tracked leaders, ridden along after 7th, weakened before 4 out
held up mid-division, headway before 6 out to chase leaders, ridden to chase winner before last, kept on and always held
led, blundered 5 out, headed 4 out, kept on same pace
tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden run-in, kept on well
held up towards rear, headway after 6 out, weakened from 2 out
towards rear, headway before 3 out, kept on same pace and no impression
in rear, tailed off before 5 out
held up mid-division, headway before 6th to chase leaders, weakened from 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
held up mid-division, headway before 2nd, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, went 2nd before 3 out until before last, no extra
Only two of these have chasing experience but neither Mr Burbidge nor King Alfonso make much appeal. Prouts Pub turned in a shocker on his reappearance while Exmoor Mist is racing from out of the handicap, though does go well fresh. Blandfords Gunner was placed three times over hurdles last season and should be even better over fences while April's Bangor winner Imagine The Chat is another with scope and may have been let in lightly on his chasing debut. Henry Oliver and James Davies teamed up to land this 12 months ago and OZZY THOMAS didn't do a lot wrong on his reappearance over hurdles at Cheltenham and should go close if handling the bigger obstacles. Javert is preferred to Paddy The Deejay of the others.
Prouts Pub (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place and mistake 7th, lost touch after 9th, pulled up before 4 out, at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Ozzy Thomas (IRE) 14-1 (10-10) Held up, not much room after 4th, headway before last, kept on flat, unable to challenge, 5th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Old Guard (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Mr Burbidge 25-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 3rd, outpaced 7th, well beaten from 9th, 5th of 6, dist behind Ittirad (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gs in Oct.
Javert (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Jumped left, held up in rear, headway after 6th, 5th and one pace when mistake 2 out, mistake last, 5th of 16, 12 1/4l behind Sir Ivan (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
Blandfords Gunner 4-11fav (11-0) Led, pressed and hit 2 out, ridden and hit last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Take A Break (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f mdn (4) gf in Apr.
Paddy The Deejay (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Behind, not fluent 3rd, pushed along 3 out, headway next, soon no impression, tailed off, modest 4th, 4th of 5, 37l behind Maputo (11-6) at Kempton 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
Santa's Secret (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, hampered and stumbled 1st, pushed along approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 14, dist behind Mister Grez (11-12) at Chepstow 2m (4) gs in Apr.
Imagine The Chat 5-1 (11-2) Always prominent, left in lead approaching 2 out, driven clear after last, ran on well, won at Bangor 3m mdn (5) gd in Apr beating Echo Springs (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Lucky Jim 25-1 (10-8) Led until after 1st, prominent, lost place before 3 out, 9th of 12, 25 3/4l behind Tea In Transvaal (10-9) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
King Alfonso 25-1 (10-3) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced 4 out, plugged on approaching 2 out where not fluent, 7th of 11, 24 1/4l behind Padge (11-6) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Exmoor Mist 7-2fav (10-13) Towards rear, headway approaching 6th, tracking leaders going well on long run to 3 out, soon pushed along and weakened 3 out, 8th of 18, dist behind Assam Black (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
