held up towards rear, pecked 1st, mistake 5th, went 4th 7th, not fluent 9th, went 3rd before 10th, not fluent 3 out, mistake next, left 2nd last, no chance with winner
held up well in rear, not fluent 1st or 8th, went 4th 12th, never on terms, left 3rd last
fell 1st
tracked winner, not fluent 2nd, lost 2nd after 5th, not fluent next, jumped slowly and lost place 8th, soon behind, tailed off
made all, clear 3rd, unchallenged
mid-division, went 4th approaching 10th until 12th, soon behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th until 9th, weakened before 10th, tailed off
held up, headway 7th, chased winner when mistake 9th, no impression, 8 lengths down when fell last
Nonrunner
Maurice Linehan has created a fine impression since joining Jonjo O'Neill as the yard's conditional and can showcase his skills to good effect here on FORTY FIVE. The gelding hasn't scored since rattling up a 2009 hat-trick and seems in the grip of the assessor but he retains his consistency, this is his trip and Linehan's 7lb claim could prove the decisive factor. Arctic Ben looks a major danger to the selection after a recent Uttoxeter success but there is just the suspicion that he's better served by the minimum trip rather than this two and a half miles. He should go well though, likewise Ockey De Neulliac, who had been operating in selling, claiming and handicap hurdles before hacking up in an Ayr handicap chase last time. Reginaldinho and De Forgotten Man also merit respect, both making their chasing debuts.
Romulus D'artaix (FR) 25-1 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 9th, chased leaders next, weakened 2 out, 5th of 14, 29l behind Water Garden (11-2) at Ascot 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Ockey De Neulliac (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 8th, mistake 9th, challenged when mistake 2 out, soon led, ran on strongly, won at Ayr 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs beating Banoge (10-10) by 11l, 5 ran.
De Forgotten Man (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, pushed along approaching 9th, weakening when fell 3 out, in a race won by Mister Hyde (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nov hdl (3) gs in Jan '11, 12 ran.
Babysitter (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) In touch, lost place 12th, soon behind, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Plum Pudding (10-13) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Prominent, blundered 2nd, led approaching 4 out, pressed last, stayed on under pressure and in command towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec beating Mallusk (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Mylord Collonges (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Never travelled in rear, mistake 10th, struggling after, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Rigadin De Beauchene (10-5) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.
Green To Gold (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Held up, not fluent 7th, behind 9th, soon tailed off, pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Marodima (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft, 7 ran.
Reginaldinho (UAE) 9-2 (11-5) Raced wide, held up, good headway to chase leaders before 6th, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, lost 2nd soon after, stayed in well held 3rd until weakened to 4th flat, 4th of 12, 25l behind Grams And Ounces (10-4) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Forty Five (IRE) 15-8fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden after 3 out, switched left after next, not fluent last, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Stormhoek (10-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs.
