tracked leader, every chance 13th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, steady headway 13th, mistake 3 out, waited with, led approaching, comfortable
led, ridden 3 out, hard ridden, headed approaching last, one pace
held up, mistake 2nd, headway 5th, hit 11th, mistake 4 out, weakened 2 out
in touch when blundered and unseated rider 6th
held up, never dangerous from 4 out
keen, held up, slightly hampered 6th, mistake 8th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, 2nd 10th, mistake 12th, weakening when mistake 3 out
It will be disappointing if KIA KAHA can't pass the post in first spot here although The Duke's Speech and Ordre De Bataille should prove to be worthy adversaries. The selection won a competitive handicap over hurdles at Cheltenham last year and showed signs of recapturing that sort of form when chasing home Crescent Island on his chase debut at Stratford last month. He should know more about the game now and be hard to beat. Muhtenbar is a useful performer but is still without a win over fences after sixteen starts whilst Edgeover was tailed off on his chase bow. Ordre De Bataille ran a couple of fair races in his two runs over fences last term and appeals as a likely danger whilst The Duke's Speech was one of the best of these over hurdles and has his first realistic opportunity having bumped into Astarador and Tatenen so far. Sovereign King also merits a serious amount of respect on his chase bow as he was pretty useful over the smaller obstacles but Kia Kaha is the one that they all have to beat.
Edgeover 22-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway and mistake 3 out, soon beaten and pulled up 5 out in race won by Tartak (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs, 8 ran.
Kia Kaha 5-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, hit 3rd, headway 10th, outpaced after 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Crescent Island (11-3) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Muhtenbar 9-1 (11-3) Led to 7th, remained prominent, weakened after 13th, mistake 2 out, 4th of 10, well behind Shining Gale (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Ordre de Bataille (FR) 7-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5 out until ridden 2 out, beaten when mistake last, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Gidam Gidam (10-11) at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Sovereign King 9-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway after 7th, slightly hampered next, weakened on long run-in, 6th of 15, 13l behind Schindlers Son (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in May.
Star Shot (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Held up, headway 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Tell Henry (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, jumped slowly 4th, hit 4 out, good headway to chase winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Tatenen (10-7) at Aintree 2m lst nov chs (1) gs in Oct.
Histoire De Moeurs (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 15, 28l behind First Point (11-6) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
