held up in rear, hit 5th, ridden and struggling 9th, tailed off and pulled up before last
keen hold, held up in touch, chased leading pair from 3 out, blundered 2 out, soon weakened, not recover
tracked leaders, chased winner from 3 out, upsides 2 out, ridden and every chance last, no extra, run-in
led 2nd to 3rd, chased leaders, ridden 9th, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, pushed along when badly hampered on inner well before 2 out, staying on when hit 2 out, kept on strongly, run-in to take 2nd final 50 yards
held up in rear, still well behind 3 out, headway on inside approaching 2 out, chased leading pair soon after, stayed on same pace
always behind, mistake 8th, struggling next
prominent, led 3rd and set steady pace, quickened 7th, joined 2 out, still narrow advantage last, driven clear, run-in, stayed on strongly
led to 2nd, stayed pressing winner until weakened before 3 out
in touch until weakened 3 out
held up in mid-division, hit 4th, ridden and headway from 2 out, weakened and blundered last
keen hold, held up towards rear, ridden and hit 9th, weakened after 3 out
Mighty Man was given too much to do behind The French Furze at Cheltenham last time and looks worth a try at over today's longer trip so gets the vote ahead of No Refuge and Attorney General. The last mentioned has shown progressive form in handicaps of late but this looks tougher so he may be best left out of calculations. Alan King's My Way de Solzen took advantage of the absence of Baracouda to land the Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow last time and has to be respected on that evidence, while Millenium Royal does not look to be as good as his stablemate Baracouda and may be best watched on his British debut. Patriarch Express has shown improved form of late and makes more appeal than Redemption, who reverts to hurdles after an unproductive spell chasing. Howard Johnson does well with his staying hurdlers and No Refuge is of interest stepping up in trip but Mighty Man has given the impression that today's longer trip will bring about plenty of improvement and he gets the vote in the hope that it does.
Millenium Royal (FR) (10-6) Held up, effort 3 out, no extra, 6th of 9, 10l behind Gold Magic (10-8) at Auteuil 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
No Refuge (IRE) 7-4fav (11-4) Not fluent, disputed 3rd, headway 7th, ridden before 3 out, chased leader next, mistake last, stayed on well run-in, won at Windsor 2m 4f hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov beating Blue Canyon (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Patriarch Express 11-4 (11-12) Chased clear leaders, led 3 out, headed before next, weakened quickly 2 out, 4th of 5, 40l behind Crystal d'Ainay (11-12) at Kempton 3m hdl Grd 2 (A) sft.
Brewster (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 8, 33l behind My Way de Solzen (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Mighty Man (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Held up, headway 7th, chased winner after 3 out, well down 2 out, ridden, hung left approaching last, stayed on flat, always held, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind The French Furze (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Westender (FR) 6-1 (11-8) In touch in chasing group, pushed along after 5th, lost place next, headway approaching 2 out, no further progress, 4th of 8, 14l behind The French Furze (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Attorney General (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, led approaching last, soon clear, ridden and ran on well flat, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan beating Stormez (11-8) by 10l, 14 ran.
Fire Dragon (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) In touch, challenged 2 out, soon led, headed approaching last, not pace of winner, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Pretty Star (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gd in Dec.
Mistanoora 28-1 (11-7) With leader until after 8th, ridden and weakened next, 7th of 8, 36l behind My Way de Solzen (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Redemption 8-1 (10-8) Held up rear, headway when mistake 3 out, ridden from last, one pace, 4th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Fondmort (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Jan.
Sporazene (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up, headway to dispute 4th and staying on when fell 2 out in race won by The French Furze (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl (2) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Starzaan (IRE) 66-1 (11-7) Keen in rear, headway on 4 out, jumped right 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 8, 17l behind My Way de Solzen (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
My Way de Solzen (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Chepstow 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec beating Neptune Collonges (11-7) by 5l, 8 ran.
