mid-division, hampered 3rd, bumped next, ridden after 15th, mistake next, soon weakened
hit 1st, in touch until lost place 6th, ridden after 16th, kept on same pace from 3 out
mid-division until 10th, soon behind, tailed off
never better than mid-division
led until 7th, chased clear leader until 14th, ridden after next, one pace when stumbled 3 out
mid-division, mistake 15th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 11th
in touch, badly hampered 3rd, lost confidence and never going after, behind and pulled up after 10th
chased leader, led 7th, 16l clear 11th, jumped badly left after, headed 15th, pressed leaders, ridden and stumbled 3 out, one pace from next
chased leaders, led 15th until 17th, soon ridden, no chance with winner from 2 out
held up behind, steady headway from 15th, ridden into 4th after 3 out, kept on same pace
in touch, badly hampered 3rd and lost place, steady headway from 12th, led 17th, drew well clear after 3 out, readily
mid-division until weakened after 17th
held up and always behind, lost touch 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 15th
in touch when blundered badly and unseated rider 3rd
in touch when badly hampered and unseated rider 3rd
chased leaders, ridden after 16th, gradually faded
in touch, blundered badly 2nd and nearly unseated rider, badly hampered next, not recover and pulled up before 5th
From a cracking good line-up for this valuable chase, Copsale Lad is selected ahead of Fork Lightning and Windsor Boy. Last season's Gold Cup fifth Take The Stand is certainly not out of things from his current rating. Neither is the Betfred Gold Cup winner Lacdoudal. Nicky Henderson's Copsale Lad could be on a fair mark based on his Aintree third to Star de Mohaison and Ardaghey has possibly been unlucky in his last two runs since looking good when scoring at Cheltenham. He is not out of it. Graphic Approach's fine seasonal return, when fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, brings him right into things, while Billyvoddan holds good claims based on his best novice form of last year and blinkers might just sharpen up his act. Harris Bay comes here in very good form but a nine pounds rise for his latest win will further test him, while Iris Royal ran a blinder to finish second at Fakenham after a long absence and can be given a good chance based on old form. Fork Lightning is another that has dropped to a very good mark if anywhere near his best and, with his trainer having won a big race with a long-time absentee last week, he has to be considered too. Windsor Boy also sneaks in at the right end of the weights and, in truth, there are plenty of possible options for this valuable race, as indeed there should be, including Clan Royal, who is unlucky not to have won a Grand National, and the 2005 Betfred Gold Cup third Kelami. Overall, though, we will side with Copsale Lad.
Take The Stand (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Prominent, led 3rd, headed 14th, soon weakened and pulled up 4 out in race won by My Will (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Lacdoudal (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, chased leaders 4 out, gradually faded, 6th of 12, 22l behind My Will (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Royal Emperor (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Led to 8th, weakening when hit 3 out, 10th of 17, 36l behind Halcon Genelardais (10-2) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Cornish Sett (IRE) 7-4jt-fav (11-7) Chased leader, challenge from 3 out, led just after last, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m Grad Ch (2) gs in Nov beating Fundamentalist (11-7) by a nk, 4 ran.
See You Sometime 9-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 5th of 11, 13l behind Demi Beau (10-6) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov.
Kelami (FR) (10-8) In touch throughout, kept on, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Moka De L'isle (10-8) at Auteuil 2m 5f chs hvy in Nov.
Clan Royal (FR) 7-1 (11-8) fell in race won by Eurotrek (11-7) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Nov, 21 ran.
Copsale Lad 5-1 (11-6) In touch, badly hampered and lost place 8th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Exotic Dancer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov, 16 ran.
Ardaghey (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, never dangerous, 11th of 15, 44l behind D'Argent (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft.
Zabenz (NZ) 5-1 (11-0) In touch, not fluent 5th, challenged 12th, soon outpaced, 3rd of 4, 27l behind Star De Mohaison (11-10) at Sandown 3m Grad Ch (2) gs.
Graphic Approach (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, one pace, 5th of 16, 10l behind Exotic Dancer (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Billyvoddan (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, mistake 8th, soon ridden and beaten, 5th of 9, 23l behind Cerium (11-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Backbeat (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders next, kept on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 16l behind Be My Better Half (10-9) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (2) hvy in Jan.
Harris Bay 8-1 (11-1) Held up and very patiently ridden, closer order on inside 14th, steady headway from 3 out, ridden 2 out, led flat, won at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov beating Lou Du Moulin Mas (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Iris Royal (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Chased leader, every chance 4 out, soon outpaced, ran on well run-in, 2nd of 8, nk behind Herecomestanley (10-0) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Fork Lightning (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) 1st fell in race won by Parsons Legacy (10-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
Iznogoud (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders 5 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 11, 33l behind Harris Bay (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Windsor Boy (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Prominent, mistake 12th, soon ridden and lost place, stayed on again from 2 out, 5th of 24, 17l behind Non So (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
