prominent, led 6th, hit next, headed, weakened after 11th, tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, not fluent 11th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out
mid-division, headway 10th, tracked winner 13th, ridden after 4 out, no chance with winner from next
held up, headway after 12th, ridden after next, one pace from 3 out
slowly away, soon tracking leaders, ridden after 11th, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leader, led after 8th, drew clear from 4 out, heavily eased, flat
led until 6th, led next until after 8th, weakened 12th, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear, tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
not jumped well, always towards rear, tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway approaching 10th, ridden after 13th, kept on same pace from 3 out
Kaldouas was going very well when tipping up at Cheltenham last month and looks capable of gaining compensation here, while Mort De Rire and Snow Patrol are respected. The selection remains on the same mark of 121 as when looking the most likely winner before Cheltenham's infamous third-last claimed him. As a c&d winner we know he likes the track here, and he also handles cut in the ground, so compensation awaits. Mort De Rire is respected in a first-time tongue tie after running well behind Leading Authority at Lingfield on heavy ground last time. He is dropped back in trip here and could go close. Snow Patrol was a ready scorer on heavy at Chepstow 11 months ago and will surely strip fitter for a comeback run at Huntingdon on Boxing Day, though he'll need to tidy up his fencing. Our Armageddon returns to action 1lb higher than when winning at Uttoxeter almost two years ago trip and ground also suit him well. Richard Guest sends him a long way for this comeback run and if at his best he would make them all go. Nacarat makes his British debut and handles cut, so money for him would be interesting, but Kaldouas looks the one to be on today.
Our Armageddon (NZ) 11-1 (11-2) Prominent, led approaching 9th, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb '06 beating He's The Guv'nor (10-4) by 4l, 13 ran.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Towrads rear, weaknened 11th and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Cloudy Lane (11-3) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Kaldouas (FR) 5-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 9th, disputed lead travelling well when fell 3 out in race won by Which Pocket (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
Mort De Rire (FR) 13-2 (11-9) Led, headed 4th, led again after 5th, headed again 12th and outpaced, stayed on to take 2nd line, 2nd of 10, 12l behind Leading Authority (11-7) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Craven (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Held up, mistake 13th, headway 25th, disputing 4th when ran wide on landing, slipped up and unseated rider 27th unseated rider at the 27th in race won by Wonderkid (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Nacarat (FR) (11-0) Prominent, every chance when blundered last, ran on, 4th of 9, 1l behind Nedji Vallis (10-12) at Auteuil 2m 5f ch in Oct.
Spring Lover (FR) 9-4fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, led 7th, headed 12th, led again next, ridden 2 out, headed flat, no extra, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Yann's (10-9) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Dec.
Snow Patrol 5-1 (10-7) In rear, headway when mistake 10th, mistake 4 out, soon driven along and no impression, went moderate 3rd when mistake last, 3rd of 12, 25l behind Pedros Brief (10-11) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Dec.
Squires Lane (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Mr Dow Jones (10-4) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Oct '06, 11 ran.
Rajam 9-4fav (11-11) Chased leader, led approaching 5th, headed 4 out, rallied approaching last, one pace flaat, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Obelix De Longechaux (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
