held up in rear, soon detached, pulled up before 6th
held up towards rear, ridden and headway 4 out, weakened after next
tracked leaders, mistake 6th, outpaced after 3 out, ridden and headway last, ran on under pressure to lead flat
held up in rear, some headway approaching 2 out, never on terms
held up in touch, led 7th, clear after 3 out, headed flat, no extra
tracked leaders, mistake 1st, soon lost place and behind, pulled up after 6th
Paul Nicholls has farmed this race in the past but has no representative this time and instead another top yard, that of Nicky Henderson, can win it with Jean Le Poisson, while Victorbano looks the main danger. The selection won a Newbury bumper on debut and already has very decent form in the context of this race when finishing 14 lengths adrift of the very good Hobbs Hill over this course in November. He acts on this ground and his trainer looks to have found a soft enough race for him to break his maiden tag over fences. Victorbano improved significantly from a bumper run in November when runner up in a maiden hurdle at Kelso last month and can Nigel Twiston-Davies sends him straight over fences now. He has to be taken seriously but is opposed for lack of racecourse chasing experience. Diktatit has a chance of taking some prize money if he can improve his jumping, while Honduras has not shown enough yet to suggest he can win this, but comes from respected connections with a good record at this track. Preference however is for Jean Le Poisson.
El Sueno (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) In rear and keen after halfway when pulled up in race won by Mutual Respect (11-0) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) sft in Dec '06, 11 ran.
Honduras (SWI) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 6th of 18, 20l behind Group Captain (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Jean Le Poisson (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Chased winner until after 4 out, lost 2nd next, blundered last, lost 2nd again run-in, 3rd of 6, 11l behind O'maley (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chs (4) gd in Dec.
Knock Boy (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Close up, when mistake and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Sheriff Roscoe (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec, 10 ran.
Chaninbar (FR) 7-1 (9-4) Mid-division, stumbled 1st, weakened 3 out, 8th of 12, 19l behind Gwanako (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Victorbano (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway to lead 3 out, joined last, headed close home, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Silver By Nature (11-0) at Kelso 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Diktatit 28-1 (10-4) Prominent until weakened 9th, soon beaten, 7th of 14, 26l behind Divex (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gf in Dec.
Symbiosis 9-1 (10-9) Keen, in touch, left 2nd at 4th, with winner 3 out, ridden and 2 lengths down when fell 2 out in race won by Methodical (11-0) at Leicester 2m mrs nov chs (4) gf in Dec, 6 ran.
