slight lead until after 3rd, pressed leader, led again 6th until 13th, chased leader, pushed along after 4 out, lost 2nd and weakened just before next
tended to jump right, took keen hold, with leader, slight lead after 3rd until 6th, pressed leader, led again narrowly 13th, hit 2 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, not pace of winner run-in
never that fluent, raced wide and waited with in touch, not fluent 2nd and 4th, jumped slowly 7th, hit 13th, steady headway on wide outside into 3rd approaching 3 out, ridden and not quicken before last
tracked leaders on inside, hit 4 out, 2nd travelling well before 3 out, produced to lead last, quickened clear run-in, ridden out
tracked leaders on outside, mistake and lost place 6th, last pair, mistake and dropped to last 9th, reminder after 10th, rallied 12th, weakened 3 out
Top Notch is not very big so may struggle with these tricky fences but he hasn’t done a lot wrong over the larger obstacles so far. Baron Alco is sure to make this a thorough test of stamina but could face a battle for the lead from Amore Alato, who led the Kauto Star field for a circuit. Le Prezien finished just ahead of Top Notch at Uttoxeter in the autumn and has won both subsequent starts but we’ll give another chance to stable companion CLAN DES OBEAUX as he was unlucky to come up against an in-form Whisper when odds-on at Cheltenham last time having created a very good impression at Newbury the time before.
Amore Alato 8-1 (11-7) With leader, bumped 1st, led after next until 9th, chased leader until 13th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, left poor 3rd and badly hampered on landing after the last, 3rd of 10, 20l behind Royal Vacation (11-7) at Kempton 3m (1) gd in Dec.
Baron Alco (FR) 13-8fav (11-5) Jumped boldly, made all and set decent pace, pushed along and pressed when left clear 4 out, jumped right final 3, ridden between last 2, driven and kept on gamely run-in, all out, won at Plumpton 2m 1f (3) sft in Jan beating Solatentif (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Le Prezien (FR) 10-11fav (11-3) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd approaching 5th, led 6th until 8th, chased leader, led again and went left 2 out, ridden out, won at Exeter 2m 1f (2) sft in Dec beating L'Ami Serge (11-7) by 2 3/4l, 3 ran.
Top Notch (FR) 4-5fav (11-3) Held up disputing 3rd behind clear leading pair, reached for 11th, 2nd place approaching 13th, 3 lengths down after 3 out and closing, led approaching the last, in command in closing stages ( limited comments due to poor visibility), won at Ascot 2m 5f (2) gs in Dec beating Sizing Codelco (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Clan Des Obeaux (FR) 10-11fav (11-2) Jumped right at times, led, headed 2nd, led before 4th, shaken up when went right and awkward 2 out, soon headed, rallied flat, held close home, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Whisper (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) sft in Jan.
