held up, smooth headway 13th, 4th and travelling when when fell 4 out
held up, ridden and headway into 4th approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out
tracked leader, ridden and every chance after 3 out, faded approaching last, hung right flat
mid-division, hit 3rd and 10th, ridden after 4 out, weakened next
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on, soon held by winner
mid-division, headway 8th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on again approaching last, went 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, kept on well, ridden out
chased leaders, hit 6th, 10th and 12th, ridden next, beaten when badly hampered and unseated rider 4 out
mid-division until 11th, not a danger after
chased leaders, pecked 4th, behind from 10th
Nonrunner
Boomshakalaka can maintain his unbeaten record over fences at the expense of Something Wells's. The ex-French runner Arturio has to be respected. The selection didn't really live up to expectations over hurdles but put down a marker with a cracking display of jumping on debut at Kempton; he returned to Sunbury on Boxing Day to run out a ready winner of a handicap. His main market rival underperformed that day and he's 9lbs higher but he's one to keep on the right side of. Something Wells missed 2006 but has been making up for lost time this term with chase wins at Uttoxeter and Taunton. He still has to conclusively prove that he stays this far and has to cope with a rise in the weights and class. Arturio ran Gwanako close a couple of times over hurdles and could be on a fair mark if able to reproduce that form over British fences; the market should provide some indication as to expectations. Portland Bill and Tramantano both possess enough ability to run well whilst Glingerbank should improve for this longer trip but the suspicion is that Boomshakalaka could be too classy for this field.
Portland Bill (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, joined leader 14th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed after last, no extra, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Gidam Gidam (11-5) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs.
Tramantano 40-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway into modest 4th when blundered 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Voy Por Ustedes (11-10) at Kempton 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Boomshakalaka (IRE) 7-4fav (11-8) Led, blundered 1st, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, rallied to regain lead approaching 2 out, ridden out, won at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec beating Templer (11-11) by 4l, 7 ran.
Thedancingdemon (USA) 15-2 (10-13) Led, mistake 2nd, headed after 3rd, ridden in moderate 3rd 3 out, no impression before next, 4th of 6, 28l behind The Budgee (10-13) at Cork 2m hcp chs 0-130 hvy.
Something Wells (FR) 2-1 (11-9) Made all, hit 4 out, left well clear last, easily, won at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs beating Predicament (10-2) by 27l, 5 ran.
Mister Potter 15-2 (11-0) Towards rear, headway after 13th, mistake 5 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 14, 15l behind Le Briar Soul (10-11) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Arturio (FR) (10-12) Prominent, effort 2 out, led flat, won at Nantes 2m 3f chs in Oct beating Le Costarmoricain (10-10) by 3l, 9 ran.
Skellig Mist (FR) (10-3) Jumped first 2 before fell in race won by Patte De Velour (10-6) at Auteuil 2m 4f ch hvy in Nov, 9 ran.
Glingerbank (IRE) 8-11fav (11-1) Held up, headway from 7th, ridden approaching last, led flat, driven out, won at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (4) gd in Nov beating Raining Horse (10-12) by 3l, 7 ran.
Corlande (IRE) 11-8fav (11-6) Always prominent, led last, driven out flat, won at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy beating Something Silver (10-8) by 2l, 8 ran.
Noble Bily (FR) 15-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, led approaching 4 out, kept on well from last, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec beating Magot De Grugy (11-6) by 8l, 6 ran.
