held up behind, driven 4 out, kept on from next, went moderate 4th before last, never reached leaders
tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, under pressure when mistake 9th, behind from 11th, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, ridden after 11th, weakened 5 out, pulled up next
led 2nd, headed 5 out, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, tracked leaders 7th, challenged 5 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on same pace, no impression with winner flat, lost 2nd near finish
led to 2nd, tracked leader, led again 5 out, mistake next, soon ridden, headed 2 out, 3rd and one pace approaching last, rallied to take 2nd near finish
mid-division, headway 11th, challenged on inside 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well flat
mid-division, lost place 10th, soon struggling, tailed off 5 out
held up behind, steady headway after 11th, driven and kept on same pace from 3 out, never on terms
behind, struggling 10th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 5 out
NOBLE LEGEND notched up a fourth consecutive win over fences with a five-length victory at Uttoxeter three weeks ago. He's up another 9lb but trip and ground are no problem and he's worth sticking with until beaten. Triptico made a promising start over fences when second at Carlisle last month and Dineur is not out of this off his current mark. Webberys Dream and Highway Code could be thereabouts as well but Arctic Ben looks a bigger danger as he showed good progress over fences last season and will have benefited for a recent reappearance at Cheltenham.
See U Bob (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Always in rear, jumped slowly throughout, never a factor, 8th of 9, well behind Sir Du Bearn (11-11) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Oldrik (GER) 20-1 (9-9) Held up in last pair, pushed along in 4th before 5 out, soon outpaced and no chance with leading trio, 4th of 7, 38l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-13) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs (2) gs in Oct.
Webberys Dream 33-1 (11-6) Led 1st, headed before 2nd, led 4th until 5th, weakened after 3 out, hit last, 4th of 10, 19l behind Ackertac (11-11) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Led, blundered 6th, blundered and headed 3 out, soon weakened and eased before last, 11th of 14, 34l behind Shooters Wood (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Highway Code (USA) 40-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, stayed on well before last, soon chased winner, nearest at finish, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Broadbackbob (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Noble Legend 2-1fav (11-11) Made all, hit 10th, ridden 3 out, kept on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov beating No No Bingo (11-7) by 5l, 7 ran.
Triptico (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Kruzhlinin (11-2) at Carlisle 2m Beginners Chase (0-125) (4yo+) (3) hvy in Nov.
Dineur (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Led until 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, left modest 3rd last, 3rd of 6, 32l behind There's No Panic (11-8) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gs in Oct.
Olympian Boy (IRE) 4-1fav (11-4) Held up in rear, not fluent 1st, struggling 11th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by The Disengager (12-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Aug, 11 ran.
Rockabilly (FR) 66-1 (10-4) Always in rear, detatched 7th, pulled up 11th, in a race won by Sizing Santiago (10-13) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
