made all, in command before 2 out, ridden approaching last, soon clear, driven out
tracked leading pair from 7th, ridden after 4 out, went 2nd under pressure before last, no impression
chased winner to before 7th, in touch, driven after 10th, lost touch 12th, tailed off
took keen hold, prominent, chased winner and jumped left 7th, effort 3 out, held when mistake next, weakened
held up, reminders after 3rd, jumped slowly 8th, mistake next, losing touch when blundered and fell 13th
held up last but in touch, ridden after 4 out, outpaced and beaten when mistake next
Manly Money has not done much wrong since being put over fences and has to be respected but Chauvinist may be too classy for his rivals and is preferred to Melford. The selection was rated 138 at his best over hurdles and much has been expected of Nicky Henderson's gelding since being sent chasing. An Aintree success in December apart, the son of Roselier has been largely disappointing but his stable is in much better form now and he looks worth another chance. Tony McCoy does well when riding for Venetia Williams but the French import has yet to run for new connections and may be best watched so a bigger threat may come from Melford. A course and distance winner earlier in the season, Henrietta Knight's gelding remains open to improvement but needs to improve if he is to trouble the selection. Martin Pipe's French import Meneur de Jeu showed promise on his first start for new connections at Newcastle last month and has to be respected along with Lubinas but a bigger danger is likely to come from Manly Money. The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding looked impressive when opening his chase account at Taunton earlier this month but this is tougher and Chauvinist should be hard to beat.
Chauvinist (IRE) 9-4 Chased leaders, left 2nd at 6th, hit 9th, ridden to press winner 4 out, weakening when mistake next, went badly left 2 out, 4th of 5, 41l behind See You Sometime at Windsor 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Dec.
Manly Money 5-6fav Tracked leaders, left 2nd at 2nd, led after 8th, drew clear from 3 out, hit last, readily, won at Taunton 2m 3f beg chs (E) gd beating Ideal Jack by 5l, 5 ran.
Melford (IRE) 10-3jt-fav Held up mid-division, ridden 10th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Cool Monty at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Jan, 7 ran.
Mambo des Mottes (FR) won at Craon 2m 2f chs gs in Sept beating Mars Des Obeaux by 9l, 11 ran.
Meneur De Jeu (FR) 5-2 Held up in touch, ridden to chase winner 2 out, soon hard ridden, just failed, 2nd of 6, shd behind Hirvine at Newcastle 3m nov chs (C) gs in Jan.
Lubinas (IRE) 12-1 Held up and keen, some headway after 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6, 33l behind Duncliffe at Leicester 2m 4f nov chs (C) gs in Jan.
