held up, headway 5 out, led after 4 out, jumped left last, soon hard ridden and under pressure, all out
tracked leaders on outer, jumped badly left, stumbled and unseated rider 4th
tracked leader, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next
held up, pushed along 10th, headway after 5 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish
in touch, behind from 5th, struggling 8th, some headway next, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
tracked leaders, outpaced approaching 4 out, no impression after
towards rear, unseated rider 1st
led, headed after 4 out, weakened next
behind, in touch approaching 5th, ridden 5 out, every chance after last, just held
tracked leaders, hampered 4th, soon behind, weakened from 10th
Nonrunner
This race is perhaps not the contest it once was but it is certainly more competitive these days in terms of numbers and we will chance D'ARGENT at the expense of Dear Villez and Miko De Beauchene. Alan King's charge departed at the first on seasonal reappearance but he is very much proven under testing conditions and if this develops into an out-and-out slog, he has plenty of ticks in the right boxes. Dear Villez won well in similarly awful conditions at Limerick. He has gone up the weights since but the booking of Tony McCoy appears positive. The enigmatic Opera Mundi also represents the champion trainer. Miko De Beauchene disappointed badly in the Welsh National. Three miles is on the sharp side but he has won the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup over the course. Cloudy Lane was strongly fancied for the Grand National last year but he is not as well handicapped as he once was. Faasel is unproven at this grade but this quirky sort could run into the places. Fundamentalist is a light of his former self. Glaker Mill represents a yard that are coming back into some semblance of form. Montgermont was a useful novice when trained by Lavinia Taylor but has had training troubles. Kandjar d'Allier makes a step up in grade having obliged over course-and-distance. D'Argent is a speculative selection in a strong race.
Cloudy Lane 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 5 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Nozic (10-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Miko de Beauchene (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Hampered and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Notre Pere (11-0) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec, 20 ran.
Dear Villez (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Chased leader to 15th, already lost place when hampered 4 out, stayed on approaching 2 out, kept on well flat and finished well, 4th of 15, 13l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov.
Opera Mundi (FR) 7-2fav (10-10) Raced wide, held up, short lived effort approaching 3 out, finished tired, 6th of 10, 29l behind Joe Lively (10-3) at Cheltenham 3m 3f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Faasel (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Mid-division, mistake 10th and dropped rear, lost touch from 15th, 9th of 14, 39l behind Niche Market (9-9) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec.
D'Argent (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, jumped right and fell in race won by Malko De Beaumont (10-2) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Montgermont (FR) 4-1 (11-9) Not fluent 1st and 9th, held up, headway and in touch 4 out, ridden and one pace approaching last, 4th of 12, 9l behind Akilak (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
Kandjar d'Allier (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Made all, challenged 2 out, stayed on gamely from last, driven out, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov beating Native Coral (11-4) by 5l, 13 ran.
Glasker Mill (IRE) 25-1 (10-3) Always rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 17th in race won by Notre Pere (11-0) at Chepstow 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec, 20 ran.
Pass Me By 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, hit 4th, led 9th until 11th, ridden after 21st, stayed on same pace approaching last, 5th of 16, 6l behind Garde Champetre (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
Fundamentalist (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Lost touch quickly after 4th and pulled up at the 6th in race won by Niche Market (9-9) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
