As tough a race for betting purposes as you'll meet, but the tentative vote goes to Great As Gold, with Go For One, Nice Try and Be My Better Half making up the shortlist. The last-named would take this if in anything like his old form when he won off a mark of 122, however he has been lacklustre at best recently and so the Jonjo O'Neill gelding cannot be truly fancied. Nice Try carries top weight today after a fair performance when third to Wain Mountain a month ago. He had looked like a horse to follow after winning on his chase debut, however he hasn't progressed as anticipated and thus is passed over again today, although that last run was more of a return to form. Go For One is a winning pointer who duly obliged on his chasing debut seventeen days ago. However this is a tough introduction so we will reluctantly pass him over, in favour of Great As Gold. The selection is not a very big horse but he jumps well and his latest second at Newcastle looks fair form. He steps up in trip today which should play to his strengths, and so he gets the tentative vote.
Nice Try (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-0) In touch, close order 11th, ridden and mistake 12th, one pace flat, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Wain Mountain (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Be My Better Half (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led, hit 3rd, headed 8th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 25l behind Roman Ark (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Great As Gold (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, left in lead 8th, headed next, led again after 5 out, headed next, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 9l behind Another Promise (11-12) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Major Catch (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) unseated rider in race won by Heez A Dreamer (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov, 12 ran.
Young Lorcan 5-2 (10-7) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, led approaching and hit 3 out, headed run-in, no extra, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Negus de Beaumont (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Go For One (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up in touch, headway half way, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, won at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gs beating Stroom Bank (10-12) by 8l, 7 ran.
Major Benefit (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Headway 9th, weakened 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy, 14 ran.
Amadeus (AUS) 12-1 (11-5) With leader, weakened after 5th, 6th of 9, 30l behind Eastern Dagger (9-12) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (5) sft.
Mister Apple's (FR) 25-1 (10-1) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 8, 37l behind Naunton Brook (11-0) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Before The Mast (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, not fluent 2nd, slow jump 5th, headway 7th, weakened 10th, left poor 2nd last, 2nd of 7, well behind Nenuphar Collonges (11-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Milan Deux Mille (FR) 10-1 (10-6) Towards rear and keen, joined leader 6th, ridden and weakened 4 out, 7th of 11, 28l behind Ironside (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
