mid-divison until dropped rear and reminders 9th, hit next, lost touch quickly and pulled up after 11th
held up, lost touch 14th, tailed off
in touch, hit 17th, led after 19th, stayed on, driven out
held up, lost touch 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway 12th, close up and travelling well when fell 14th
led until 17th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
chased leader, led 17th, headed after 19th, soon ridden, kept on same pace
hit 1st, soon mid-division, headway 17th, ridden approaching 3 out, 5th and beaten when fell 2 out
chased leaders, slow jump 2nd and lost place, behind from 13th
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, stayed on from next, went 3rd approaching last
chased leaders, ridden to chase winner approaching 3 out, close 2nd when hit last kept on
Side with Kelami ahead of Eric's Charm, Irish Raptor and Burntoakboy. Others look better handicapped than Cerium, Butler's Cabin has the National as his aim, Gungadu's jumping will come under pressure and Harris Bay is in and out. My Immortal, Caribou and Tora Bora all have questions to answer but Principe Azzuro could go well if ridden closer to the pace. He was just over 3 lengths behind Eric's Charm here last time and is 1lb better off but Oliver Sherwood's chaser saves his best for this track and was unfortunate to bump into a well handicapped horse last time. Irish Raptor is tough and progressive and there seems no reason as to why he shouldn't cope with the rise in the weights. Kelami was only narrowly beaten in last year's renewal from this mark; he's not going to be getting any better but has made the frame in all 3 visits here and looks to have been aimed at this race again. He should go close. Burntoakboy returned to form with an eyecatching run at Cheltenham last weekend; he's yet to prove as good over fences as he is over hurdles but is handicapped accordingly and, after just 6 chase starts, could yet prove that to be all wrong. However, the solid claims of Kelami win him the vote.
Cerium (FR) 15-2 (11-5) Behind, steady headway 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, 9th of 13, 23l behind Vodka Bleu (10-3) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gf in Dec.
Butler's Cabin (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, well behind 6th, headway 2 out, never nearer, 3rd of 5, 19l behind Jack The Giant (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f chs (2) gs in Jan.
Gungadu 4-1fav (11-2) Held up in touch, chased leaders after 17th, every chance next, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 18, 25l behind Miko de Beauchene (10-5) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Harris Bay 11-2 (10-1) Held up, headway 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, led when blundered last, stayed on, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan beating Nakai (11-5) by 7l, 11 ran.
Kelami (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 17th, hampered 3 out, soon ridden, weakened last, 8th of 16, 14l behind Over The Creek (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Dec.
Eric's Charm (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Led, headed 11th, ridden 3 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Backbeat (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) In touch, not fluent 12th, led approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan beating Millards Lad (10-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Principe Azzurro (FR) 4-1fav (11-8) Towards rear, headway 17th, mistake 4 out, stayed on, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Backbeat (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan.
Tora Bora (GER) 33-1 (11-4) Soon behind, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Maljimar (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Jan, 11 ran.
My Immortal 11-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 16th, struggling when fell at the last in race won by Kock De La Vesvre (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m lst hcp chs (1) hvy in Jul, 11 ran.
Burntoakboy 25-1 (10-0) Mid-divsion, ridden and headway after 3 out, stayed on from last, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 11, 11l behind Maljimar (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Jan.
Caribou (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Held up in mid-division, steady headway from 13th, chased leaders after 4 out, went 2nd before last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Yardbird (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec.
