tracking leader until badly hampered and dropped to rear 8th, plugged on approaching 3 out, not recover
led, hit 5th, blundered and unseated rider 8th
not jumped well in rear, hit 3rd, outpaced from 6th, behind when blundered 9th, no chance after
tracked leaders, ridden and losing place when hampered 8th, no chance after
tracked leaders in 4th, headway 6th, left in narrow lead 8th, soon headed and tracked leader, led 3 out, hit 2 out, soon in command, shaken up and drew right away flat
held up last, left 3rd soon after 8th, one pace and no impression from 3 out
tracked leaders and 5th, left 2nd at 8th, soon led, headed 3 out, no impression soon after next
Kauto Star is preferred to Voy Por Ustedes and Central House. Paul Nicholls' charge was an emphatic winner of this race 12 months ago and while it is something of a surprise that connections have nominated this target, his presence has scared off much of the meaningful opposition and it is difficult to see him getting beat if he puts in a clear round. Voy Por Ustedes has to be respected although the recent vibes from the Alan King yard have not been that great in the media and it could be that he might need the run. Central House is an interesting participant given that he is a relatively rare visitor to this side of the Irish Sea. Roger Loughran gets on well with him and he should have come on massively for his recent second at Navan. Fota Island has the services of AP McCoy but he looks to have lost some of the ability that he had and there will be no hiding place at this level. Dempsey has tended to run in snatches in the past and has a bit to find on official figures. Hoo La Baloo hasn't quite realised the promise of his novice career but would not be completely inconvenienced by any further rain. Oneway ran a very moderate race on seasonal reappearance and he would need to leave that form way behind before taking any hand at this level. Kauto Star will be a short price but if his jumping stands up to examination, he is difficult to get away from.
Central House 7-4jt-fav (11-12) Led, ridden and strongly pressed 3 out, headed after last, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 5, 3/4l behind Nickname (11-7) at Navan 2m chs Grd 2 gs in Nov.
Dempsey (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up, not fluent 6th, headway 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 5, well behind Racing Demon (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Fota Island (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Close up, 2nd halfway, 3rd and ridden after 3 out, no extra from next, last of 5, 14l behind Nickname (11-7) at Navan 2m chs Grd 2 gs in Nov.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 10th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Cerium (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Kauto Star (FR) 11-10fav (11-8) Held up, steady headway after 10th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led on bit last, shaken up, drew clear flat, impressive, won at Haydock 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Nov beating Beef Or Salmon (11-8) by 17l, 6 ran.
Oneway (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up, mistake 5th, lost touch 9th, last of 9, 39l behind Rubberdubber (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Nov.
Voy Por Ustedes (FR) 10-11fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, soon ridden, headed after last, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Foreman (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Apr.
