held up in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 17th
held up mid-division, headway 13th, weakened approaching 3 out
never going well in rear, well behind when ridden after 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 15th
chased leaders until weakened 3 out
keen hold in mid-division, steady headway from 12th, chased leaders from 4 out, went 2nd next, 3 lengths down and staying on when left in lead 2 out, driven out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, challenged 16th, led 3 out, 3 lengths ahead when staying on well fell 3 out
mistakes, behind, slithered on landing 9th, never going well after, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
prominent, chased leader from 7th, led 10th to 3 out, left chasing winner 2 out, no impression last
chased leaders, ridden 17th, losing place when blundered 4 out, one pace under pressure from next
mid-division, jumped slowly 12th, ridden and mistake 15th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
not fluent and always behind
held up in touch, losing place when mistake 14th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, left 3rd next, ridden to chase winner last, one pace run-in
mistake 1st, tracked leader, led 6th to 10th, tracked leader, challenged 12th, weakening when mistake 16th
Ladalko was good value for his five length defeat of Shalako at Newbury last time but the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has more to do off his 9lb higher mark today and preference is for Liberthine who gets the vote ahead of another Nicholls inmate Lou du Moulin Mas and Gunther McBride. The last mentioned has been a grand servant for Phillip Hobbs but the 11-year-old tends to do his winning on flatter tracks so he may be best watched today. Graphic Approach is less exposed over fences than most of these and cannot be discounted under Tony McCoy. Martin Pipe's Hours has claims on the pick of his form but it is difficult to be confident about any of the yard's horses at present, while stablemate Zeta's River seems plenty high enough in the weights at present. Distant Thunder has disappointed in two starts in handicaps this term and of more interest may be Lou du Moulin Mas, who is consistent and entitled to be thereabouts again. The vote though goes to Nicky Henderson's Liberthine, who was travelling better than anything before unseating three out at Cheltenham last time and is taken to gain compensation.
Horus (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Behind, headway after 4 out, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 43l behind Captain Corelli (9-9) at Haydock 3m hcp chs (B) sft in Dec.
Liberthine (FR) 5-1 (9-13) Held up, headway 15th, joined winner next, still travelling well when stumbled and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Royal Auclair (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Zeta's River (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Behind, struggling from 12th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Iris's Gift (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (B) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
Gunther McBride (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Led, ridden 17th, hit 2 out and headed, weakened last, 4th of 9, 8l behind I Hear Thunder (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gd in Oct.
Graphic Approach (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up, hit 6th, blundered 9th, hit 13th, headway to chase leaders next, ridden after 3 out, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Too Forward (11-9) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Nov.
Ladalko (FR) 7-2 (11-11) Held up, headway 11th, led 4 out, drew well clear before last, eased run-in, won at Newbury 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (E) gd in Nov beating Shalako (11-0) by 5l, 11 ran.
Distant Thunder (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Held up, hit 12th, headway on outside approaching 5 out, weakened after 3 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Trabolgan (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Nov, 19 ran.
Jakari (FR) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened 12th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Bold Bishop (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov, 16 ran.
Lou du Moulin Mas (FR) 6-5fav (11-4) Tracked leading pair, ridden and outpaced 12th, no impression from 4 out, 3rd of 5, 21l behind You're Special (10-9) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (B) gs in Dec.
Holy Joe (FR) 25-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 13, 13l behind Joaaci (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs.
Latimer's Place 10-3 (11-7) Held up, headway 13th, tracked leader 4 out, led on bit approaching 3 out, clear last, pushed out flat, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec beating Gray's Eulogy (10-5) by 10l, 6 ran.
Ken'tucky (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Close up on inside, driven, outpaced 4 out, ridden, weakened after next, 5th of 7, 25l behind Lothian Falcon (10-0) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov.
Shalako (USA) 5-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, chased winner and mistake 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Ladalko (11-11) at Newbury 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (E) gd in Nov.
Durlston Bay 5-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 3rd, mistake 5th, headed 12th, led 14th, headed 3 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 6, 21l behind Latimer's Place (11-7) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Dec.
