made all, blundered 4th, stayed on gamely, ridden out
in touch, headway 8th, blundered 10th and next, ridden to chase winner approaching 3 out, kept on, held from 2 out
held up behind leaders, went 2nd 13th, ridden after 4 out, soon beaten
chased leaders, mistake 12th, ridden after next, weakened 4 out
held up, ridden approaching 10th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, ridden approaching 10th, no impression from 4 out
chased leaders, ridden after 13th, 4th and weakening when pulled up before 3 out
held up, mistake 5th, ridden after 13th, left 4th approaching 3 out, no further impression
A small but select field for this handicap chase and Kaldouas is our selection to finally hit the mark this season with Mandingo Chief and Pedros Brief the alternatives. Kaldouas was strongly fancied last time over course and distance but just found an unfancied french import too good. Prior to that outing he was travelling extremely well in a Cheltenham contest and looked booked for the honours before tipping up. While jumping has proved an issue with the selection in the past, it was encouraging that this was not the case last time and from only a 2lb higher mark he is the selection. Mandingo Chief is pretty exposed but this is his optimum trip. Connections have contested 3m contests this season and these can be discounted because he blatently does not get home. The selection and Mandingo Chief did contest a novice chase over course and distance in January '07 with only a short head seperating them. Since then Mandingo Chief has failed to win in twelve attempts but with a large disrepency in price is likely to exist and those seeking value should avail. Pedros Brief is relatively unexposed despite his age and was creeping into contention before falling in a higher grade of race last time. He has to be respected on the basis of his two previous wins but the quicker ground conditions will not be a help. Blinkers were re-applied to Pretty Star last time and seemed to bring about some enthusiasm from the former 134 performer who despite being quircky could get involved if deciding to put his best foot forward. This is a trappy handicap but Kaldouas is our choice to land this for Paul Nicholls.
Kenzo Iii (FR) 7-2jt-fav (11-7) Led 3rd, weakened at 15th, tailed off and pulled up 3 out in race won by Silver Sedge (10-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May, 13 ran.
Pedros Brief (IRE) 4-1 (10-6) Held up, headway after 8th, close up when blundered badly and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Fundamentalist (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan, 10 ran.
Kaldouas (FR) 15-8fav (10-13) Mid-division, headway 10th, tracked winner 13th, ridden after 4 out, no chance with winner from next, 2nd of 10, 14l behind Nacarat (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Free Gift 15-2 (11-12) Prominent, ridden 8th, weakened next, 6th of 8, 29l behind Letalus (11-2) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
Chery D'or (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, mistake last, 10th of 11, 42l behind Miss Pross (10-10) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Lidjo De Rouge (FR) 11-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 9th, led 13th until 4 out, regained lead approaching 3 out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Herecomestanley (11-7) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) In touch, tracked leader 4th, ridden to challenge 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 22l behind Jonny's Kick (10-9) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Jan.
Double Dizzy 12-1 (11-4) Held up but in touch, headway 11th, outpaced by front pair after 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 8, 22l behind Bagan (11-9) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs (3) gs in Dec.
Pretty Star (GER) 8-1 (10-9) In touch, not fluent 7th, hit 10th and next, soon outpaced, stayed on from 3 out, hit 2 out, no impression, 5th when blundered last, 5th of 11, 15l behind Edmo Yewkay (10-4) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Jan.
