mid-division until not fluent 2nd, held up towards rear, headway 15th, challenged last, soon led, stayed on well extended flat, driven out
chased leaders, lost place 11th, hit next, rallied 13th, ridden 3 out, weakened next
pressed leader, led 6th until 9th, not fluent 10th and 14th, weakened 15th, tailed off
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway after 3 out, stumbled last, took 3rd on extended flat, stayed on
bumped 1st, soon in touch, led 12th until 13th, every chance when fell 3 out
in touch, jumped slowly 2nd, every chance 2 out, one pace on extended flat
fell 1st
held up towards rear, blundered 1st, headway 5th, led 13th, headed last, stayed on flat, no impression on winner
made most until 6th, led 9th until 12th, lost place 13th, weakened 3 out, mistake last
always well in rear, hampered 1st and 2 out, pulled up before last
Henry Daly's Prof de L'Isle comes from a yard that is good form now and he has to be considered off what seems a fair mark but the seven-year-old has yet to confirm that he handles ground as testing as this and a better option looks to be REBLIS, who gets the verdict ahead of Jump Jet. Nigel Twiston-Davies has his string in good order and the eight-year-old has shown enough in recent starts on similarly testing ground to suggest that he could be involved at the business end of a race of this nature. Pelo Du Bief won well on heavy ground at Uttoxeter last month and a 5lb rise for that is perfectly fair so he has to be respected and makes more appeal than George Moore's The Shy Man, who has struggled against the handicapper in three starts since winning a novices' chase at Kelso in May. Pheidias is capable but remains a maiden after 16 career starts and Pam Sly's gelding is probably best left out of calculations in a race taken to go to Reblis. Few trainers have there runners in better form than Gary Moore and his gelding looks worth another chance having run below par at Kempton last time.
Ringaroses 40-1 (11-7) Behind, blundered 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Doctor Pat (10-13) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 13 ran.
Jump Jet (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Led on disputed lead, until ridden and outpaced 4 out, mistake next, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 19l behind Noun De La Thinte (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Pheidias (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, kept on under pressure from next, no impression, 4th of 7, 12l behind Mirage Dore (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f beg chase (4) sft in Jan.
Sarde (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Prominent, pushed along approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Dance Island (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
The Shy Man (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, no impression from 3 out, 4th of 11, 21l behind Mill Side (11-7) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Reblis (FR) 5-2fav (11-0) Held up in last trio, jumped left and reminders 7th, pushed along 11th, driven in 4th after 4 out, no impression, 4th of 8, 20l behind Iconoclast (11-11) at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Khumbu 16-1 (11-12) Behind, ridden 3 out, kept on from 2 out, 4th of 16, 13l behind Stoop To Conquer (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Dec.
Costa Courta (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division, dropped rear 7th, weakened 4 out, 9th of 11, 33l behind Rivaliste (11-4) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Prof de L'Isle (FR) 5-2 (11-2) Led to 3rd, with leader, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 19l behind Morning Moment (11-2) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) gf in Dec.
Darn Hot 6-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, blundered 4th, headway to modest 4th after 3 out, kept on flat, 4th of 13, 8l behind Senor Shane (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Pelo Du Bief (FR) 9-4 (10-4) Held up, headway 9th, mistake next, went 2nd after 3 out, led last, soon clear, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan beating Coach Lane (11-12) by 14l, 5 ran.
