tracked leader, led 5th, stumbled and unseated rider 5th
tracked leaders, outpaced after 5 out, soon weakened
towards rear, outpaced before 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, went 4th before last, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish
held up in rear, headway before 4 out, led before 3 out, kept on well
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 6th, ridden before 2 out, kept on and lost 2nd place towards finish
held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened from 4 out
led, headed 5th, left in lead next, headed before 3 out, kept on same pace
Calipto has been a little unlucky so far this season and could go close with a clear round but we’ll take CATAMARAN DU SEUIL (NAP) to bounce back to form in the day’s feature. He beat last month’s Castleford Chase winner Cracking Find on his reappearance at Wetherby before falling in the Grand Sefton at Aintree. He was biting off more than he could chew in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham last time and should find this easier. Value At Risk beat Sizing Platinum and Theinval in a Listed handicap at Ayr last April but the Henderson chaser could come out best of that trio today. Opening Batsman is looking a light of former days but Copain De Classe could easily bounce back from a below-par effort at Wetherby where he was too keen.
Sizing Platinum (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place and towards rear 7th, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, dist behind Hammersly Lake (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Theinval (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Held up, left 3rd and slightly hampered at the 3rd, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened next, 3rd of 5, 28 1/2l behind Ozzie The Oscar (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Catamaran Du Seuil (FR) 20-1 (10-4) Mid-division, not fluent 8th, ridden and effort after 11th, mistake 13th, mistake 4 out, weakened before next, 8th of 12, 28l behind Frodon (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Dec.
Calipto (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Chased leaders on outside, headway 6th, chased winner 2 out, 3 lengths down when mistake and unseated rider last, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Copain De Classe (FR) 15-8fav (10-11) Shade keen, held up, headway tracking leaders 7th, travelling well in 4th after 4 out, mistake 3 out, weakened and no chance after, 4th of 7, 23l behind Born Survivor (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
Value At Risk 10-3 (11-2) Led to after 2nd, chased leaders, ridden after 5 out, stayed on until no extra in well held 3rd from last, 3rd of 4, 9 1/2l behind Amour de Nuit (11-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) In rear, not fluent 12th, well beaten 14th, 7th of 9, dist behind Beau Du Brizais (11-0) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec.
