held up, dropped to rear 10th, ridden and headway under pressure 4 out, plugged on
in touch, ridden and headway 4 out, weakened and pulled up approaching 2 out
close up, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 15th, ridden and weakened 4 out
tracked leaders, lost place13th, pulled up 15th
held up, pushed along 5 out, some late headway, never near leaders
tracked winner until ridden 2 out, kept on same pace
in touch when blundered 2nd, rider lost irons and reins went over horses head, soon pulled up
made most, mistake 14th, clear 6 out, ridden and ran on
towards rear, ridden 5 out, never near leaders
in touch, headway 4 out, ridden to chase clear winner 2 out, kept on same pace
held up, in touch when pushed along 5 out, not fluent next, weakened and pulled up 2 out
in touch, mistake 14th, soon in rear, pulled up 16th
held up, headway and close up 15th, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up approaching next
towards rear, weakened and pulled up 16th
Alan King has won this three times in the last 12 years and Notachance is back on the same mark as when successful 12 months ago when beating the re-opposing Achille by half-a-length. Paul Nicholls boasts a similar record but his entry Grace A Vous is having a first run over fences in the country. Gericault Roque was clear of the rest when second to an improver in the Mandarin at Newbury but no six-year-old has won this marathon since Colonel Christy in 1981. Head To The Stars is a Ludlow specialist but Padleyourowncanoe catches the eye after a pipe-opener over hurdles and a case can also be made for JERRYSBACK. He hasn’t always treated his fences with the greatest respect but goes beyond 3m for only the second time since third in the National Hunt Chase in 2019. He was staying on well at Ascot four weeks ago and should give supporters a run for their money if putting in a clear round. Chirico Vallis arrives off the back of a win at Chepstow and Corach Rambler is on a hat-trick, though faces a stiff task at the weights for a novice. Eclair Surf finished third in the Welsh National Trial at Chepstow but was beaten a long way.
Corach Rambler (IRE) 2-1fav (10-13) Not fluent 1st, waited with in rear, steady headway in 4th at 16th, challenged and went right 4 out, led next, ridden and hung right run-in, stayed on gamely to assert final 150 yards, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Eva's Oskar (10-11) by 2l, 6 ran.
The Hollow Ginge (IRE) 22-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 14th, pushed along before 4 out, hit 4 out, ridden before 3 out, gradually faded, 9th of 21, dist behind Cloudy Glen (10-8) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Notachance (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, slight peck 3rd, pushed along before 4 out, weakening when mistake next, 6th of 16, 28 1/4l behind Enqarde (10-9) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Achille (FR) 16-1 (10-1) In rear, headway into 5th before 13th, pushed along before 5 out, ridden and no impression from 4 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 20, 16 1/4l behind Iwilldoit (10-0) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Minella Encore (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, travelled strongly and came to lead at 4 out, jumped final fence well, won easily, won at Ludlow 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Bobo Mac (11-5) by 18l, 7 ran.
Jerrysback (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Mid-division, pushed along and outpaced 5 out, ridden and plenty to do home turn, stayed on to chase front pair after 2 out, one pace after last, not get on terms, 3rd of 13, 9 1/4l behind Annsam (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) gs in Dec.
Chirico Vallis (FR) 16-1 (10-2) Made all, jumped well, ridden 4 out, pressed last, kept on stoutly, just held on, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Kitty's Light (11-1) by hd, 13 ran.
Padleyourowncanoe 40-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd on inside 2 out, stayed on same pace and no chance with winner, lost 2nd final strides, 3rd of 12, 5 1/2l behind Jesuitique (10-11) at Haydock 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Eclair Surf (FR) 7-1 (10-10) Held up, ridden 4 out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 10, 35l behind Iwilldoit (10-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Head To The Stars 9-1 (11-4) Towards rear, effort and headway after 5 out, went close 4th before 4 out, ridden and pressed leaders before 2 out, led last, ran on well to forge clear, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Didero Vallis (11-10) by 3l, 7 ran.
Gericault Roque (FR) 11-4 (11-4) Raced on inside, never far away, switched left before 3 out, 2nd 3 out, disputing lead after 2 out, every chance last, hung left and outbattled run-in, 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Saint Palais (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Grace A Vous Enki (FR) 3-10fav (10-12) Led, 1 length up when fell 3 out, at Hereford 3m 2f (4) gd in Nov.
No Rematch (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Led, ridden and headed before 4 out, weakened and pulled up, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Captain Tommy (IRE) 11-2 (10-1) Chased leaders on inside, hampered and unseated rider 18th, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Game Line (IRE) 28-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, led 16th, hit next, pushed along and headed approaching and blundered 2 out, lost 2nd between last two, plugged on in 3rd, finished tired, 3rd of 15, 9 1/2l behind Go Whatever (10-4) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
