tracked leading pair, close 2nd at 12th, led going well approaching 2 out, ridden and stayed on run-in
led, mistake 3rd, reached for 9th, headed approaching 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, plugged on in 3rd
keen in rear, gained a place at 12th, plugged on in 4th on long run before 2 out
raced wide, held up in close 4th, 3rd 4 out, hit next, went 2nd 2 out, ridden before last, kept on run-in, always held
chased leader, hit 10th, lost 2nd 12th, chased leaders, weakened on long run before 2 out
last pair, behind 12th, no chance after
POLITOLOGUE has won seven times over fences including the Tingle Creek last year when Charbel was beaten almost six lengths. He ended the campaign with another Grade 1 victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree where he just held the renewed challenge of Min. Charbel has the benefit of a recent run when conceding 12lb to last week's Cheltenham Grade 3 winner Baron Alco though had earlier been beaten almost 6l by Hammersly Lake in a Class 2 handicap at Perth, though the latter found the USA Grand National too tough at Far Hills next time. Benatar won his first three races over fences, culminating in a Grade 2 victory here, and will have found the ground too heavy on his reappearance at Newton Abbot. Gold Present gave Frodon weight and a beating in a Listed contest over 3m here in December before failing to complete at Cheltenham and in the Scottish National.
Politologue (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Tracked leader from 2nd, not fluent 10th or 12th, challenged 3 out, soon led, ridden and headed narrowly just before last, led again flat, held on gamely, won at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr beating Min (11-7) by nk, 6 ran.
Gold Present (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led 8th, hit 14th, headed 19th, weakened after 23rd, pulled up before 4 out, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Benatar (IRE) 15-8fav (11-10) Took keen hold, tracked leaders until led after 2nd, headed 10th, chased winner to before 2 out, no chance with clear pair after, lost modest 3rd final strides, 4th of 5, 11 1/4l behind Beggar's Wishes (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Oct.
Charbel (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, 1 length down last, strong challenge run-in, driven to lead near finish, all out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (2) gs in Oct beating Baron Alco (11-0) by hd, 9 ran.
Hammersly Lake (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Well placed, tired,, 7th of 9, dist behind Jury Duty (11-2) at Far Hills 2m 5f fm in Oct.
Sizing Granite (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders to 4th, held up in last pair, not fluent 9th, soon struggling, tailed off 3 out, last of 6, dist behind Sceau Royal (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m (1) gd in Nov.
