chased leader, led 3rd until next, chased leader until 13th, remained well there, pushed along in dispute of 3rd when badly hampered 3 out, tried to recover but weakened before next
always towards rear, weakened 4 out
mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, left in 5th place next, stayed on from next, kept on well run-in to lead final 125 yards, headed final stride
held up towards rear, closer in mid-division after 12th, chased leaders soon after 17th, pushed along when left 3rd 3 out, no extra before the last, weakened run-in
chased leaders on inside, left in 2nd place 3 out, still plenty to do next, closer last, disputing lead 125 yards out, stayed on to lead final stride
always in rear, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 13th (water)
chased leaders out wide, hit 11th, went 2nd before 13th until 16th, chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, weakened quickly, towards rear when fell next
always towards rear, tailed off when hit 17th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders until blundered and lost place 15th, tailed off 4 out
always towards rear, never a factor, tailed off when hampered 3 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, went 2nd going well 16th, every chance when fell 3 out
led, reached for 3rd and headed, led again next, left clear 3 out, still 5 lengths ahead next, reduced lead before last, joined run-in, headed 125 yards out, soon no extra, lost 3rd towards finish
led up and behind, hit 2nd, mistake 11th, plugging on when hampered and left 6th 3 out, closer when hung right before last, stayed on strongly run-in into 3rd towards finish, unlucky
NonRunner
NonRunner
Present Man, the winner in 2017 and 2018, was pulled up last year but made a winning return to action at Chepstow and has only been raised 2lb. Paul Nicholls, who has won this in the last three years and nine times in total, also saddles the unexposed Danny Whizzbang and My Way, who is 0-9 over fences but won a maiden hurdle at Stratford last month. JUST A STING would have gone very close to winning this last year had his jumping been more slick in the closing stages. He is only a pound higher on a return visit and this is his time of year so he gets a tentative vote as Some Chaos will need to jump better than at Kelso to complete a double. El Presente has been winning in small field in lesser company but Potterman is tried and tested at this level. Kitty's Light goes from strength-to-strength but the handicapper has grabbed hold of Sizing At Midnight and Irish Prophecy needs more.
Present Man (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Tracked clear leader until 11th, handy 3rd, went 2nd again 4 out, strong challenge run-in, led post, won at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Crosspark (11-7) by ns, 12 ran.
Danny Whizzbang (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Bit keen tracking leaders on outside, went 2nd after 4th, led 10th, headed before 2 out, weakened into 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 6, 23l behind Copperhead (11-0) at Ascot 3m (1) sft in Feb.
Potterman 7-2 (10-5) Midfield, took closer order before 14th, ridden to chase leader 3 out, kept on but could not match winner, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Secret Investor (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Some Chaos (IRE) 11-4fav (10-8) Blundered and hampered 1st, held up, not fluent 8th, left 3rd 12th, not fluent and led 3 out, clear last, stayed on, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Claud And Goldie (10-4) by 3l, 8 ran.
El Presente 6-5fav (11-13) Led, ridden after 3 out, pecked and headed 2 out, led again before last, clear flat, stayed on, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in Oct beating Aye Aye Charlie (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Champagne Court (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Prominent, ridden and close up 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 17, 29 3/4l behind Honest Vic (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Erick Le Rouge (FR) 9-2fav (11-8) Chased leaders, not fluent 6th, ridden 10th, weakened before 4 out, last of 9, dist behind Imperial Presence (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Cobra De Mai (FR) 11-2 (10-2) Pressed leader, pushed along 13th, lost ground 16th, pulled up before 3 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Supremely Lucky (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, took closer order 8th, pushed along before 3 out, made no impression from 2 out, 4th of 13, 13 1/4l behind Captain Drake (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Just A Sting (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division, close up 13th, driven to chase leaders before 3 out, never on terms, weakened and pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Sizing At Midnight (IRE) 2-1fav (11-10) Led until 5th, mistake 10th, led 13th, headed last, held flat, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Kitty's Light (10-6) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
My Way (FR) 2-5fav (11-2) Made all, pushed along before last, ridden out, unchallenged, won at Stratford 2m 6f mdn (4) gd in Oct beating Filou Des Issards (11-2) by 2l, 11 ran.
Kitty's Light 9-2 (10-6) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, soon switched left, went 2nd next, led last, stayed on well to draw clear flat, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gf in Oct beating Sizing At Midnight (11-10) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
Coo Star Sivola (FR) 8-1cfav (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place after 4 out, weakened after next, behind when pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Irish Prophecy (IRE) 10-3 (11-1) Prominent, pressed leader 5 out, upsides 4 out, slight mistake 2 out, stayed on well from last, 2nd of 6, 1l behind El Presente (11-5) at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
