tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, jumped leader 3 out, led 2 out, headed before last, kept on run-in, no chance with winner
soon pushed along, led to 2nd, until lead before 3rd, headed 7th, stayed close up under pressure until weakened before 3 out
close up, challenged 2 out, led before last, pushed clear run-in
led 2nd until not fluent 3rd, led again 7th, mistake 9th, headed 2 out, weakened before last
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on under pressure next, beaten when blundered last
behind, stayed on under pressure and effort 3 out, held when jumped left 2 out, beaten when blundered last
A smashing novice chase, which has been won over the years by such horses as Baydon Star, Mulligan, Direct Route, Decoupage, Fondmort and Impek. The nomination for this year's contest is Thisthatandtother, ahead of Puntal and Chauvinist. The selection was a very useful hurdler and could not have been more impressive when making it two-from-two over the larger obstacles in scoring at Cheltenham last time. That performance took him to the head of the betting for the Arkle Chase and, despite the fact that he was beaten on his only start here over hurdles, looks to have an outstanding chance of adding to his reputation here. Puntal has been kept busy by his trainer and his three chase successes to date - from four starts - have come in the last 39 days. He warrants respect, as does Nicky Henderson's Chauvinist, who finished third in last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Nicky Henderson has been looking forward to running him over fences and , incidentally, he finished three-and-a-half lengths in front of the selection in that race, and around eight lengths ahead of Jaboune. Jaboune holds Atum Re on the basis of their Fakenham runs in the spring but both should be able to pay their ways over the larger obstacles. Ryders Storm was beaten 11 lengths by the selection at Cheltenham and is only one-pound better off at the weights. Useful juvenile hurdler Translucid is making his chasing debut, while Master Rex looked decent as a hurdler two years ago but has had his problems and has not raced for over two years. Overall, though, Thisthatandtother looked a very exciting prospect at Cheltenham last time and is taken to confirm that view.
