jumped left throughout, chased leader, hit 6th, led after 9th, mistake and left well clear 2 out, unchallenged
chased leaders, not fluent at 13th, soon outpaced, left poor 2nd, 2 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, outpaced at 10th, stayed to take 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner
This is a somewhat poor turn-out for such a good race, but the quality is there. Upgrade returns to Wincanton to try and win this race for the second year in succession. He concluded last season with victory in the Tote Silver Bowl at Ascot and blew off the cobwebs nicely on his reappearance at Wincanton in October by finishing just seven lengths second to Valley Henry in the Desert Orchid Chase. The winner of last season's Martell Maghull Novices' Chase, Armaturk, carries top-weight. He has done well without winning so far this season, most recently finishing second to Geos in the Grade 2 Castleford Chase. Unusually for a Paul Nicholls inmate, he has not previously raced around Wincanton, and this will be three furlongs further than his has run before. Nevertheless, he is a class chaser and has to be respected. The veteran Red Blazer is deadly consistent and has been in cracking form so far this season. He won the Macer Gifford Memorial Chase at Huntingdon on his season bow and went to finish second to Kadarann in the 40th Anniversary Handicap Chase last time at Cheltenham. He is proven over the trip, but will have it to do against younger rivals. This will be a massive ask for Vincent Van Gogh, whose best victory to date came over three miles in a Class D race at Taunton in October. He has been well-beaten in his latest two starts, one of those being around this course in December.
