jumped well, made all, clear 3rd, given breather before 3 out, clear again after next, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
tracked leaders, slightly hampered 3rd, pushed along before 3 out, soon driven and one pace, plugged on into modest 3rd run-in
tracking leaders when stumbled badly and unseated rider 1st
sometimes jumped left, tracked leaders, pushed along when went left and awkward 2 out, went left again last, kept on same pace, lost 3rd run-in
took keen hold, held up last, outpaced when hit 9th, no chance after
tracked winner, closed before 3 out, readily held next
Willow's Saviour was a smart hurdler and returned from a lay-off to land a normally informative contest at Warwick. But the second failed to frank the form next time and no eight-year-old has won this since it achieved Grade 1 status. No four-year-old has been successful since the Noughties but BRISTOL DE MAI can buck that trend as he gave the highly-regarded Garde La Victoire an almighty fright on his chasing bow at Uttoxeter before winning on the bridle at Warwick. A Grade 1 winner on soft going over hurdles, he may have too much speed for Irish raider Sizing Codelco and As De Mee over this trip. The latter ran well behind More Of That at Cheltenham but an extra half-mile would have suited better. Bouvreuil faces a tough start to his chase career and Ar Mad's win here last month came about because neither of his two rivals performed as expected.
Ar Mad (FR) 16-1 (11-1) Jumped soundly, made all, clear 6th, kept on strongly, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m (3) gs in Nov beating Golden Doyen (10-7) by 7l, 3 ran.
As De Mee (FR) 4-1fav (11-2) Made most, headed 10th (water), in touch, led again 4 out, jumped right from next, ridden and headed flat, kept on same pace pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind More Of That (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gs in Nov.
Sizing Codelco (IRE) 4-5fav (11-12) Led and disputed, 2nd from after 6th, disputed again before 3 out, ridden in lead before 2 out, slight mistake and left clear 2 out, kept on strongly from before last where slight mistake, eased run-in, won at Listowel 2m 1f sft in Sep beating Rock On Fruity (11-12) by 8l, 9 ran.
Willow's Saviour 3-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 6th, went 2nd next, led 8th, driven flat, held on, won at Warwick 2m (3) gs in Nov beating Aso (11-1) by nk, 4 ran.
Bouvreuil (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, driven and lost place after 2 out, weakened before last, 15th of 17, 22 1/4l behind Old Guard (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Bristol De Mai (FR) 8-15fav (10-7) Made all, drew clear on bit after 3 out, unchallenged, won at Warwick 2m (3) gs in Nov beating Karezak (10-7) by 19l, 4 ran.
