chased clear leader, closed up 5th, narrow lead next, left clear 7th(water), hit 4 out, reduced lead after next, hit 2 out, ridden and headed just before last, weakened to 3rd soon after last
chased leading pair, badly hampered and nearly unseated rider 7th (water), recovered to 2nd approaching 10th, hit 3 out, closed on leader when lost 2nd before next, stayed challenging on inside and every chance last, stayed on same pace flat
close up hit 4th, disputing close 4th when brought down 7th (water)
led at good pace and clear 3rd, reduced lead 5th, narrowly headed next, about 1 length 2nd when slipped on landing and fell 7th (water)
chased leaders until jumped slowly 1st and 2nd and dropped to rear, reminder after 4th, left 3rd at 7th(water), mistake 4out, closed after 3 out, chased leader approaching 2 out, led just before last, driven and stayed on well flat
close up disputing 4th, left chasing clear leader 7th (water), hit next and 10th and lost 2nd, weakened 11th, in rear and struggling when went badly left collided with wing and fell heavily 3 out
Radium beat the more exposed Othermix on his chasing debut at Ascot but was then well beaten behind Ghizao over 2m here last month. Othermix has since finished ahead of Reve De Sivola when third to Time For Rupert over this C&D, but Nick Williams' five-year-old will have learned plenty from that run and can reverse the placings today. Rebel Du Maquis has won both starts over fences but faces a much stiffer task under his penalty here while Wishfull Thinking was a lucky winner at Wincanton. SPIRIT RIVER was a faller when made favourite on his reappearance at Newbury but had jumped well up to that point and could make amends back on his favourite track with conditions to suit.
Rebel Du Maquis (FR) 10-11fav (11-9) Made all, clear after 4 out, mistakes 3 out and 2 out, easily, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (4) gd in Nov beating Double Dash (11-2) by 9l, 7 ran.
Wishfull Thinking 5-4fav (11-2) Keen hold early, bumped 1st, chased leader 3rd, led 6th, mistake 13th, ridden and headed and looked beaten when left in 6 lengths lead 3 out, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs Grade 2 (1) gd in Nov beating Tara Royal (11-8) by 12l, 5 ran.
Radium (FR) 4-1 (11-6) Not fluent, held up last, went right 7th and next, headway to 4th when hit 4 out and ridden, beaten soon after, went badly right 2 out, lost modest 4th towards finish, last of 5, 24l behind Ghizao (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Othermix (FR) 11-2 (11-2) Chased leader until before 3 out, styed in 3rd until approaching next, no impression when left modest 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 10, 17l behind Time For Rupert (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs in Nov.
Reve De Sivola (FR) 3-1fav (11-2) Chased leaders, disputing close 3rd when hit 4 out, weakeend after next, left modest 4th and hit 2 out, 4th of 10, 31l behind Time For Rupert (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs in Nov.
Spirit River (FR) 10-11fav (11-1) Chased leader, led 4th, blundered and fell 11th, in a race won by Cois Farraig (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov, 5 ran.
