspiel at Huntingdon in October was quite encouraging. Adding further spice to the race are Nicky Henderson's The Grocer's Curate and Henrietta Knight's The Holy Bee, although the latter has yet to live up to a fairly good billing on the track. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Pardishar, but the advice is to watch the betting.
General Grey (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Pulled hard, prominent when stumbled and unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Comanche War Paint (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl (D) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Harrihawkan 20-1 (11-0) Led 2nd until 6th, led 12th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 8, 32l behind Dancer Life (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (D) gs in Oct.
I D Technology (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Tracked leader 4th to 6th, stayed handy until mistake and weakened 9th, 7th of 8, 48l behind Lorient Express (10-7) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf.
Loup Bleu (USA) 50-1 (10-12) Prominent, led 5th, headed 7th, weakened approaching 4 out, 4th of 7, 32l behind Cruzspiel (11-4) at Fakenham 2m 4f nov hdl (D) gd in Oct.
Pass Me A Dime 11-2 (10-12) Chased leader, mistake 3rd, led 9th, mistake, headed 3 out, lost 2nd well before next, no extra, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Millenaire (10-12) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov chs (D) gf.
Prato (GER) 6-1 (11-7) Held up and keen in rear, some headway 4 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 10, 49l behind Il Duce (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gs in Apr.
Smart Cavalier 6-5fav (11-12) Pulled hard, held up, headway 6th, hit 8th, going well and every chance 4 out, weakened quickly next, 3rd of 10, 25l behind Virgos Bambino (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hts chs (H) hvy in May.
The Grocers Curate (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Always in touch, led 2 out, ridden and headed before last, one pace, 3rd of 15, 4l behind Arctic Blue (10-4) at Chepstow 2m nov hdl (E) sft in Mar.
The Hardy Boy 50-1 (10-9) In touch, jumped big 4th, weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Stern (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (E) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
The Holy Bee (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Close up, mistakes 5th and 8th, ridden 10th, joined leader 14th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 10, well behind King of Gothland (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd.
Horcott Bay 50-1 (10-8) Led until after 5th, chased leaders, ridden after 8th, weakened next, 7th of 16, 44l behind Standin Obligation (11-1) at Exeter 2m 6f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Apr.
Lord Olympia (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Prominent, weakened before 6th, tailed off when hit 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Julius Caesar (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Mar, 18 ran.
Pardishar (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, hard ridden and headway on outside before 2 out, close up 2 out, weakened and hit last, 8th of 17, 16l behind Yes Sir (11-9) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Apr.
