tracked leader, led 6th, not fluent 9th, shaken up to go clear approaching 2 out, comfortably
tracked leaders, pecked 1st and 2nd, challenging when fell 10th
led, hit 1st, headed 6th, chased winner, ridden after 12th, soon weakened
held up behind leaders, slipped badly 10th, chased winner after 12th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon beaten
Croix de Guerre is capable on his day of taking a hand in a race of this nature but the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding looks a shade high in the weights at present so he may be best left out of calculations and a chance is taken with Tanikos, who gets the vote over Nayodabayo. The last mentioned ran well on his reappearance at Worcester recently and has to be respected on that evidence but a 5lb rise for that run looks harsh so he may have to settle for a minor role. Stance has not looked the most natural of chasers and is hard to recommend with confidence and a better bet may be Tanikos. Nicky Henderson's gelding is not the most reliable of customers but he is well treated on the pick of his form, has ground conditions that suit and his yard could hardly be in better form than now so he may be worth chancing on his reappearance.
Nayodabayo (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 6th, headed 8th, led again 4 out, all out and fading when headed close home, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Briery Fox (11-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct.
Croix de Guerre (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Mistake 1st, mid-division, ridden approaching 9th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 6th of 11, 17l behind Crossbow Creek (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Tanikos (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Never travelling, mistake 5th, lost touch from next, tailed off and pulled up 4 out in race won by Crossbow Creek (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
Stance 16-1 (10-5) Not jump well, mistake 1st, blundered 9th, always well behind, last of 6, well behind Crossbow Creek (11-12) at Ascot 2m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gf in Oct.
