held up in touch, led briefly after 4 out, ridden 3 out, close up when fell 2 out
mid-division, headway 10th, driven 3 out, weakening when hampered 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, badly hampered and lost 8th, pulled up before 4 out
held up rear, headway after 3 out, led last, ran on well
held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, one pace
mid-division, hampered 8th, weakened 4 out
in touch, closer order 9th, led briefly 11th, weakened after 3 out
led until fell 8th
prominent, left in lead 8th, headed after 4 out and weakened
prominent, hit 3rd, ridden and weakened 4 out
mid-division, driven 6th, weakened 2 out
held up mid-division, headway 4 out, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, one pace
held up towards rear, ridden and headway to chase leaders 3 out, ran on
mid-division, weakened 4 out, jumped right and unseated rider 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden 4 out, staying on when hampered 2 out, not reached leaders
Nonrunner
Paul Nicholls recent Chepstow winner Taranis heads the weights for the feature event of the meeting but the five-year-old may struggle to give weight away all round in this valuable handicap chase and a better bet looks to be Martin Pipe's heavily backed Vodka Bleu, who is preferred to stablemate Tamarinbleu. The last mentioned is a capable performer and may be open to improvement at the age of six but he has yet to prove that he stays this far so may be best watched. Nicky Henderson's Copsale Lad will have no problems with the trip but may be a shade high in the weights at present, while the Philip Hobbs-trained Chilling Place looked unlucky when unseating Richard Johnson in the Haldon Gold Cup and has to be considered a big threat on that evidence although this looks a tougher contest. Kandjar d'Allier lost no caste in defeat when third off just a 1lb lower mark behind Our Vic in this event 12 months ago and would have to be respected if able to reproduce that form, while Too Forward represents the in-form yard of Carl Llewellyn but does need to improve. All the money in recent days has been for Vodka Bleu and there is no doubting that David Pipe's gelding is well treated for his reappearance. David's father used to always have one ready for this race and it would come as no surprise if Vodka Bleu could make a winning return and keep the family tradition going.
Taranis (FR) 4-5fav (10-1) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, switched left approaching last, switched right flat, ran on to lead close home, won at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Oct beating Saltango (10-7) by 3l, 9 ran.
Too Forward (IRE) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, headway 5 out, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Wetherby 2m 4f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Oct beating Kinburn (11-1) by 3l, 8 ran.
Tamarinbleu (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden after 9th, hampered 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 19l behind Voy Por Ustedes (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Mar.
Copsale Lad 8-1 (11-5) Held up, mistake 15th, headway 3 out, not fluent last, one pace flat, 3rd of 15, 4l behind Star De Mohaison (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Exotic Dancer (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Close up, effort to challenge 4 out, disputed lead next, soon outpaced, 2nd of 3, 28l behind Turpin Green (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f Grad Ch (2) sft.
Graphic Approach (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, every chance 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 24, 16l behind Non So (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Tumbling Dice (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Raced mainly moderate 3rd, closer in 2nd 4 out, ridden approaching straight, soon no impression, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 7l behind Justified (11-12) at Limerick 2m 1f lst chs (1) gs in Oct.
Kelrev (FR) 6-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, ridden from 5 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, well behind Our Vic (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Knowhere (IRE) 1-3fav (11-6) Jumped well, chased leader, led 10th, clear 2 out, easily, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Oct beating Steppes of Gold (11-6) by 15l, 5 ran.
Nayodabayo (IRE) 11-10fav (11-7) Tracked leader, led 6th, not fluent 9th, shaken up to go clear approaching 2 out, comfortably, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf beating Stance (11-0) by 19l, 4 ran.
Calatagan (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Jumped well, made all, ridden 4 out, stayed on strongly from next, won at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct beating Show Me The River (10-8) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Kandjar d'Allier (FR) 5-2fav (11-5) Mid-division, reminders after 4th, driven along from 7th, no impression from 3 out, 7th of 13, 20l behind Herakles (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
Vodka Bleu (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Settled behind leading pair, closed steadily from 10th, shaken up approaching last, quickened to lead flat, all out, won at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov '04 beating Fundamentalist (11-7) by 1/2l, 3 ran.
New Alco (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) Held up, headway 10th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Mandingo Chief (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Tighe Caster 2-1fav (11-5) In touch, hit 8th, soon ridden, kept on same pace from 3 out, 5th of 11, 16l behind Crossbow Creek (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Butler's Cabin (FR) 7-2 (10-6) Held up towards rear, steady headway 4 out, led soon after 2 out, joined when left well clear at last, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct beating Made In Montot (11-9) by 5l, 14 ran.
Chilling Place (IRE) 7-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, 3 lengths 2nd and staying on when badly hampered by loose horse and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Impek (11-10) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Another Joker 10-1 (11-4) Led, headed 4 out, weakened next and pulled up 3 out in race won by Kings Brook (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Sept, 10 ran.
