tracked leader, blundered 3rd, lost place after 7th, soon weakened and behind, pulled up 5 out
held up behind, went well beaten 4th 5 out, soon ridden, stayed on to go moderate 3rd flat, no chance with front pair
held up in 4th, headway to track leader after 7th, led before 3 out, soon hard pressed, headed next, outpaced when switched right between last, ridden when pecked last, rallied flat, held towards finish
in rear when blundered 3rd, struggling 6th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out
tracked leading pair, slightly outpaced 5 out, driven to challenge 3 out, led next, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, held on towards finish
led, mistake 4 out, ridden and headed before 3 out, soon no chance with leading pair, lost moderate 3rd flat
held up behind, outpaced after 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders in 5th until mistake and lost place 2nd, struggling 7th, no chance from 5 out, tailed off
AVEC MOI CE SOIR is given a tentative vote on his chasing debut. Colin Tizzard's gelding didn't set the world alight over hurdles but being from the family of Gunner Welburn he should improve now tackling fences for the first time. Littledon Aldor is a course and distance winner but he was very lacklustre at Fontwell last time and is opposable from out of the weights, and bigger dangers may lurk in the form of Rouge Et Blanc and the returning Riddleofthesands. Richard Johnson is a positive booking for Cadoudalas, El Distintivo can be expected to improve now going chasing, whilst Forty Five looks fairly-handicapped judging by his solid Carlisle return. Oscar Gogo and top-weight Henry King are both considered as they make their chasing debuts.
Henry King (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Pulled hard in rear, headway before 3 out, 7th and no chance when fell 2 out, in a race won by Tail Of The Bank (11-12) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Mar, 11 ran.
Oscar Gogo (IRE) 5-4 (11-6) Led, jumped left 3rd, headed 2 out, still close 3rd last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Ring For Time (10-13) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Forty Five (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Towards rear, not fluent 1st, headway 7th, chased leaders in 3rd approaching 4 out, no extra last, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Sotovik (10-7) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (4) gs in Oct.
El Distintivo (ARG) 10-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, led 6th, mistake and headed 4 out, weakened into 5th when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Shoegazer (11-0) at Kempton 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr, 17 ran.
Cadoudalas (FR) 9-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway 5th, jumped right and hampered 2 out, soon weakened, jumped right and mistake last, 7th of 12, 26l behind Mont Present (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chase (4) gd in May.
Riddleofthesands (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Led, headed 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Prospectorous (10-12) at Perth 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sep '09.
Rouge Et Blanc (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Raced wide, chased leading pair, struggling after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Sumdancer (10-0) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar, 4 ran.
Littleton Aldor (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Reluctant to line up, led in start and started slowly, jumped badly right throughout, rapid headway after 1st to lead 3rd, headed 9th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, last of 6, 40l behind Sumdancer (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Blossom King (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Mid-division, closed 7th, disputing 4th and in touch when brought down 9th, in a race won by Kack Handed (11-3) at Haydock 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Avec Moi Ce Soir (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division on outer, chased leaders 6th, led narrowly 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 17l behind Red Twist (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
