chased leaders, jumped left 12th, lost place 18th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, stumbled slightly 11th, not fluent 12th or 14th, headway 4 out, went 3rd approaching 2 out, stayed on, unable to threaten front pair
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 16th, outpaced after 4 out, 5th and beaten next, weakened
mid-division, headway 9th, went 2nd 3 out, challenging when slightly awkward 2 out, soon led narrowly, in command flat, driven out
held up in rear, jumped left 1st, slow 4th, fell 12th
held up in rear, not much room 1st, headway 11th, lost place before next, closed 15th, outpaced after 4 out, weakened before next
tracked leader, pecked slightly 1st, ridden after 4 out, lost 2nd 3 out, 4th and no extra when mistake 2 out, weakened
led, ridden and joined 2 out, still upsides when not fluent last, held flat, stayed on
Some solid and experienced sorts clash here although Seventh Sky is the one who could still have more to offer over fences and he's progressed notably this term. However, as a result he finds himself at the head of the weights and BLACK THUNDER is preferred. The Nicholls' gelding stays, like many of these, far further than 3m, but he's adept over shorter as shown by a previous course and distance success. He should enjoy this far more than the hurly-burly of the Welsh National in which he unseated latest. Stablemate Unioniste would be interesting if recapturing his form, whilst Saroque and Summery Justice form a strong Venetia Williams challenge. Both went well when last seen but the feeling persists that they would be better suited to a longer trip and more testing conditions.
Seventh Sky (GER) 14-1 (11-5) With leaders early, soon pushed along and outpaced, plugged on from 4 out, never dangerous, 4th of 12, 27l behind Cloudy Too (10-4) at Haydock 3m hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Unioniste (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Never fluent, last pair, blundered 11th, tailed off, 12th of 13, dist behind Wakanda (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Black Thunder (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, 6th when mistake and unseated rider 13th, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Le Reve (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Always towards rear, 6th of 15, 23 1/2l behind Ziga Boy (10-0) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Knock House (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Chased clear leader (winner), hit 2nd, mistake 3 out, soon beaten, hit 2 out, 4th of 8, 26 3/4l behind Aachen (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Summery Justice (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Mid-divsiion, headway chasing leaders 19th, not clear run and switched right approaching last, went 2nd run-in, kept on, always just held, 2nd of 15, 3/4l behind Carole's Destrier (11-10) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Saroque (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd when blundered 8th, led 11th, soon headed, led 14th until 17th, led 5 out, headed when mistake 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 20, 21 3/4l behind Mountainous (10-6) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, disputed lead 16th to next, outpaced in 3rd 4 out, modest 4th from next, 4th of 12, 18 3/4l behind Lackamon (11-4) at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
