led, ridden 3 out and headed, left in lead approaching last, sprawled on landing but kept on
tracked leaders throughout, ridden and outpaced 4 out, left 2nd 2 out, all out flat but not reach winner
held up in touch and keen, tracked leader 4 out, led 3 out, slipped and fell on landing 2 out
tracked leader, ridden and weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out
in touch, weakened and lost place 8th
held up towards rear, hit 5 out, ridden and some progress 4 out, held when fell next
held up towards rear but in touch, mistake and unseated rider 6th
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden 3 out, held when hampered 2 out
in rear, hampered 6th, some headway 10th, soon beaten
Massac looked impressive when making a winning debut for Alan King at Huntingdon recently but the gelding was helped by some sketchy jumping by some of his rivals that day and will find this tougher off his new mark so preference is for Black Frost, who gets the vote over L'Ange Au Ciel. The last mentioned is less exposed than his rivals after just two starts, the latest of them a novice chase success at Exeter being his first outing for Paul Nicholls. He has to be respected and makes more appeal than top weight Tikram, who needs to step up considerably on his reappearance effort in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last week. Nicky Henderson's Non So would not appear to be particularly well treated judged by his form in novice events last term but he may have improved since then. Martin Pipe saddles two with the returning Mondial Jack preferred to Latitude of his duo. Black Frost was an easy winner at Haydock on his reappearance though and Sue Smith's gelding is taken to defy a 9lb rise in the weights.
