led, joined when fell 5 out
tracked leaders, left poor 2nd 5 out, jumped right last 2 fences, no impression
held up in touch, not fluent 8th, pushed along, lost place next, pulled up after 10th
tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent 10th, weakened from 12th, left poor 3rd 5 out
with leader, weakened from 13th, pulled up before next
held up in rear, went 2nd at 13th, upsides when left in lead and clear next, stayed on well from 2 out
MONZON gets the vote in the penultimate race of the card ahead of Benny the Piler and Silly Wupple. The selection wasn't expected to last the trip in his last outing in slightly more testing going but stayed on impressively to narrowly miss out on gold at Fontwell. So this slightly shorter trip should hold no fears for a horse in top form and a win over distance at Wincanton last month adds to his claims. Benny The Piler showed only a small amount of ability over fences on two starts last season but was much better on his seasonal debut, after a year out, over course and distance last month. He will have certainly benefited from that outing and will win a race of this quality. Silly Wupple was a winner on soft ground at Hexham last time and despite some novcey jumps on his chasing debut showed there is more to come. The learning experience will be of help but the trip may be a little far. Checkerboard got a little erratic towards the end of what was shaping as a promising debut over the big obstacles last time, which showed some ability. Probably best watched here with the trip into the unknown where distance is concerned so Monzon gets the nod.
Benny The Piler (IRE) 18-1 (11-5) With leader, led 12th, headed 4 out, soon outpaced, stayed on from last, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Hoopy (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (5) frm in Oct.
Checkerboard (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Led, headed approaching 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 11, 15l behind Killyglen (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Chernik (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, struggling 5 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Kealshore Boy (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs.
Lucius Rufo (IRE) 150-1 (11-4) Prominent to 8th, soon beaten, 10th of 11, well behind Killyglen (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Monzon (FR) 33-1 (9-13) Mid division, headway 13th, went 2nd after 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, 2 lengths down last, rallied flat, closing near finish, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Hello Bud (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Silly Wupple 7-1 (11-7) Towards rear, headway and prominent 10th, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well flat to lead near finish, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Oct beating Just For Men (11-10) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
