towards rear, mistake 2nd, behind when pulled up after 7th
in touch, close 2nd when fell 3 out
in touch, close 3rd when brought down 3 out
led to 4th, stayed prominent, ridden when hampered 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, lost place 12th, rallied 2 out, stayed on flat
always towards rear
mid-division, reminders after 11th, ridden and headway when pecked 3 out, one pace flat
tracked leaders, hit 4th, led 4 out, left clear 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, headed and no extra close home
tracked leaders, ridden after 13th, pecked 4 out, weakening when hampered 3 out
always behind
held up, fell on bend approaching 4th
ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on, never reached leaders
prominent, jumped left 2nd, led 4th, headed 4 out, weakened quickly
mid-division, headway 12th, slighly hampered 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next
behind, hit 9th, headway 4 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, weakening when mistake last
held up, headway 13th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on strongly flat to lead close home
Our Vic can make amends for his last fence fall in this last year to beat Lacdoudal, with Thisthatandtother, and Brooklyn Breeze others in with claims. Our Vic showed that he was over his jumping problems when justifying plenty of support to land the Paddy Power here last month, and despite a 9lb rise in the weights, is taken to make up for his lapse in this contest 12 months ago. Going well and in command, he came down after jumping the last fence, handing the race to Monkerhostin. His confidence is back now, and the decision by connections to bypass the Hennessy and wait for today should be rewarded. Lacdoudal has a 6lb penalty to carry for his success over three miles at Sandown, and would probably prefer three miles, but he jumps well and that quality will stand him in good stead round here, especially if they go a good pace. Thisthatandtother finished second in this last year, but obviously has it to do with the selection on that form. However, he was a Festival winner in March and will come on for his return behind Impek in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, so could be banker material for the frame at least. Brooklyn Breeze had a wind operation in the summer and was down the field in the Paddy Power. Pulled out at Ayr because of the heavy ground recently, he may need another run or two to reach concert pitch and in any case, like most of them, has it to do stop Our Vic emulating Pegwell Bay and Senor El Betrutti in adding this to his Paddy Power victory.
Our Vic (IRE) 9-2fav (11-7) Always prominent, went 2nd 11th, led 3 out, jumped left 2 out, in command when jumped left last, driven and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov beating Monkerhostin (11-9) by 2 1/2l, 18 ran.
Thisthatandtother (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 11, 9l behind Impek (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov.
Fondmort (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, hit 2nd, stayed on approaching 2 out, kept on flat but not reach leaders, 4th of 18, 8l behind Our Vic (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
Therealbandit (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, hit 10th, soon behind, no chance after, 13th of 18, 42l behind Our Vic (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
Lacdoudal (FR) 3-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led next, in command last, drew clear flat, won at Sandown 3m chs (B) sft beating My Will (11-10) by 6l, 6 ran.
Quazar (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Behind, reminders 7th, driven to chase leaders 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 7, well behind St Matthew (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) sft in Oct.
Brooklyn Breeze (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, blundered 6th, no chance when badly hampered 2 out, 12th of 18, 31l behind Our Vic (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
Le Passing (FR) 17-2 (11-9) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 5 out, fading approaching last, 4th of 16, 10l behind Bold Bishop (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Scots Grey 3-1fav (11-12) Jumped well, led until 11th, led again 4 out, clear 2 out, ran on well, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Nov beating Atum Re (11-5) by 14l, 6 ran.
Tango Royal (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Always in rear, 7th of 11, well behind I Hear Thunder (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Oct.
Risk Accessor (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, took closer order, led 12th, headed 4 out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 6l behind Direct Access (10-0) at Newcastle 3m lst hcp chs (A) sft in Nov.
Europa 25-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 12th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, led 2 out, narrowly headed last, no extra close home, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Bold Bishop (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Our Armageddon (NZ) 9-4fav (11-9) Close up, led 2nd to 5th, led again 7th, headed after 8th, led again 10th, headed 12th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 14, 12l behind Keltic Bard (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f amt nov hcp chs (B) gd in Apr '04.
Mixsterthetrixster (USA) 40-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, 9th of 16, 37l behind Bold Bishop (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov.
Redemption 12-1 (10-11) Held up and behind, headway on outside approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, no further progress, 8th of 19, 13l behind Trabolgan (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Nov.
Sir Oj (IRE) 15-8fav (10-4) Tracked leaders, mainly 3rd, slight mistake 3rd, bad mistake 6 out, 4th from before 3 out, no impression under pressure from before next, 5th of 7, 20l behind Jim (11-1) at Galway 2m 1f hcp chs sft in Oct.
Patricksnineteenth (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 16th, ridden 3 out, no chance when slightly hampered 2 out, 4th of 10, 16l behind Rule Supreme (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar '04.
