held up in rear, slightly hampered 1st, not fluent 5th, mistake 13th, in touch 4 out, ridden and no impression after next, weakened last
fell 1st
chased leaders, jumped slowly 6th, closed when not fluent 4 out, ridden after next, one pace when not fluent last
prominent, led 2nd, headed after 4th, led after 8th, jumped right 13th, driven flat, stayed on, clear towards finish
led until 2nd, tracked leaders, challenged 4 out until last, stayed on same pace flat
prominent, led after 4th until after 8th, lost place 3 out, weakened from next
held up in rear, mistake 10th, ridden 4 out, no impression, weakened before last
The Musical Guy steps up a grade off an 8lb higher mark after scoring by nine lengths over course and distance last month but Irish Buccaneer should improve on his second at Worcester in October and this looks a more suitable trip for Couldhavehaditall, second over 2m here on his chasing bow. Gold Ingot jumped well when winning at Newcastle last time but this is more competitive and he's 8lb higher and Salmanazar, highly tried at Exeter, has more scope. MEDIEVAL CHAPEL has an absence to overcome but that shouldn't be a problem and he should relish the switch to fences having already won twice between the flags. With Nico de Boinville taking off 3lb, he might just be the value.
Irish Buccaneer (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, mistakes 9th and 10th, blundered 13th, headway after next, not fluent 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Lookslikerainted (11-1) at Worcester 2m 7f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
Salmanazar 22-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression, one pace, 3rd of 8, 19l behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (2) gs in Dec.
Medieval Chapel (FR) 14-1 (11-6) Mid-division, 7th halfway, ridden 3 out, no impression next, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 13l behind Le Vent D'Antan (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl in Apr.
Perfect Candidate (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Soon lost good early position, progress 13th, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, 43l behind Minellahalfcentury (10-9) at Chepstow 3m nov hcap ch (3) gs in Dec.
The Musical Guy (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) In touch on outside, reminder after 11th, went 3rd 5 out, upsides next, led after 2 out, driven clear from last, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Dec beating Dont Do Mondays (11-12) by 9l, 7 ran.
Gold Ingot 13-8fav (11-7) Tracked leader, led before 10th, made rest, travelled well and in command from 4 out, pushed out towards finish, won at Newcastle 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Dec beating Harry The Lemmon (10-9) by 2l, 4 ran.
Couldhavehaditall (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Mid-division, closed 4th, lost place 6th, not fluent 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 13l behind Stellar Notion (11-8) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Nov.
