led 2nd until before next, prominent, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway to chase winner approaching 6th, hit 3 out, challenged from 2 out, mistake last, not recover
led to 2nd, chased leaders, weakened 8th, tailed off
held up in last pair, mistake 1st, hit 6th, soon struggling, tailed off
with leaders, led approaching 3rd, joined 2 out, driven out
held up, headway 7th, weakened 2 out
held up in last pair, not fluent 4th, struggling after 6th, tailed off
J P McManus owns three runners in this beginners' chase with Tony McCoy's mount Aigle D'or looking the clear pick of the trio ahead of stable companions Gibbonsgrove and Signatory but it is hard to get away from COPPER BLEU. A point-to-point and bumper winner in Ireland, the selection has shown improved form since joining the stable of Philip Hobbs with a decent fourth in the Ballymore and a good second at Aintree subsequently last term the highlights of his career over timber. Not disgraced on his chasing debut when third to Take The Breeze at Exeter last month, Copper Bleu can open his account over fences today. Henry Daly's My Moment made a pleasing first start over fences when chasing home Dave's Dream at Huntingdon last month and he has to be considered on ground that suits, while, Quartz de Thaix showed that this ground would be of no concern when a creditable second to Mount Oscar at Fontwell recently and he has claims for Venetia Williams. Jonjo O'Neill's Aigle D'or is surely better than he showed at Cheltenham last time and has to be considered but Copper Bleu has an obvious chance and is surely the one to beat.
Aigle D'or 4-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, took keen hold, blundered 1st, closed after 4 out, went 3rd 3 out until blundered 2 out, weakened after, 5th of 6, 24l behind Weird Al (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs in Nov.
Copper Bleu (IRE) Evensfav (11-1) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, challenged 4 out, not fluent 3 out, beaten next, lost 2nd last, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Take The Breeze (11-1) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Final Bid (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Led, hit 5th, headed approaching 2 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered last, 4th of 12, 18l behind Double The Trouble (10-8) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr '08.
Gibbonsgrove (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Hit 1st, held up in rear, pushed along after 8th, no chance 4 out, kept on run-in to press for 3rd near finish, 4th of 6, 30l behind Riverside Theatre (11-0) at Newbury 2m 1f beg chs (3) gs in Nov.
My Moment (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, raced keenly, led after 3 out, headed soon after 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Dave's Dream (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Quartz de Thaix (FR) 7-4fav (11-1) Chased leadering pair, jumped right 7th, chased winner approaching 4 out, pushed along before next, no impression and well held when blundered 2 out, 2nd of 5, 20l behind Mount Oscar (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov.
Signatory (USA) 25-1 (11-0) Held up, well behind from 7th, last of 7, 47l behind Recif De Thaix (10-8) at Hereford 2m beg chs (3) sft.
