led until 3rd, led 9th, clear 14th, ridden out
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 6th, 2nd after 11th until 14th, 2nd again before last, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd and lost place 3rd, struggling 10th, weakened 14th
towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway 10th, mistake 12th, 3rd 3 out, no impression on winner, mistake 2 out
jumped right, with winner, led 3rd, headed 9th, 2nd 14th, no impression on winner, lost 2nd before last, 4th and no extra flat
in rear, behind 6th, tailed off 8th, pulled up after
chased leaders on outside, not much room when pecked 11th, lost place next, weakened 13th, pulled up before 2 out
Black Hercules won this last year before going on to glory in the JLT at Cheltenham and this season’s renewal looks well up to standard. American jumped well at Exeter but the runner-up has been beaten twice since. Mystical Knight beat Chef D'oeuvre at Hereford but this is a big step up. Pobbles Bay has won a couple of handicaps in good style while Captain Chaos would have finished closer at Ascot on his chasing bow but for a bad mistake, though will have his stamina to prove and was well behind CHAMPERS ON ICE over hurdles at Cheltenham a year ago. David Pipe’s novice only had two rivals at Uttoxeter last month and made a couple of minor errors but he has enormous potential, which he can start to fulfil here.
American (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Made all, ridden before last, kept on, won at Exeter 3m (3) sft in Nov beating Label Des Obeaux (11-0) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Champers On Ice (IRE) 1-5fav (11-1) Jumped left at times, tracked leader, led 11th, not fluent 14th, clear 3 out, easily, won at Uttoxeter 3m (3) sft in Dec beating Dueling Banjos (11-1) by 27l, 3 ran.
Pobbles Bay (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, lost place when not fluent 5th, headway 9th, 2nd 4 out, led next, edged left after 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Ibis Du Rheu (11-8) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up 4th, blundered badly 7th, given time to recover, went 3rd but not on terms 11th, no chance when weakened into 4th 2 out, last of 4, 11 1/4l behind Politologue (11-6) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Dec.
Chef D'Oeuvre (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Led early, prominent, not fluent 3rd, 2nd after 12th, mistake next, soon led, jumped slowly 3 out, headed when slow again next, beaten before last, eased flat, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Mystical Knight (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f (4) sft in Dec.
In The Tub (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, behind from 4th, never on terms after, tailed off, 6th of 7, dist behind Robinsfirth (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) sft in Jan.
Mystical Knight 5-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, challenged 14th, led before 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Hereford 3m 1f (4) sft in Dec beating Chef D'oeuvre (11-0) by 5l, 9 ran.
