held up towards rear, ridden after 13th, stayed on from 3 out, never troubled leaders
mid-division, hit 2nd, ridden after 10th, weakened 12th
held up mid-division, blundered 10th, headway 13th, weakened after 4 out
led until hit 10th, weakened 12th
mid-division, ridden and headway 12th, chance approaching last, no extra
tracked leader, mistake 1st, led 10th to 12th, led approaching 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, led last, soon headed, no extra
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, led 12th until approaching 4 out, ridden to lead 3 out, not fluent and headed last, no extra
prominent until 5th, remained in touch, pushed along, ridden after 11th, stayed on from 4 out, led soon after last, driven out
always towards rear
Kaldouas is selected here ahead of Grenfell and Mister Apple's. Kaldouas ended last season with the look of a well-handicapped horse. He would have finished closer at Cheltenham last time but for a bad blunder early on and he can build on the view initially formed in this contest. Grenfell took advantage of what proved to be a generous handicap mark when winning on his chasing debut last time and still looks competitive from an eight-pounds higher rating. A five-pounds rose for his Cheltenham winning return can still see Mister Apple's competitive as he tends to do just enough. Finally, Gumley Gale is still potentially well treated on old form even though he has been raised 11 pounds for his Chepstow win. With Harry Potter, Zimbabwe, Notanotherdonkey and Inaro needing career-best efforts if they are going to score, and Special Conquest looking a light of his 2005 best, we return to the selection, which is Kaldouas.
Kaldouas (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Mistake 1st, held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 15th, every chance approaching last, no extra run-in, 4th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Mister Apple's (9-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Harry Potter (GER) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, led 7th, headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 12th of 17, 44l behind Eden Linty (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Inaro (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Raced wide, mid-division, headway 10th, weakened 19th, beaten when pulled up 5 out in race won by Kock De La Vesvre (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m lst hcp chs (1) hvy in Jul, 11 ran.
Zimbabwe (FR) 15-8fav (10-12) Chased leader until after 11th, soon cajoled along, beaten 4 out, last of 5, 31l behind Howrwenow (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Feb.
Mister Apple's (FR) 7-1 (9-7) Mid-division, steady headway from 4 out, led 2 out, kept on strongly run-in, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct beating Milord Lescribaa (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Notanotherdonkey (IRE) 11-1 (10-0) Jumped left throughout, led until 15th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out, last of 7, 27l behind Inaro (10-3) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs (3) gd in Mar.
Jim Edwards (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) In touch, hit 6th, headway 8th, led next, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sept beating Grenfell (10-10) by 2l, 13 ran.
Special Conquest 16-1 (9-9) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out, 5th of 9, 26l behind Petit Lord (11-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Oct.
Gumley Gale 18-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 16th, going well when led 3 out, soon clear, won at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Oct beating Another Chat (9-12) by 7l, 16 ran.
