held up behind, ridden and steady headway after 12th, stayed on from 3 out, went 4th flat, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, led after 13th, pecked next, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, kept on same pace
mid-division, in touch when fell 11th
chased leaders until 4th, soon outpaced, behind when hampered 11th, pulled up before next
prominent, led 3rd until 5th, pressed leader, mistake 11th, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace from next
pulled hard, soon prominent, led 5th until after 13th, soon ridden, one pace from next
towards rear, headway from 10th, 5th and ridden when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders until 4th, behind from 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, ridden after 13th, stayed on past beaten horses from 3 out
chased leaders, joined leader after 4 out, led soon after 3 out, clear next, stayed on well
led until 3rd, chased leaders, weakening when slightly hampered 11th
always towards rear, lost touch 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
Jupon Vert won well last time and looks to have solid claims here with Manawanui and Tradingup the pair likely to give him the most to think about. The selection does have a penalty for his recent win but Ron Hodges' 9-year-old beat Woodenbridge Dream in quite convincing style and he could be worth staying on the right side of. Manawanui is sure to come on for his latest run when he finished a pleasing second behind Master D'or. That was his first run for 542 days and he has been given a nice breather since then, so he has an obvious chance today. Tradingup remains unexposed and should be suited by this slight step-up in trip so he is not one to dismiss lightly, while Roschal has the form to win this but is not the most fluent jumper. All of which brings us back to Jupon Vert who is taken to lead them home.
Roschal (IRE) 22-1 (10-2) Behind when fell at the 3rd in race won by Hakim (10-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov, 23 ran.
Sargasso Sea 5-1 (11-12) Led and soon clear, blundered and headed 2 out, tired and went left, blundered badly last, 8th of 14, well behind Green Iceni (11-6) at Sandown 2m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (D) hvy in Dec.
Predestine (FR) 20-1 (11-7) Towards rear, kept on flat, never dangerous, 4th of 11, 19l behind Dun Doire (10-1) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) sft in Dec.
Manawanui 7-1 (11-5) Led, ridden and hit 3 out, driven and headed last, eased when no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 7, 9l behind Master d'Or (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Oct.
Hiers de Brouage (FR) 4-1 (11-8) With leader, lost 2nd and hit 3 out, stayed on flat, no extra final 50 yards, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Soeur Fontenail (11-11) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Dec.
Jupon Vert (FR) 9-2 (11-1) won at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Dec beating Woodenbridge Dream (10-9) by 9l, 9 ran.
Lizzie Bathwick (IRE) 3-1 (10-0) In touch, headway and chased winner 13th, ridden 4 out, hit 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 8, 16l behind Preacher Boy (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Dec.
Tradingup (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Prominent, hit 10th, ridden 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Hiers De Brouage (10-13) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Nov.
Ballyfin (IRE) 10-3fav (11-0) Held up in touch, chased winner 14th, weakened 2 out, 6th of 15, 20l behind Regal Vision (10-2) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Dec.
First De La Brunie (FR) 4-1 (11-1) Close up, effort to chase leading trio 3 out, weakened after next, 6th of 16, 14l behind Presenting Express (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Nov.
Taksina 7-1 (10-7) In touch, ridden and weakened 3 out, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Yassar (11-2) at Towcester 2m 3f sll hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Dec.
Quizzling (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) In touch, hampered 1st, jumped right 4th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden after next, hit last, soon weakened, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Lost In Normandy (10-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec.
