travelled well in mid-division, joined leaders after 4 out, ridden and every chance after last, kept on, no extra near finish
in touch until 10th, soon struggling in rear, gradually lost touch from 13th, tailed off
mid-division, awkward 5th and dropped rear, hit 7th, mistake 9th, pulled up after 10th
led until after 17th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out
chased leaders, led after 17th, hit 4 out, soon ridden, headed after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden after 13th, weakened 16th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, mistake 8th, hampered 16th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, plugged on to go modest 3rd after last
in touch, headway 11th, led after 3 out, soon ridden and hard pressed, stayed on gamely from last, all out
took keen hold, held up, headway 9th, jumped right 16th, ridden after 4 out, went 3rd after 3 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, losing place and mistake 13th, pulled up before next
prominent, ridden after 16th, weakened 4 out
held up behind, ridden after 4 out, some progress after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, mistake 8th, headway from 12th, blundered badly 16th, ridden when mistake 4 out, soon weakened
struggling 12th, always in rear, tailed off
mistake 17th, always towards rear, pulled up before 4 out
CHARACTER BUILDING had to miss the Hennessey because of lameness on the morning of the race however if he is fit and raring to go he could land this prize at the main expense of Mon Mome, Simon and One Sniff. John Quinn's gelding proved good enough to win on his recent reappearance at Towcester over hurdles. This was a good effort considering it was over too short a trip, and having been nibbled at in the betting leading up to the Hennessey, it was disappointing that he couldn't feature. One Sniff showed a battling attitude when seeing off Chickapeakray back in April and whilst that form needs improving on, further progress cannot be ruled out. Grand National hero Comply Or Die was lacklustre on his reappearance and all avenues lead to Aintree again, Turko was third in the Ryanair but was well-held behind Imperial Commander in the Paddy Power; he needs a shorter trip, whilst Star De Mohaison is a horse of great potential and cannot be overlooked returning to fences. Simon caught the eye last time when staying on well at the track but this shorter distance is probably not ideal, whilst Mon Mome and Parsons Legacy both come here on the back of very good runs. A tough contest, but preference is for Character Building.
Star De Mohaison (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, ridden 4 out, no impression, 9th of 15, 22l behind According To Pete (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Comply Or Die (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Raced wide, led until 3rd, tracked leaders until faded tamely from 13th, tailed off and pulled up at the 16th in race won by Joe Lively (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Turko (FR) 33-1 (11-8) Prominent until 8th, gradually lost place, mistake 10th, weakened after next, 9th of 19, 41l behind Imperial Commander (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Simon 12-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, ridden after 17th, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again approaching last, 4th of 10, 19l behind Joe Lively (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Fundamentalist (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hit 8th, headway 14th, ridden approaching 16th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 4th of 12, 20l behind Roll Along (11-1) at Ascot 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Nov.
Parsons Legacy (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, outpaced after 4 out, left 6 lengths 2nd 2 out, closed approaching last, led flat, stayed on, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct beating The King of Angels (10-8) by 2 1/2l, 17 ran.
Possol (FR) 15-2 (11-4) Held up mid-divison, chased leaders approaching 3 out, led next, driven out, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov beating Mon Mome (11-0) by a nk, 16 ran.
Mon Mome (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Soon in touch, challenged 4 out, ridden approaching next, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 16, nk behind Possol (11-4) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Character Building (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, challenged last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Shannon Springs (11-6) by 1l, 12 ran.
Verasi 20-1 (10-9) Towards rear, blundered 14th,driven along 16th, well behind 4 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Madison Du Berlais (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
Irish Raptor (IRE) 9-2fav (10-5) In touch, not fluent 4th, weakened from 4 out, 6th of 13, well behind Black Apalachi (10-5) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) hvy in Nov.
Harmony Brig (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, some headway after 4 out, soon outpaced, no impression after, 6th of 17, 20l behind Parsons Legacy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct.
Trigger The Light 5-1 (11-3) In touch, hampered 14th, headway and chased leader 4 out, ridden when fell 3 out in race won by Cornish Sett (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
One Sniff (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 9th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, led before last, soon ridden, stayed on well, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Apr beating Chickapeakray (10-12) by 5l, 13 ran.
Itsmyboy (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Held up, took closer order 7th, effort approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 9, well behind Albertas Run (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gd in Nov '07.
