raced keenly, tracked leading pair, narrow lead after 2nd, pressed, narrowly headed before 3 out, lost 2nd before next and outpaced soon after, kept on again flat
chased leader until after 2nd, stayed in touch, reminders after 6th, driven in 4th approaching last, stayed on to 2nd flat, not pace to challenge winner
held up last, headway to 4th at 6th, went 3rd soon after 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
tended to jump left, led until after 2nd, pressed leader, not fluent 8th, narrow lead again before 3 out, driven 2 out, stayed on under pressure from last
chased leading trio, went 3rd before 3rd, went 2nd before 2 out, challenged and chance 2 out, stayed on same pace before last, no impression when lost 2 places flat
held up in last pair, last and struggling 8th, tailed off
Oiseau De Nuit was impressive in landing the Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham and followed that up with a solid second behind Silk Drum off 9lb higher mark at Aintree. Colin Tizzard's nine-year-old deserves his chance in this better class but we can't see him overturning a 13-length defeat by FRENCH OPERA in the Game Spirit at Newbury in February. Cornas finished even further behind that day and Nicky Henderson's gelding's two subsequent runs have been in Grade 1 contests so he can return to winning ways here. Tataniano was a smart novice last year but disappointed on his only run this campaign and has bit to prove now, while recent Wincanton winner Russian Flag simply doesn't look good enough.
Tataniano (FR) 7-4 (11-5) Raced keenly, led, joined when hit 3 out, headed and dropped to 3rd 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Gauvain (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m chs (2) gs in Nov.
Chaninbar (FR) 100-1 (11-10) Refused to race, in a race won by Master Minded (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f Grade 1 chs (1) gd, 10 ran.
Cornas (NZ) 150-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, soon beaten, 9th of 11, 32l behind Sizing Europe (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
French Opera 11-1 (11-10) With leader, not fluent 2nd, ridden before last, no extra, 5th of 10, 16l behind Master Minded (11-10) at Aintree 2m 4f Grade 1 chs (1) gd.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 8-1 (10-6) Held up, blundered badly 2nd and rider lost irons briefly, behind after until headway from 4 out, chased winner 2 out, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Silk Drum (9-9) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Russian Flag (FR) 7-1 (11-8) Tracked leading pair, ridden and left in lead after 3 out, kept on, ridden out, won at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd beating King Edmund (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
