always behind, blundered 7th, struggling 10th, no chance when blundered 4 out, tailed off
always behind
held up in rear, headway approaching 9th, went moderate 3rd soon after last
in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened next, beaten when blundered 2 out
in touch, headway to chase leading pair approaching 9th, driven approaching 3 out, weakened soon after next, lost poor 3rd soon after last
behind, hit 6th, well outpaced before 9th, tailed off
mid-division, hit 2nd, ridden and struggling before 9th, pulled up before 4 out
made all, hit 8th, in no danger when hit 2 out, came clear soon after, unchallenged
chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened soon after
hit 1st and 2nd, in touch, headway to chase when blundered 4 out, no chance from 2 out
chased winner until weakened well before 4 out, no chance when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
Bleu Superbe represents the in-form yard of Venetia Williams so has to be respected but the 13-year-old is on the highest mark that he has raced off for some time now following his win at Ascot at the beginning of the month and looks best left out calculations in a race taken to go to PETIT ROBIN, who gets the vote ahead of Predateur. Paul Nicholls has probably not got the best out of the son of Nikos yet but the five-year-old ran some reasonable races in defeat last season and again on his reappearance before unseating Sam Thomas at the first fence at Cheltenham last time. Assuming that his jumping holds up, Predateur has every chance. Colin Tizzard's Sou'wester looked beaten before falling last time but the yard's runners are in good form so he has to be considered. Its Crucial is closely matched with Bleu Superbe on running at Ascot and has every chance of reversing that form, while Arumun is turned out quickly having fallen at the first at Wetherby on Wednesday and it is to be hoped that he is none the worse for that tumble. Preference though is for Nicky Henderson's Petit Robin, who showed decent form over hurdles last term and now makes his handicap debut in his first start over fences in the UK. He did win over the larger obstacles in France and he looks worth chancing off what seems a fair mark.
King Louis (FR) 20-1 (10-11) Held up, hit 14th, never dangerous, 5th of 6, 19l behind My Petra (10-4) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd.
Sou'wester 13-2 (10-5) Chased leader 1st to 7th, not fluent 4 out, soon pushed along, 4th and weakening when fell 2 out in race won by Pablo Du Charmil (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) sft, 7 ran.
Saintsaire (FR) 15-8fav (11-4) Held up in rear, steady headway from 9th, weakened 12th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Casalani (10-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f clm chs (3) sft in Apr, 12 ran.
Oneway (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Behind, mistake 4th, soon beaten, 8th of 10, well behind Bishop's Bridge (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd.
Predateur (FR) 6-1 (9-9) 2nd when stumbled on landing and unseated rider in race won by Pablo Du Charmil (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) sft, 7 ran.
The Wicketkeeper (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, mistake 3rd, weakened from 7th, 11th of 14, well behind Medicinal (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 12-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, lost place 6th, mistake next but continued, 4th of 8, 42l behind Jack The Giant (11-1) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp chs (2) gd.
Petit Robin (FR) 2-1fav (10-12) Made all, stayed on strongly from last, ridden out, won at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Beshabar (10-12) by 7l, 15 ran.
Arumun (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Led until fell in race won by Kilmackilloge (11-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs, 8 ran.
Its Crucial (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Jumped left, led, soon clear, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Bleu Superbe (10-6) at Ascot 2m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd.
Brave Villa (FR) 17-2 (11-2) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakening when hit last, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 9, 8l behind Nemetan (10-13) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
