tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, lost place after next, behind when pulled up before 8th
led, jumped right 4th, headed next, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, no impression from next
held up in touch, last and outpaced 13th, weakened 4 out
held up, headway on outside 7th, not fluent next, outpaced in 3rd when pecked slightly 3 out, rallied flat, stayed on well
held up in touch on inside, not fluent 10th, switched left before 13th, every chance 4 out, 2 1/2 lengths down last, stayed on
tracked leader, not fluent 1st, hampered 4th, led next, mistake 12th, ridden before 3 out, idled from last, held on
All have claims with TOUR DES CHAMPS the choice in the hope he may recapture the best of his good-quality chase form prior to an enforced absence. If he can, then he'll be tough to beat and can easily be forgiven his latest start when being one of many to pull up in the Welsh Grand National. The unexposed Minellahalfcentury surely has more to offer over fences and would have needed the run on his comeback when finishing in mid-division at Cheltenham. More is expected now. Course and distance winner Wychwoods Brook showed a good attitude here last time and cannot be discounted whilst Sonny The One has yet to shed maiden status but is in good form and remains lightly-raced. Cork Citizen has a first run for the Pipe team since leaving Ireland so check the market with him but Ballyoliver is into the veteran stage now and hasn't won since late 2014.
Wychwoods Brook 11-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, led before 3 out, kept on, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan beating Easter Day (11-12) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Tour Des Champs (FR) 12-1 (10-4) Prominent, jumped slowly and lost a few places 4th, mistake 6th, very slow and weakened 15th, pulled up before 17th, at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
Minellahalfcentury (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Led to 9th, tracked leader, lost place after 3 out, no impression in 5th when slightly hampered 2 out, weakened flat, 6th of 12, 19 1/2l behind Knock House (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Ballyoliver 15-2 (11-8) In rear, reminders and headway before 11th, weakened from 6 out, 9th of 10, 34 1/4l behind Vintage Star (11-12) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Cork Citizen 16-1 (11-10) Prominent and disputed, dropped to 3rd 13th, ridden 4 out, kept on to press leader before 2 out, kept on same pace from before last, stayed on again to press winner close home, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Drawn N Drank (11-6) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f sft in Apr.
Sonny The One 10-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 12th, ridden next, kept on same pace, no impression with winner, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Waldorf Salad (11-7) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Dec.
