held up, pecked 1st, hit 11th, headway after next, ridden to chase leading pair after 4 out, kept on same pace
held up, ridden after 12th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, reminders after 9th, ridden after 12th, led 4 out until next, kept on same pace
led, mistake 11th, ridden and headed after 12th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, challenged from 12th, led 3 out, stayed on, ridden out
held up, 2nd after 7th, landed 11th, led after next until 4 out, weakened 3 out
CHIARO comes into this contest on an upward curve, and gets our vote to land it ahead of Sound Accord and Carrick Oscar. You could make a case for any of the six scheduled runners though. Phillip Hobbs' gelding has an official rating of 129 but has won off a higher mark. This is his fourth run this season and he's improved with each one, being runner up in a better contest than this at Newbury last time out. Expect him to either set the pace or at least be up at the vanguard. Sound Accord had a decent hurdling career in decent company, and drops down a grade from his first two efforts over the bigger obstacles, in which he's been second and third. Carrick Oscar is lightly raced for an 8 year old, and although having won over hurdles with some cut in the ground may appreciate a faster surface. Third on his chase debut last time out in a similar sort of race, improvement's to be expected for that experience. Our preference though is for Chiaro.
Carrick Oscar (IRE) 15-8fav (11-2) In touch, effort approaching 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Or Bleu (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (4) hvy in Nov.
Cave of The Giant (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next, 16th of 20, 40l behind Oberon Moon (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Apr.
Chiaro (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden along 5th, challenged from 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace last, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Alright Now M'Lad (11-5) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Kingham 13-2 (10-7) Tracked leader, hit 10th, ridden after next, weakened 5 out, behind when blundered and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Flying Falcon (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Feb, 16 ran.
Sound Accord (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 1st, not fluent and lost place 3 out, rallied under pressure approaching last, went 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Rustarix (11-1) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Turbulance (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) fell in race won by Shouldhavehadthat (11-4) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
