mid-division, ridden and headway after 3 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on, lost 2nd close home
held up in rear, ridden 4 out, headway after 3 out, jumped left and mistake 2 out, no impression, weakened last
mid-division, headway 10th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, headed flat, no extra final 100 yards
mid-division, effort 10th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten when not fluent 3 out
chased leaders, hampered 6th, lost place 11th, weakened quickly, pulled up after 3 out
mid-division, headway before 9th, led 12th, headed after 3 out, weakened last
prominent, challenged 9th, led 10th until mistake 12th, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, soon led, not fluent and headed 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 6th, headway on inside 3 out, no impression, mistake and well beaten 2 out
led after 1st, headed 10th, weakened before 2 out
prominent, ridden 4 out, weakened flat
held up in rear, not fluent 7th or 11th, headway 2 out, not much room last, soon switched right, stayed on well, went 2nd close home
chased leaders, mid-division 8th, niggled along 10th, hampered 11th, headway after 3 out, challenged last, led flat, stayed on
led until after 1st, prominent, not fluent 3 out, every chance before last, one pace flat
towards rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 6th, ridden and struggling 12th, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake and pecked 6th, lost place 11th, mistake 12th, well behind when pulled up before 3 out
reluctant to race and left many lengths, behind, until pulled up after 8th
towards rear, jumped slowly 3rd, some headway before 3 out, no extra last
mid-division, behind when slow 12th, pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway before 9th, outpaced when mistake 3 out, well beaten before next
The Pipe family have enjoyed plenty of success in this race and Kings Palace appears the pick of their pair having won over fences here on three occasions last term. Sound Investment has improved spectacularly over the last year and was impressive in the Old Roan Chase. A further rise up the weights may not be enough to stop him. Paul Nicholls' charge finished ahead of Johns Spirit on that occasion though Jonjo O'Neill's eight year old has a fantastic record in this contest having won it in 2013 and finished second last year. Oscar Rock would be a player if the rain stays away but our preference is for IRISH CAVALIER. Rebecca Curtis' inmate was successful at the Festival and warmed up perfectly for this assignment with a facile success at Newton Abbot. Art Mauresque and Boondooma were winners at the Showcase meeting and the former looks potentially unexposed in the handicap. Buywise isn't the most fluent of jumpers though his yard are in form and his prospects are better than the odds imply.
Sound Investment (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Held up in 4th, tracked leaders 3 out, switched inside next, ridden to lead before last, stayed on well flat, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct beating Wishfull Thinking (11-10) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 11-4fav (11-5) Mid-division, blundered 10th, badly hampered and lost place after next, not recover, no danger after, pulled up before last, at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Irish Cavalier (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Held up in touch, over jumped 1st, closed from 10th, led after 3 out, 7 lengths clear when not fluent last, just nudged out and took things easy flat, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) gs in Oct beating Henryville (10-8) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Oscar Rock (IRE) 4-1fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, challenged 3 out, led next, stayed on well, clear towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Sep beating Claret Cloak (11-12) by 3 1/4l, 10 ran.
Boondooma (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Led to 6th, led again before 2 out and mistake, kept on well from last, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Workbench (10-12) by 3l, 12 ran.
Kings Palace (IRE) 4-1fav (11-4) Disputed lead until led before 11th, blundered 4 out, headed before 2 out, soon one pace, weakened last, 6th of 8, 24 1/4l behind Don Poli (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gd in Mar.
Cocktails At Dawn 6-1 (11-12) Made all, clear 2 out, pushed out flat, comfortably, won at Chepstow 2m 3f (2) gd in Oct beating As De Mee (11-4) by 3l, 7 ran.
Double Ross (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake 15th, driven and stayed on from 2 out, driven between last two, went 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 3 1/4l behind Pendra (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Cloud Creeper (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Held up, not fluent 5th, effort when bumped 4 out, soon ridden and outpaced, closed and went 2nd from 2 out until last, no impression on winner, no extra flat, 4th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Irish Cavalier (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) gs in Oct.
Next Sensation (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) With leader, led 6th, headed 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 12, 29 1/4l behind Boondooma (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Splash of Ginge 14-1 (11-1) Mid-division, closed after 6th, mistakes 7th and 8th, weakened after 9th, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Kilcooley (11-9) at Wetherby 3m (1) sft in Oct.
Buywise (IRE) 9-2fav (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased leaders next, kept on approaching last, ridden to take 3rd flat, not reach front pair, 3rd of 10, 3 3/4l behind Sound Investment (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Annacotty (IRE) 28-1 (11-8) Mistake 1st, in rear, headway into mid-division 11th (foinavon), fell next (canal turn), at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Art Mauresque (FR) 5-1 (11-11) Led to 3rd, tracked leader, lead again before last, kept on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gs in Oct beating Double Shuffle (11-3) by 8l, 5 ran.
Shanpallas (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Slight mistake 1st, soon rear of mid-division, badly hampered and unseated rider 4th, at Limerick 3m hcp Yielding in Oct.
Darna 20-1 (11-6) Mid-division, tracked leaders 5th, lost place 10th (bechers), hampered and brought down 12th (canal turn), at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Present View 11-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, never involved, pulled up before 2 out, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Monetaire (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Mid-division, 6th 3 out, soon ridden, 7th entering straight, no impression, 8th of 22, 19 3/4l behind Sort It Out (10-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp sft in May.
Bennys Mist (IRE) 50-1 (10-10) Took keen hold, tracked leaders on outside, lost place soon after 16th, struggling 3 out, soon pulled up, at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Generous Ransom (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Held up mid-division, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 16, 32 3/4l behind Towering (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
