in touch, ridden 7th, soon weakened
in touch, ridden after 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, headed approaching last, not pace of winner
chased leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened
held up in mid-division, slightly hampered 4th, ridden after 3 out, one pace
prominent, headway on bit 3 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, driven out
held up last, ridden 7th, stayed on well from 2 out, took 3rd close home
led to 3rd, fell 4th
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, tailed off 8th
held up in touch, ridden 7th, soon weakened, pulled up approaching 2 out
held up in mid-division, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well to go 3rd approaching last, no extra flat
mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace last
prominent, joined leader and ridden 8th, weakened after 3 out
Le Roi Miguel rates as a speculative pick ahead of Fire Dragon and Pretty Star. Paul Nicholls charge is better known as a top-grade chaser but he is invariably found wanting at that level and the Ditcheat handler will be making full use of a favourable hurdle rating to raid this ¿18000 pot. He will be in receipt of 10lbs from Fire Dragon. Jonjo O'Neill's runner has always been held in high regard at Jackdaws Castle but he has gone up in the weights for two placed efforts at Cheltenham. He appears to handle any going. Pretty Star looked to need his first run back. He shaped though as a horse with a future when hacking up in a Newbury handicap and he has to be paid due attention here. His Nibs appears the pick of the two Venetia Williams runners. He struggled off this mark in a similar contest at Kempton Park and may come on for a first run for 329 days. Penny Pictures ability is not open to question. The form of his trainer is. Water King posted a coupon busting 50/1 shock at Cheltenham last month. The handicapper has responded by hitting him with a 10lb rise in the handicap. Dream Falcon is upped in grade following a recent near miss at Taunton. It is not always a great idea to lump on chasers who have inferior hurdling marks but Le Roi Miguel is undoubtedly a very good horse on his all too infrequent day and this does look a fantastic opportunity in light of the opposition.
His Nibs (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 14, 13l behind Chamoss Royale (10-10) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl (B) gd in Jan.
Fire Dragon (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 19, 1/2l behind Attorney General (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (B) gs.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Behind, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, left 2nd last, kept on, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Covent Garden (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Nov.
Le Roi Miguel (FR) 14-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, mistake 1st, not fluent 8th, mistake next, ridden 10th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 11, 40l behind Impek (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.
Pretty Star (GER) 33-1 (11-3) Chased leaders until approaching 3 out, 20th of 23, well behind Hordago (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Nov.
Dream Falcon 25-1 (11-5) Held up last, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, no extra under pressure flat, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Diletia (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd.
Water King (USA) 50-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway 3 out, chased leader next, jumped left last, stayed on under pressure to lead near finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (E) gs in Nov beating Mouftari (10-2) by 1/2l, 24 ran.
Anatar (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Chased clear leading trio, went 3rd before 2 out, no chance and tired when jumped badly right last, 3rd of 12, 13l behind Nor'nor'east (11-0) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (C) hvy.
