held up in mid-division, jumped slowly 9th, blundered 13th, plugging on when hampered 3 out, mistake last, modest 4th run-in
always towards rear, reminders before 12th, never involved
raced keenly, led, went right 4th, headed 3 out, chasing leader and every chance when fell next
raced keenly, held up in touch, headway tracking leaders 7th (water), slightly lost place 10th, rallied chasing leaders approaching 4 out, blundered left 4th and hampered 2 out, weakened and went left last
soon behind, struggling in rear when mistake 9th, tailed off when mistake 13th
held up towards rear, struggling in last pair 12th, plugged on run-in
chased leaders on outside, not fluent 2nd, weakened 4 out
raced wide, behind when blundered badly 3rd, headway chasing leaders approaching 11th, left 2nd 2 out, dropped to 3rd and switched left run-in, stayed on into 2nd again close home, not reach winner
chased leaders, slightly hampered 3 out, went 2nd and not much room on inside run-in, stayed on to lead inside final 150 yards, held on
chased leaders, keeping on when badly bumped all but fell and unseated rider 3 out
chased leader, led 3 out, ridden and hung left run-in, headed inside final 150 yards, no extra in 3rd close home
always towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 13th, tailed off
behind when jinled left and unseated rider soon after 1st
Aurillac and Lessons In Milan filled the places behind Beware The Bear over a longer trip here last time. Connetable won an incident-packed beginner’s chase at Wincanton last time but was undoubtedly fortunate and the four-year-old has a stiff task here. Potters Legend was just denied a hat-trick in a Grade 2 at Doncaster so can’t be ignored while Welsh Shadow is respected having been well backed at Haydock last month. VALHALLA and Some Are Lucky are chasing debutants but both have point-to-point experience so should handle the larger obstacles. The former is just preferred today as a lack of pace has been thwarting his progress over hurdles.
Potters Legend 4-1 (11-8) In rear and in touch, headway before 3 out, chased winner before last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Present Man (11-8) at Doncaster 3m (1) gd in Dec.
Connetable (FR) 5-1 (10-7) Held up on outside, not fluent 3rd or 9th, headway on outside 4 out, close 4th 3 out, soon left in lead, strongly pressed until drew away towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 4f (3) gs in Dec beating Robinsfirth (11-0) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Sir Ivan 7-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 3rd, lost place after 13th, pulled up before 3 out, at Wincanton 2m 4f (3) gs in Dec.
Welsh Shadow (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Tracked leaders in 3rd, one pace from 4 out, 3rd of 5, 25l behind Politologue (11-2) at Haydock 2m 6f (2) sft in Nov.
Land Of Vic 40-1 (11-3) Prominent, ridden after 7th, driven and weakened after 2 out, 8th of 13, 34 1/4l behind Briery Queen (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Lessons In Milan (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Held up, headway tracking leaders 6th, jumped slowly next, ridden and went 2nd before 2 out until the last, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 12, 7l behind Beware The Bear (11-9) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Valhalla (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 2 out, soon challenging, ridden before last, lost 2nd and no impression, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 12, 8 1/4l behind Call To Order (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Aurillac (FR) 13-2 (11-2) Chased leaders until not fluent and lost place 8th, towards rear when hampered 11th, rallied before 4 out, went 2nd at the last, kept on run-in, always just held, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Beware The Bear (11-9) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Belami Des Pictons (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Prominent, lost bpalce when mistake and pecked 5 out, outpaced 3 out, 4th and held when not fluent 2 out, 4th of 6, 15 1/2l behind More Buck's (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Aqua Dude (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Led until 2 out, chased winner, ridden and lost 2nd between last two, kept on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 6, 10 1/4l behind Waiting Patiently (11-5) at Newcastle 2m (3) sft in Dec.
Some Are Lucky (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 3 1/4l behind Wizards Bridge (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gd in Nov.
My Wigwam Or Yours (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, some headway before 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 11th of 15, 32 1/4l behind Behind Time (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Rock Of Leon 12-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, close up when blundered 9th, lost place next, towards rear when edged left and unseated rider after 11th, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
