led, not fluent 9th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakening when pecked 3 out
towards rear, driven along 12th, chased leaders 14th, kept on same pace from 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 4 out, beaten when jumped right 3 out
held up, stumbled badly 8th, never going after, tailed off and pulled up before 14th
in touch, ridden after 15th, weakened quickly 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up, mistake 8th, ridden 12th, short lived effort 15th
tracked leaders, led approaching 4 out, drew clear from 3 out, stayed on well
mid-division, mistake 5th, tracked leaders 11th, weakened 15th, tailed off
held up behind, ridden approaching 15th, weakening when mistake 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
prominent until 11th, soon outpaced, not a danger after
Saffron Sun gets a narrow vote here ahead of Indalo and Noble Baron. Indalo has won three of his last four races and rates as progressive, so is given a chance from his in-form yard despite not having had a run so far this season. Well-weighted on 2003 form, Native Emperor appears to be in decline, while Wain Mountain's Grand Sefton Chase sixth will have primed him nicely for this and he is considered. A case can be made for Jaloux d'Estruval, certainly based on January 2004 winning form and he comes here fit, while Fox In The Box disappointed last time but was running pretty well from around today's mark before that. The Paul Nicholls-trained Reflected Glory has scope for this game but will need to jump with more fluency than he has done of late in order to feature, and Saffron Sun has actually won from a higher mark than today, so his chance cannot be dismissed. Noble Baron loves it here and it was no disgrace to find Lord Anner too good at Wincanton last time from today's mark, so his chance is respected too. Finally, Kittenkat is back to a competitive mark, but others are preferred by us today. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Saffron Sun.
Indalo (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) In touch and keen, led 11th, ridden and under pressure 2 out, kept on gamely from last, won at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Mar beating Ebony Light (11-2) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Native Emperor 33-1 (10-9) Held up, mistake 3rd, headway 8th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden and weakened after next, 6th of 17, 18l behind Standin Obligation (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (A) gs in Nov.
Wain Mountain 20-1 (11-8) Held up, headway 2 out, one pace and no impression, 6th of 23, 13l behind Hakim (10-12) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
Jaloux d'Estruval (FR) 9-2co-fav (11-5) Held up, racing wide, headway 5th, ridden 7th, soon weakened, 6th of 12, 49l behind The Gangerman (9-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) hvy.
Fox In The Box 6-1 (11-0) Soon behind pulled up at the 6th in race won by Inca Trail (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Mioche d'Estruval (FR) 6-4fav (11-0) Held up, mistake 10th, headway 11th, ridden 4 out, left 8 lengths 2nd when stumbled and slightly hampered 2 out, blundered last, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Sweet Diversion (11-6) at Stratford 3m nov chs (D) gd in Jun.
Reflected Glory (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 11th, every chance approaching 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, mistake 3 out, 3rd of 13, 15l behind Lord Killeshanra (10-12) at Exeter 2m 7f nov chs (C) gs in Nov.
Saffron Sun 10-1 (10-5) Prominent, ridden 18th, weakened after 4 out, 5th of 8, 33l behind Inca Trail (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Nov.
Noble Baron 11-2 (11-8) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 14th, hit next, ridden after 4 out, stayedon after next, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Lord Anner (10-11) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Nov.
Kittenkat 7-1 (10-5) Prominent, led 3rd, briefly headed approaching 11th, headed 15th, soon driven along, one pace from 4 out, 4th of 10, 33l behind Dead-Eyed Dick (11-4) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
