held up in touch, ridden and weakened 8th, pulled up approaching 4 out
led to 8th, led 9th, ridden 4 out, headed after 3 out, kept on well from last
held up last, headway on bit after 4 out, challenged approaching 3 out, soon led, blundered 2 out, ran on well from last
chased leader, led and mistake 8th, headed 9th, every chance 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
prominent, short of room after 9th, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, rallied and hung right from 2 out, ran on from last, not reach winner
Nick The Jewel can turn the tables on L'oiseau, with last year's winner Runner Bean best of the rest. Nick The Jewel was beaten two lengths by L'Oiseau when the pair met at Stratford in October but was conceding eight-pounds to his rival, while today he reopposes receiving the same amount. That is a massive turnaround in anybody's book, and Andy Turnell's charge can gain revenge. L'Oiseau has since risen to the top of the weights on the back of another good effort here at Wincanton in October off a mark of 105. He found the ground too fast round Fontwell's figure-of-eight circuit last time but was still in contention when clouting the third last, and will not go down without a fight. Runner Bean has more to do than last year, while Neltina may have been flattered by her third to Cerium at Warwick and is another with more to do. For the winner we return to Nick The Jewel.
L'Oiseau (FR) 13-8fav (11-2) Chased leaders, hampered 3rd, tracked winner from 5th, challenging when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, one pace when hit last, 3rd of 5, 11l behind Tonic Du Charmil (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
Neltina 9-1 (11-3) Led, ridden when headed 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Cerium (10-5) at Warwick 2m nov chs (C) gd in Oct.
Roofing Spirit (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Held up last, ridden 13th, soon weakened, 11th of 13, 39l behind Black De Bessy (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
Nick The Jewel 11-4fav (11-13) Prominent, hit 3rd, led after 7th, ridden 2f out, headed soon after last, no extra, 2nd of 9, 2l behind L'Oiseau (11-5) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Oct.
Runner Bean 3-1 (11-3) Held up last, ridden approaching 9th, stayed on one pace, 4th of 7, 9l behind L'Oiseau (11-7) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Oct.
